BIOMASS AND GASIFICATION

Biomass:

Biomass (living organism bio-waste) is the only renewable energy source that causes danger to the environment if it is not utilised.

• Global waste biomass energy capacity is about eight times the total annual world consumption of energy from all sources. Therefore, biomass represents a very large energy resource.
• At present the world population uses only about 7% of the annual production of biomass. Therefore, we are only partially exploiting nature's abundant renewable resource.
• Fossil fuels are nonrenewable-finite sources. Renewables will never run out.

Biomass Circuit

Gasification:

• Gasification is the partial oxidation of biomass at high temperatures.
• Basically, there are three stages of biomass gasification processes:

    Pyrolysis:                C₆H₁₀O₅ = 5CO + 5H₂ + C
    Partial Oxidation:     C₆H₁₀O₅ + O₂ = 5CO + CO₂ + H₂
    Steam Reforming:    C₆H₁₀O₅ + H₂O= 6CO + 6H₂

• The energy content of the product gas from biomass gasification can be varied (4-11MJ/m³).

Biomass to Energy via Gasification

Pilot Gasifier

CHARACTERISTICS OF GASIFICATION PROCESS

• Sustainable CHP generation
• Responsive to market needs
• Safe operation
• Intensive / miniaturized
• Low capital and operating costs
• Environmentally friendly

BIOMASS FUEL SOURCES

Wood chips / waste Straw MSW-RDF Nut shells Sewage sludge Olive pips Bone meal Leather waste Animal litter

Coal Tyres Sugar Cane Bagasse Oil sludge/waste Energy crops Oil seed rape husks Rice and Corn husks Packaging Waste Chicken Waste

Briquette made from waste oil

The group adopts a holistic view of gasification and its vision of an Intensified Integrated Bio-Refinery is a main driver of the group's research focus.