what is biomass?
questions
fun facts
- Biomass energy can be traced back to the cavemen era. We use the same materials that they used.
- Biomass is the oldest method for producing energy.
- The largest biomass energy station is in Finland and it is called Alholmens Kraft.
1. Is the energy source classified as nonrenewable, renewable or inexhaustible?
Biomass is a renewable energy source because there will always be organic material, or biomass, in stock.
2. How is the energy source made usable?
There are 4 main steps when producing biomass energy :
Biomass is a renewable energy source because there will always be organic material, or biomass, in stock.
2. How is the energy source made usable?
There are 4 main steps when producing biomass energy :
- The material may need a pre-treatment before it can be used.
- The material is burned by a combustion grate.
- The heat from the combustion fires a boiler. The boiler produces steam or hot water.
- The steam turns a turbine, which turns a generator, which produces electricity.
3. What are the infrastructure requirements for utilizing this energy source?
There are 3 main infrastructure components that must follow the requirements and regulations.
The Type of Boiler and Fuel
1. The boiler must be able to handle the fuel that is placed in the boiler. Some boilers can only handle certain types of biomass, which can limit the total amount of energy that is being produced.
2. Steam rate and efficiency greatly impacts the amount of energy produced. Some combustion systems allow for a high stem rate but low efficiency, and other systems are the opposite way.
3. The fuel characteristics (such as moisture and acidity) can impact the time it takes for the boiler to burn it. In order to produce the maximum amount of energy, the biomass must not compete with the boiler.
4. The cost for the fuel is very important. In order to produce the maximum energy AND profit, companies must buy the fuel that is at cheapest for them without having to sacrifice the total amount of energy produced.
5. Environmental regulations help determine what kind of fuel is allowed to be used at a biomass energy industry.
Sourcing
1. Finding the actual materials for producing biomass energy is done on a small scale. Companies cannot harvest to much biomass at one time. This is done to protect the environment.
2. In order to follow the rule above, companies may have many, small teams of people search for the materials. This allows the companies to abide by the rules without sacrificing profit.
Transportation/Storage/Handling
1. Biomass energy is more likely to arrive at its destination in many, small packs than a few, large ones.
2. Depending on the type of biomass, different equipment and unloading infrastructure is required to make sure that the energy is removed from the mode of transportation safely.
3. Most types of biomass are required to be stored inside.
4. Conveyor belts must be suited for the type of biomass that is being placed onto it.
There are 3 main infrastructure components that must follow the requirements and regulations.
The Type of Boiler and Fuel
1. The boiler must be able to handle the fuel that is placed in the boiler. Some boilers can only handle certain types of biomass, which can limit the total amount of energy that is being produced.
2. Steam rate and efficiency greatly impacts the amount of energy produced. Some combustion systems allow for a high stem rate but low efficiency, and other systems are the opposite way.
3. The fuel characteristics (such as moisture and acidity) can impact the time it takes for the boiler to burn it. In order to produce the maximum amount of energy, the biomass must not compete with the boiler.
4. The cost for the fuel is very important. In order to produce the maximum energy AND profit, companies must buy the fuel that is at cheapest for them without having to sacrifice the total amount of energy produced.
5. Environmental regulations help determine what kind of fuel is allowed to be used at a biomass energy industry.
Sourcing
1. Finding the actual materials for producing biomass energy is done on a small scale. Companies cannot harvest to much biomass at one time. This is done to protect the environment.
2. In order to follow the rule above, companies may have many, small teams of people search for the materials. This allows the companies to abide by the rules without sacrificing profit.
Transportation/Storage/Handling
1. Biomass energy is more likely to arrive at its destination in many, small packs than a few, large ones.
2. Depending on the type of biomass, different equipment and unloading infrastructure is required to make sure that the energy is removed from the mode of transportation safely.
3. Most types of biomass are required to be stored inside.
4. Conveyor belts must be suited for the type of biomass that is being placed onto it.
4. What emerging technologies will make this energy source safer, more usable, more efficient, cleaner...etc?
One downfall when producing energy with biomass is the air pollution that it creates. The pollution is caused when the material is burned. This adds a lot of extra CO2 in the atmosphere. In order to curb the amount of pollutants, new pollution control technologies are being used by many biomass energy companies. One of these technological advancements is the Catalytic Gas Treatment (CGT). This treatment is used to extract pollutants from the gas produced by combustion. The CGT gas absorbs methanol, ethanol, formaldehyde, and other pollutants. The cleaner gas in sent back through the cycle again to extract any leftover pollutants that may still be lingering.
Another pollution control technology is the Spray Dryer Absorber (SDA). This system injects a liquid substance into the boiler as the biomass material is burned. The liquid absorbs calcium sulfite or sulfate from the biomass material and holds it in place. Once the biomass is been completely burned, the pollutants are thrown away. This technology removes up to 90% of SO2 and up to 95% of HCI.
Both methods are very inexpensive and simple to operate.
One downfall when producing energy with biomass is the air pollution that it creates. The pollution is caused when the material is burned. This adds a lot of extra CO2 in the atmosphere. In order to curb the amount of pollutants, new pollution control technologies are being used by many biomass energy companies. One of these technological advancements is the Catalytic Gas Treatment (CGT). This treatment is used to extract pollutants from the gas produced by combustion. The CGT gas absorbs methanol, ethanol, formaldehyde, and other pollutants. The cleaner gas in sent back through the cycle again to extract any leftover pollutants that may still be lingering.
Another pollution control technology is the Spray Dryer Absorber (SDA). This system injects a liquid substance into the boiler as the biomass material is burned. The liquid absorbs calcium sulfite or sulfate from the biomass material and holds it in place. Once the biomass is been completely burned, the pollutants are thrown away. This technology removes up to 90% of SO2 and up to 95% of HCI.
Both methods are very inexpensive and simple to operate.
resources
- http://www.reenergyholdings.com/renewable-energy/what-is-biomass/
- http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/how-biomass-energy-works.html#.Vgk-Hsv4_cs
- http://www.volund.dk/Biomass_energy/How_it_works
- http://www.rainharvest.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/biomass-gasification.jpg
- http://instituteforenergyresearch.org/topics/encyclopedia/biomass/
- http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/3854/air-emissions-control-for-the-biomass-industry
- http://www.power-eng.com/articles/print/volume-113/issue-11/features/biomass-an-emerging-fuel-for-power-generation.html
- http://www.pennenergy.com/content/dam/Pennenergy/online-articles/2013/July/BiomassSources.jpg
- http://www.alternativeenergysourcesinfo.com/biomass-facts.html
- http://www.renewablegreenenergypower.com/ten-interesting-biomass-facts/