ELTR 1223 Survey of Renewable Energy Technology Biomass Energy Conversion Unit 10 Source:

Use Policy  This material was developed by Timothy J. Wilhelm, P.E., Kankakee Community College, with funding from the National Science Foundation as part of ATE Grant No  All materials in this presentation are designed and intended for educational use, only. They may not be used for any publication or commercial purposes. Source:

Author, Editors/Reviewers  Author: Timothy J. Wilhelm, P.E., Kankakee Community College  Editors/Reviewers Modifiers:  Chris Miller Heartland Community College Source:

Objectives  Students will be able to describe, in very simple terms, the difference between fossilized carbon and short-cycle carbon, and the impact each has on the atmosphere when used as a fuel resource.  Students will be able to describe and discuss, in simple terms, biomass energy conversion via direct combustion. Source:

Objectives  Students will be able to describe and discuss, in simple terms, biomass energy conversion via direct expulsion or extraction.  Students will be able to describe and discuss, in simple terms, biomass energy conversion via pyrolytic decomposition.  Students will be able to describe and discuss, in simple terms, biomass energy conversion via microbial decomposition. Source:

“Carbon Footprint”  All plant, microbe, insect, and animal (including human) life is carbon-based. Carbon-based or carbon-related energy conversions are the basis of sustaining all life on our planet.  The primary fuel that sustains nearly all life forms is sugar. Sugar is a carbon-based fuel.  We cannot eliminate carbon-based energy conversions, nor is it necessary…

“Carbon Footprint” What we want to avoid is energy conversions involving “fossilized carbon.” “Fossilized carbon” is the excess carbon from Earth’s ancient atmosphere that is now sequestered in the crust of the earth. When we use fossilized carbon as a fuel resource we recreate our ancient atmosphere. When we carefully use “short-cycle carbon” as a fuel resource we do not impact the carbon balance in the atmosphere. “Short-cycle carbon” is stored in biomass.

What is “Biomass?”  Renewable organic materials, such as  wood,  wild grasses and other wild plant material,  agricultural crops or wastes,  municipal wastes,  algae,  Etc.

What is Biomass Energy Conversion?  Direct combustion of biomass,  Extraction of convenient fuel commodities from biomass,  Capture of convenient fuel commodities from biomass microbial-decomposition,  Capture of convenient fuel commodities from biomass pyrolytic-decomposition.

Direct Combustion of Biomass

 FIRE!  Requires appropriate biomass-fuel, ignition-heat, and oxygen.  Used primarily when and where heat is immediately needed.  Space heating  Food preparation/cooking  Other “process” heating

Direct-combustion Evolution Wood burning – open fire

Direct-combustion Evolution Wood burning – open fire, indoors

Direct-combustion Evolution Wood burning – open fireplace

Direct-combustion Evolution Wood burning – Franklin Stove

Direct-combustion Evolution Wood burning – Heatilator Firebox

Direct-combustion Evolution Wood burning – Catalytic Combustion Source:

Direct-combustion Evolution Pellet burning stoves Source: _med.gif?01AD=3IuMzNGLBdVCVTFwU9V2 DUPq6RjG0HtNCapqZOSGVR65zcGQ41bVErw&01 RI=6C E4ADE&01NA=

Direct-combustion Evolution Corn burning stoves

Finland’s Wood-Fired Central Heating Plants Source: mmons/thumb/a/a1/Location_of_Tamper e_in_Finland.png/200px- Location_of_Tampere_in_Finland.png

Finland’s Wood-Fired Central Heating Plants

Forestry is a major industry in Finland. This results in massive amounts of “waste” biomass.

Finland’s Wood-Fired Central Heating Plants Forestry is a major industry in Finland. This results in massive amounts of “waste” biomass.

Finland’s Wood-Fired Central Heating Plants Steam/Hot Water is piped to homes and businesses all over the district. Source: 30-district-heating-pipeline.jpg/200px district-heating-pipeline.jpg Source: chaufferie-biomasse-alholmens-kraft-a-pietarsaari-en-finlandela-plus-importante-du-monde-avec- 550-mwth-consomme-annuellement-lequivalent-de-15-million-de-m3-de-bois.jpg

Expelling and Extracting Seed Oils

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Expressing or expelling seed oils Commonly referred to as “bio-diesel.” Can be “thinned,” and made less viscous to directly replace #2 diesel oil in combustion- ignition engines. Can be waste vegetable oil, filtered and burned straight. Can be PPO (Pure Plant Oil) burned straight. “Un-thinned” oil requires mist-injection or specially designed engines.

Oil expelled via expeller presses

Oil extracted via solvent extraction Source: Oil-Solvent-Extraction.jpg

Waste Vegetable Oil – Must be filtered Source:

Bio-diesel = transesterfication by-product = crude glycerol (glycerine) YUCK!

Pyrolytic Decomposition

Pyrolysis Pyrolysis is heating organic material in an absence of oxygen. This drives off volatile gasses and leaves behind “char” material. The volatile gasses will immediately burn as a vaporous fuel. The solid char material can be stored and used as a solid fuel, later.

The Nazis’ Dilemma Source: thumb.jpg

The Nazis’ Solution – “Producer Gas”

Wood Gasification Source:

Reviving an Old Technology Source: s/thumb/3/37/Wood_gasifier_on_epa_tractor.j pg/300px-Wood_gasifier_on_epa_tractor.jpg

Reviving an Old Technology Source: content/uploads/2010/02/beaverenergywoodpoweredcar_small2.jpg Source:

Microbial Decomposition Anaerobic Bacterial Digestion

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Methane Production  CH 4 – the main constituent of “Natural Gas”  Methane digestion is a 2-step process  Acid-forming bacteria break down organic matter creating simple acids: acetic (vinegar), butyric, formic, and propionic.  Methane-forming bacteria make “bio-gas:” methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, CO 2, and water vapor.  Bio-gas burns!

Bio-gas Production From Manure Source:

Small-Scale Biogas Digestion

Inner Tube Digestor

Biogas for Heat, Light, and Engine Fuel

Chicken Poop Power! Source: trust.org/2000/biofuel/batesm3.gif

Microbial Decomposition Fermentation Anaerobic Yeast Digestion

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Ethanol Fermentation and Distillation C 2 H 5 OH – Ethanol = Ethyl Alcohol Source:

The Process Steps Milling – expose starch, increase surface area Cooking – amylase conversion of starch to sugar Fermentation – yeasts consume sugar and excrete CO 2 and C 2 H 5 OH as metabolic wastes – BEER! Distillation – boiling the beer, and re-condensing the C 2 H 5 OH at its precise boiling point…makes an azeotrope…95% C 2 H 5 OH = 190 Proof Everclear! Azeotropic Distillation – Special, involved process Waste Disposal – you must deal with the left overs!

Milling Source: pen_front_full.jpg/200px-Hammer_mill_open_front_full.jpg Source: content/uploads/2010/02/gluten-300x300.jpg

Brewing

Fermentation

Separation/Filtration Source: systems-2.gif

Distillation Source: jpg

Home Brew! Source:

Other Fermentation Processes Different “bugs” eat sugar, and give off different waste byproducts: – Methanol = methyl alcohol – Butanol = butyl alcohol – See the American Type Culture Collection These different alcohols can be used to create synthetic materials, just like plastics are made from petroleum!

Today’s Assignment! Explain the word “chemurgy” and it’s relationship to biomass energy conversions, as part of a renewable energy strategy for the USA. Find out what fuel Henry Ford designed the Model T to burn, and give a brief explanation of his strategy. Explain the relationship between the science of microbiology and biomass energy conversion technology.