Biomass

 Forest
 Mill residues
 Agricultural crops & waste
 Wood & wood waste
 Animal wastes
 Livestock operation residues
 Aquatic plants
 Municipal & Industrial wastes
Biomass Stores Energy And Carbon

Source: Boyle, Renewable

Energy, 2nd edition, 2004
 Uses Of Biomass Energy
More than 1 billion people burn fuel-wood or
charcoal as their principal power source for
cooking, heating, etc.
New uses:
Converting into liquid fuel for vehicles (ethanol, bio-
diesel)
Collecting and using methane from landfills or
livestock manure
Combusting biomass in biomass power plants
Burning with coal in power plants built for both
Converting into gases to improve electricity
generation
Biomass is a Renewable Source
of Energy
 Biomass is plant material and animal
waste used to produce energy.

 It is the oldest form of renewable

energy known to humans.

 The energy that biomass materials

contain comes directly from the sun.
Biomass is a Renewable Source
of Energy
 Plants store the sun’s energy like
batteries. When these materials are
combusted they release that energy,
which can be trapped to produce
steam, heat water, or make
electricity.
 As long as we do not use more
biomass than we can regenerate
through dedicated croplands and
other sources, biomass is a
sustainable and clean source of
renewable energy.
 Making Energy From Biomass
is Good for the Environment

 Biomass energy can reduce air

pollution, provide important wildlife
habitat, reduce soil erosion, and
improve soil quality.
 Making Energy From Biomass
is Good for the Environment

 Biomass crops need carbon dioxide

to thrive, meaning that all of the CO2
released by their combustion is
removed from the atmosphere as
they grow. The process provides no
net increase in atmospheric carbon
dioxide levels.
 產生沼氣

Main features of biomass energy technology

CO2循環透過植物平衡
 Making Energy From Biomass
is Good for the Environment

 Fossil fuels, on the other hand,

represent carbon which has been
trapped underground. When these
fuels are burned they release carbon
that would not otherwise have made
its way into the atmosphere, thus
contributing to climate change.
 Biogas
 This is the mixture of gas produced
by methan-ogenic bacteria while
acting upon biodegradable materials
in an anaerobic condition.
 Biogas is mainly composed of 50 to
70 percent methane, 30 to 40
percent carbon-dioxide (CO2) and
low amount of other gases as shown
in next Table.
 Biogas
 Biogas is about 20 percent lighter
than air and has an ignition
temperature in the range of 650° to
750° C.
It is an odorless and colourless gas
that burns with clear blue flame
similar to that of LPG gas.
 Its calorific value is 20 Mega Joules
(MJ) per m3 and burns with 60%
efficiency in a conventional biogas
stove.
 Biogas
 Biogas like Liquefied Petroleum Gas
(LPG) cannot be liquefied under normal
temperature and pressure.

 Critical temperature required for

liquefaction of methane is -82.1oC at
4.71MPa pressure, therefore use of
biogas is limited nearby the biogas
plant.
 Biogas
Optimum conditions for biogas production
Parameters Optimum
value
Temperature (oC) 30-35

pH 6.8-7.5

Carbon/Nitrogen 20-30
ration (C/N)
Solid content (%) 8-10

Retention time (days) 20-50

 Commonly used feed material for
biogas generation
 Animal Wastes
 Human Wastes
 Agricultural Wastes
 Waste on Aquatic Origin
 Industrial Waste: Sugar factory, Tannery,
Paper etc.
Biogas Production Potential From
Different Wastes
 Power Generation
 Biogas can partly replace diesel to run IC
(internal combustion) engines for water
pumping.
 Small industries like flour mill, saw mill,
oil mill etc.
 Biogas can similarly be used to produce
electricity. Dual fuel engines (80% biogas
& 20% diesel) are now –a-days gaining
importance for using.
 Biogas requirements for power
generation
Purpose Specification Gas required m3/hour
Lighting 200-candel 0.1
power 0.13
40-watt bulb 0.14
2-mantle
Gasoline Per HP 0.43
engine
Diesel engine Per HP 0.45

Incubator Per m3 0.60

Space heater 30 cm diameter 0.16
Direct Burning Biogas

5 kg Dry Dung Product 1 cubic meter biogas

10460 kcal Gross Energy 4713 kcal
10% Device Efficiency 55%
1046 kcal Useful Energy 2592 kcal
None Manure 10 kg Air dried manure
 Components of Various Fuels
Name of fuel Calorific Mode of Burning Thermal Effective
Value Efficiency, Heat
(kcal) % (kcal)

Gobar gas (m3) 4713 In Standard Burners 60 2828

Kerosene (Lt.) 9122 In Pressure Stove 50 4561

Fire wood (kg) 4708 In Open Chulha 17.3 814
Cow Dung Cakes (kg) 2092 In Open Chulha 11 230

Charcoal (kg) 6930 In Open Chulha 28 1940

Soft coke (kg) 6292 In Open Chulha 28 1762
Butane (kg) 10882 In Standard Burners 60 6529

Furnace oil (Lt.) 9041 In Water Tube Boiler 75 6781

Coal Gas (m3) 4004 In Standard Burners 60 2402
Electricity (kwh) 860 Hot Plate 70 602
 Advantages
 By relatively simple means, biogas can be
utilized as a source of energy in integrated
farming. In addition, the use of biogas implies a
number of advantages of ecological as well
economical character.
 The environment is being destroyed by the
demand for firewood and charcoal. To avoid
catastrophe, it has to be protected, and one
way of doing this is to use biogas.
 One major problem for people who are
economically or geographically disadvantaged
is to get electricity or fossil fuels for cooking
and lighting. At the moment, biogas seems to
be the most logical source of cheap energy.
 Advantages
 In the developing countries, women spend
many hours collecting firewood. This is a big
burden on them, and their time could be used
more productively.
 Cooking with firewood produces a lot of smoke,
which is bad for the health of the women, who
tend the kitchen fire. The smoke pollutes the air,
and can cause problems with lungs, eyes etc.
The flame from burning biogas does not need
tending.
 C/N Ratio
 The relationship between the amount of carbon and
nitrogen present in organic materials is expressed in
terms of the Carbon/Nitrogen (C/N) ratio.
 A C/N ratio ranging from 20 to 30 is considered
optimum for anaerobic digestion.
 If the C/N ratio is very high, the nitrogen will be
consumed rapidly by methanogens for meeting their
protein requirements and will no longer react on the
left over carbon content of the material. As a result, gas
production will be low.
 On the other hand, if the C/N ratio is very low, nitrogen
will be liberated and accumulated in the form of
ammonia (NH4), NH4 will increase the pH value of the
content in the digester.
 A pH higher than 8.5 will start showing toxic effect on
methanogen population.
 Digestion
 Digestion refers to various reactions and
interactions that take place among the
methanogens. nonmethanogens and
substrates fed into the digester as inputs.
This is a complex physio-chemical and
biological process involving different
factors and stages of change. This
process of digestion (methanization) is
summarized below in its simple form.
More Details on the Digestion
Process

Odor
Acid forming
Volatile bacteria
Volatile
Solids (VS) organic acids

Methane forming
bacteria
Methane, carbon dioxide,
water, trace gases
What is Anaerobic Digestion?

Conversion of Organic Matter

by Anaerobic Microbes
to Biogas and Manure Effluent

Methane ~ 60%
Carbon Dioxide ~ 40%
Hydrogen sulfide ~ trace
 Anaerobic Digestion
 Use a heated container to accelerate
the degradation of the manure.
 Microorganisms produce a fuel gas
and degrade the manure.
 Less odors are produced when
compared to non controlled
anaerobic digestion
 Advantages of Digestion
 Total waste management system
– Pollution control
– Odor control
– Nutrient conservation
– Greenhouse gas reduction
Disadvantages of Digestion
 Is somewhat costly
 Higher management levels required
 Startup is sometimes difficult
 Storage required
– Cannot store methane as a liquid!!
 Some risk of explosion
 Methanization
 The principle acids produced in Stage 2 are
processed by methanogenic bacteria to produce
methane.
 The reactions that takes place in the process of
methane production is called Methanization and
is expressed by the following equations.
Biomethanization Implementation
and its Effects
Basics of Bio-gas Digesters
 Classification of Biogas
Digester

 Floatinggasholder type plants

 Fixed dome
 Comparison of two types of biogas digesters
Floating gas holder type Fixed dome type

Gas is release at constant Gas is released at variable

pressure pressure
Identifying the defects in gas Identifying defects is difficult
holder easy

Cost of maintenance is high Cost of maintenance is low

Capital cost is high Capital cost is low
Floating drum does not allow to Space above the drum can be
use the space for other purpose used

Temperature is low during winter Temperature is high during winter

Life span is short Life span is comparatively long

Requires relatively less Requires more excavation work
excavation work
 Popular design of Biogas
pant in India
 KVIC (Khadi & Village Industries
Commission) Design (Floating Drum
Type)
 Janata Design (Fixed dome type)
 Deenbandhu Design
Calculation of cost of construction
and installation of KVIC model
Floating Gasholder Type Plants
Floating Gas Holder System
(KVIC Model)
 In this design, the digester
chamber is made of brick
masonry in cement mortar.
 A mild steel drum is placed
on top of the digester to
collect the biogas produced
from the digester. Thus,
there are two separate
structures for gas production
and collection.
 With the introduction of fixed
dome Chinese model plant,
the floating drum plants
became obsolete because of
comparatively high
investment and maintenance
cost along with other design
weaknesses.
Fixed Dome Digester
Fixed Dome Digester
(Chinese Model)
 Fixed Dome Digester
(Chinese Model)
 Fixed dome Chinese model biogas plant (also called
drumless digester) was built in China as early as 1936.
 It consists of an underground brick masonry
compartment (fermentation chamber) with a dome on
the top for gas storage.
 In this design, the fermentation chamber and gas holder
are combined as one unit.
 This design eliminates the use of costlier mild steel gas
holder which is susceptible to corrosion.
 The life of fixed dome type plant is longer (from 20 to 50
years) compared to KVIC plant.
 Based on the principles of fixed dome model from China,
Gobar Gas and Agricultural Equipment Development
Company (GGC) of Nepal has developed a design and has
been popularizing it since the last 17 years.
 The concrete dome is the main characteristic of GGC
design.
Janata Model
Deenbandhu Model
 Deenbandhu Model
 In an effort to further bring down the
investment cost, Deenbandhu model was put
forth in 1984 by the Action for Food
Production (AFPRO), New Delhi.
 In India, this model proved 30 percent
cheaper than Janata Model (also developed in
India) which is the first fixed dome plant
based on Chinese technology.
 It also proved to be about 45 percent cheaper
than a KVIC plant of comparable size.
 Deenbandhu plants are made entirely of brick
masonry work with a spherical shaped gas
holder at the top and a concave bottom.
Deenbandhu Type Bio Gas
Plants

http://www.sintex-plastics.com/deenabandu_g.htm
 Bag Digester
(Taiwanese Model)
 Bag Digester
(Taiwanese Model)
 This design was developed in 1960s in Taiwan.
 It consists of a long cylinder made of PVC or red
mud plastic.
 The bag digester was developed to solve the
problems experienced wit h brick and metal
digesters.
 A PVC bag digester was also tested in Nepal by GGC
at Butwal from April to June 1986. The study
concluded that the plastic bag bio-digester could be
successful only if PVC bag is easily available,
pressure inside the digester is increased and
welding facilities are easily available.
 Such conditions are difficult to meet in most of the
rural areas in developing countries.
Pre fabricated mobile type
Biogas plants
 State of the art proven biogas
plant, easy to install. more
efficient than the conventional
one. better energy recovery.
 BIOGAS - Fuel of the future.
Free energy from the waste.
Only one time investment.
 Investment can be recovered
within ONE YEAR. Available
from 6m3/day to 1000m3/day.
 Power can be generated from
this plant of capacity more than
50m3 for the use like garden
lighting, street lighting, home
lighting etc.
 Biogas Holders

http://www.arjuntarpaulins.net/biogas-holders.html
Dowac Systems & Projects India Pvt Ltd
Dowac Systems & Projects India Pvt Ltd
 Dowac Systems & Projects India Pvt Ltd

 The solid waste from

industrial kitchens,
butchary house,
segrigated bio-
degradable waste of
housing colonies can be
treated to get valuable
bi-products such as bio
methane gas for heating
and rich fertilizer.
 The large quantity of
biogas can be converted
in to electricity for
garden lighting.
Plug-Flow Digester - A small “plug” of slurry is pumped into
one end each day, causing a comparable amount to flow out
of the other end into the storage basin in the background.
 Best way to Dispose
Kitchen Waste
 Suitable for Flat System
 Ready to Use model
 Portable system
 Molded in one tough piece
 Leak proof and strong
 Light weight and easy to
carry anywhere
 Cooking Gas is Output
 Liquid Manure is
Byproduct

http://www.arkatechnologies.in/biogas-plant-supplier-pune.shtml
 1: Domestic waste water heads
to sewage processing plant
 2: Settlement tanks separate
sewage into clean water and
sludge
 3: Anaerobic digesters break
down the waste and produce a
thick, odourless waste and
methane. Waste solids used as
fuel or fertilizer.
4: Biogas plant cleans methane to remove impurities, adds
odorant to "smell like gas"
5: Clean biomethane pumped back into national network
 Use of Biogas
 Cooking
 Lighting,
 Refrigeration
 Running internal combustion engine.
 Cooking Fuel
 The most common use of biogas is
for cooking.
 A 2 cubic meter biogas plant can
replace, in a month, fuel equivalent
of 26kg of LPG (Liquefied Natural gas)
or 37 Lt. of Kerosene or 88 kg of
Charcoal or 210 kg of fuel-wood or
740 kg of Animal dung.
Bio Gas Used In the
Industrial Kitchen
Biogas Purification: Removing
Hydrogen Sulfide
– Removal Using Metal Oxides and
Hydroxides
– Activated Carbon
Recovered Sulfur
 Additonal Benefits Of H2s
Removal
 Impact On Surrounding air.
 H2S is Highly Corrosive – Can
damage other equipments and
expensive instruments in the vicinity.
 Health Hazard and odour nuisance.
 Typical Process Flow Diagram
Bioskrubber
C le a n G a s G as P ow er
E n g in e

Po w er
G en e r a t io n

C a u s tic N u trie n t
T ank T ank

G a s H o ld e r

E le m e n ta l
S u lp h u r

S u lp h e r
S u lp h u r S e ttlin g T a n k D r y in g B e d
A b so rb e r B u ffe r T a n k R e a c to r
R aw G as

A ir B lo w e r
Biogas Flame
Biogas Lamp for Lighting
 Natural Gas = Biogas
But with Some Important Exceptions

Methane
Natural Gas Biogas
Fossil Fuel
Renewable
Less GHG Fuel
Emissions Net Zero
Both good for
GHG
air quality
emissions
 Swedish Biogas Industry
 Sweden is world leader in biogas production for
vehicle fuel
– 17 biogas plants
– 24 biogas-only refueling stations
– 20 biogas/NG (blended) refueling stations
– >4,500 NG and bi-fuel (NG and gasoline)
vehicles
– Dedicated local biogas pipeline networks
– Biogas injected into Swedish NG pipeline
network
 Sweden Biogas Industry
 25 biomethane production
(refineries) facilities
 65 biomethane filling stations
 Industry growing at annual rate of
15-20%
 >8,000 methane gas vehicles in
Sweden
 50% of methane from bio sources
 Biomass Potential for
Biogas in Sweden

Theoretical potential for digestion of organic materials to

meet 20% of the energy needs of the transportation sector
Today’s Digester Process
Flow
 Digester Gas Upgrading
 Raw digester gas approx. 65% methane
(CH4) and 35% CO2
– Can be used to create electricity but not
as a transportation fuel
 Digester gas must be upgraded to biogas
quality to be used as vehicle fuel for
CNG/LNG vehicles
• > 92% methane
• Remove H2S, H20 and other impurities
Tomorrow’s Digester & Gas
Upgrading Process Flow