Bio Energy

• Biomass is organic material that comes from plants

and animals, and it is a renewable source of energy. 
• Biomass contains stored energy from the sun. Plants
absorb the sun's energy in a process called
photosynthesis.
• When biomass is burned, the chemical
energy in biomass is released as heat.
• It is estimated that just 1/8 of total biomass produced
annually would fulfill the current demand of energy.
• The biomass can be re-grown hence renewable
energy.
• The Photosynthesis process is responsible for the
biomass energy. Indirect form of solar energy.
• Chemical energy stored in biomass can be
converted to heat through combustion
(burning). 
• Biomass can be converted to liquid or
gaseous fuels called bio-fuel such as
Methane, Ehanol, Produce gas, Charcoal
etc..or can be used to generate electricity in
the same way that coal is used.
• The balance in use of biomass fuel is required
while using it otherwise natural ecological
cycle may disturbed.
• It is estimated that the biomass which is 90 %
in trees is equivalent to current proven
extractable fossil fuel reserves in the world.
Main advantages of biomass energy
• It is a renewable source.
• The energy storage is in-built feature.
• It is indigenous source require no foreign exchange.
• The pollutant emission from combustion of biomass are usually lower than
that of fossil fuel.
• Can reduce the problem of waste disposal particularly municipal solid waste.
• Use of biogas plants supply clean gas which leads to improved sanitation,
better hygienic conditions in rural areas as the harmful decaying biomass gets
stabilized.
• The nitrogen-rich bio-digested slurry and sludge from bio gas plant serves as
a very good soil conditioner and improve the fertility of soil
• Varying capacity can be installed
The main disadvantages are

• It is dispersed and land intensive source

• Low energy density
• Labor intensive
• Not suitable for varying load
• Not possible to set up at any location
• Photosynthesis:
• Photosynthesis is the making (synthesis) of
organic structures and chemical stores by the
action of solar radiation.
• Solar radiation on green plants and other
photosynthetic organisms must relate to 2
dominant functions: –Temperature control for
chemical reactions to proceed – Photo excitation
of electrons for the production of oxygen and
carbon structural material.
• Maintaining correct temperature is important, so
solar radiation might be reflected or transmitted,
rather than absorbed to increase photosynthesis.
• The main organic material produced is
carbohydrate (e.g. Glucose C2H12O6)
• If we burn Glucose in Oxygen, the heat released
is about 16MJ/kg (4.8eV per carbon atom, 470KJ
per mole of carbon) 
• Photosynthesis:
• Basic process for fixation of atmospheric CO2 to
carbohydrate :
• Reactions in light: photons produce O2 from H2O,
and electrons are excited to produce strong
reducing chemicals
• Reactions without requiring light: reducing
chemicals reduce CO2 to carbohydrates, proteins
and fats
CO2 + 2H2O Light O2 +[CH2O] + H2O 
• Photosynthesis [CH2O] represents a basic unit of
carbohydrate, so the reaction for glucose is:
6CO2 + 12H2O light 6O2 + C6H12O6 + 6H2O
• Leaf Light Reaction
Forms of Biomass, composition and Fuel
properties
• Fuel Wood
• Energy density of 20 MJ/kg
• Charcoal
• Energy density of 30 MJ/kg
• 75-80 perc carbon content
• Fuel pellets and Briquettes
• Crop residues such as straw, rice husk etc.. And waste wood are pressed to form lumps used as
solid fuel
• Increased energy density and long distance transportation
• Bio-diesel
• Vegetable oil, edibles as well as non-edible in pure form or its blend with diesel
• It is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic and free of sulfur and aromatics
• Jatropha and Karanj are bio-diesel resources
• Plants like Euphorbia lathyris produce latex which can be processed to obtain hydrocarbons
having similar molecular structure of petroleum
• Bio-ethanol
• C2H5OH is colorless liquid Biofuel.
• Boiling point is 78 deg
• Energy density is 26.9 MJ/kg
• Derived from wet biomass contain sugar (sugarcane, sugarbeet, etc…),
starches(grains, tubers such as potato, cassaca etc..) or cellulose (woody
mater)
• It contains lignin and cellulose
• Brazil, highest sugarcane producer produce 23.4 B litters/year Ehanol (25 % of
world total ethanol)
• Biogas
• Organic waste from plants, animals and human
• Biogas is produces in biogas fermenter or digester
• Nitrogen rich sludge (fertilizer) is also produces as
byproduct
• It contains 50-60 % CH4, 30-40 % CO2, 5-10 % H2, 0.5-
0.7 % N2 and small amount of O2 and H2S
• Used for cooking, lighting, heating and small IC
engines
• 2/3 China’s rural families use biogas
• Producer gas
• Woody matter such as crop residue, wood chips,
bagasse (residue of sugarcane), rice husk, coconut
shell etc… can be transformed to producer gas
• By thermal gasification of solid fuel.
• It contains 19% CO, 18% H2, 1% CH4, 11% CO2 and
rest N2
Biomass Resources
Biomass resources are available from forests,
agriculture, aquaculture (fresh and sea water), and
industrial and social activities produced waste.
When plants are cultivated for energy purpose,
called energy farming.
• Forests
• Energy intensive trees are eucalyptus, poplar, pine
etc…
• Some plants produce seeds to yield vegetable oil.
• Oil producing plants: Jojoba, karanj
• Agriculture crops: Jatropha curcas (Ratanjyot)
• Agriculture residues
• Crop residues such as straw, rice husk, coconut shell,
groundnut shell, sugarcane bagasse etc….
• Energy crops
• Sugar plants:
• major raw material for bio-ethanol
• 30% Alcohol, 35% Bagasse, and 35% another of total sugar
cane energy
• Starch plants:
• Jerusalem artichoke provides raw material for bio-ethanol
• A tubular plant
• Cassava complimentary to sugarcane also used for bio-
ethanol
• Potato, Sweet potato and grains such as maize, barley, rice
and wheat provide starch which cab be converted to
ethanol.
• Oil producing plants:
• Sunflower, rapeseed, palm oil, castor oil, soyabin,
groundnut, cottonseed etc.. used
• Aquatic Plants
• Some water plants like water hyacinth, kelp, seaweed,
and algea etc… used to produce ethanol
• Urban waste
• Municiple solid waste – Energy by direct combustion
• Sewage (liquid waste)
Biomass energy Conversion Technologies
• Physical method
• Pelletization: It is process in which waste wood
is pulvarized, dried and forced under pressure
to prepare pellets.
• Briqueting
• Expelling egro products
• Fuel extraction
• Incineration (direct combustion)
• Thermo-chemical method (Pyrolysis)
• Biochemical method
• Ethanol Fermentation
• Anaerobic Digestion
• Gasification
Urban Waste to Energy Conversion
• MSW Incineration plant
• Combustion Biomass (e.g. wood chips) can be burned to provide
process and/or space heating.
• The combustion of biomass can also be used to raise steam to drive
engines / turbines which are coupled to generators producing
electricity. 
• Anaerobic Digestion:
• The process of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) involves the breakdown of
organic waste by bacteria in an oxygen- free environment
• Products of this process are Biogas and agricultural fertilizer (rich in
nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium,..)
• Biomass (e.g. animal manure) can be transformed to biogas by
anaerobic digestion and the biogas can be used to fuel a gas engine or
gas turbine, or burned in a boiler to provide heat or to raise steam.
• Biogas is a combustible gas composed primarily of Methane (CH 4 ) and
CO 2 
• Gasification:
• Chemical processes by which a gaseous fuel is
produced from solid fuel.
• Usually the raw material, such as house waste,
or compost are heated to a high temperature
(>700C) with a controlled atmosphere of oxygen
and/or steam
• Process begins with the release of volatiles from
the heated solid, leaving the char These
components undergo reactions with steam and
oxygen to produce ‘Syngas’ or a ‘producer gas’ –
mainly carbon monoxide and hydrogen, but
includes other trace gases
C + H2O → CO + H2
C + O2 → CO2
CO2 + C → 2CO 
• Pyrolysis: Collection of volatile
components generated when a
raw material is heated and
condensation to produce a fluid –
• Bio- oil Method: heating (not
burning) the bio- material with a
carefully controlled air supply,
minimizing gasification