BIOMASS ENERGY
Types of Resources
Renewable resources
• The definition of
renewable energy includes
any type of energy
generated from natural
resources that is infinite or
constantly renewed.
Examples: solar, wind, and
hydropower.
Biomass
•Plant and animal
material, especially
agricultural waste
products, used as a
source of fuel.
Biomass
•Plant and animal
material, especially
agricultural waste
products, used as a
source of fuel.
SOURCES OF BIOMASS
We used to produce energy from biomass
are three main categories:
energy conversion technologieso Combustion
o Gasification
o Pyrolysis
Primary energy conversion technologies
 Combustion - direct combustion of biomass is the most common
way of converting biomass to energy - both heat and electricity.
Compared to the gasification and pyrolysis it is the simplest and most
developed.
 Gasification - gasification is a high-temperature (1200-1400 Degree
Celsius)thermo chemical conversion process but the process is used for
production of gas, instead of heat.
 Pyrolysis - thermal decomposition occurring in the absence of
oxygen. We use pyrolysis to produce a liquid fuel, bio-oil or pyrolysis oil.
1. Biogas
• Getting energy out of biomass by burning
it, turning it into a liquid or by turning it
into a gas called bio gas.
• It contains about 65% of methane gas as a
major constituents
2. Biofuel
. Biofuel (also called agro fuel) is a
bioorganic fuel .It is obtained by the
fermentation of biomass.
• The process by which micro-organisms
break down complex organic substances
generally in the absence of oxygen to
produce alcohol and carbon dioxide is
calledFermentation.
Examples of Biofuel
Ethanol:
It is produced from sugarcane .Its CALORIFIC
VALUE is less than petrol. It also less heat when
compare to petrol.
Methanol:
It is easily obtained from ethanol .Its CALORIFIC
VALUE is too low when compared to gasoline and
diesel.
Gasohol:
It is a mixture of ethanol + gasoline .It is used in
cars and buses.
Significance of Bio-energy
Cost is low when
compare to fossil fuels
 Biomass consumes
more CO2 than is
released during
combustion of
biomass.
Differences
Biofuel
Bio-fuel is produced directly from
plant matter typically corn, sugar
cane, sugar beets, or cellulose
transforming it into alcohol.
Fossil fuel
Fossil fuels are produced by either
the decomposition of plant or
animal matter over long periods of
time under certain conditions such
as high temperature and pressure.
Fossil fuels are coal, oil, and
natural gas.
PLANT OPERATION
•
Biomass is organic
compounds produced in
natural processes.
• These compounds are
transported to the biomass
plant and burned to heat
water.
• Steam is produced at high
pressure and it moves a
turbine and this moves the
generator to produce
electricity.
ADVANTAGES
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It’s a renewable source of energy.
It’s a comparatively lesser pollution generating energy.
Biomass energy helps in cleanliness in villages and cities.
There is tremendous potential to generate biogas energy.
Biomass energy is relatively cheaper and reliable.
It can be generated from every day human and animal
wastes, vegetable and agriculture left-over etc.
• Growing biomass crops use up carbon dioxide and
produces oxygen.
DISADVANTAGES
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Cost of construction of biogas plant is high, so only rich people
can use it.
Some people don’t like to cook food on biogas produced from
sewage waste.
Biogas plant requires space and produces dirty smell.
It is difficult to store biogas in cylinders.
Transportation of biogas through pipe over long distances is
difficult.
Crops which are used to produce biomass energy are seasonal
and are not available over whole year.
A Short Video
CONCLUSIONS
• Biomass plants seem a good choice
because they help clean up the waste
that we produce and are relatively cheap
and safe, but their construction is very
expensive, so only rich people can use
them. They are also power generators that
pollute comparatively less, but require
much space and produce odor.