Day 2 :
Keynote Forum
Elmar Steurer
Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Keynote: The combination of hydrothermal carbonization and gasification for decentralized baseload electricification
Time : 10:00-10:35
Biography:
Elmar was appointed as a Professor for Finance and Controlling by the University of Applied Sciences Neu-Ulm in January 2011. Since March 2013 he was elected as vice president to take over the responsibility for research and sustainability. Before his professorship he was active in the field of project finance, risk management and finance controlling as a team leader at Daimler AG and BMW AG and a senior manager at RWE AG. Elmar achieved a master in Economics Engineering of the University of Karlsruhe in 1992 and holds a PhD from the University of Karlsruhe since 1996. He is author of the book \"Okonometrische Methoden und maschinelle Lernverfahren zur Wechselkursprognose.â€
Abstract:
The combination of hydrothermal carbonization and gasification incorporates advantages when compared to the alternatives like combustion, fermentation, conventional carbonization and gasification of dry biomass. The described concept uses agricultural residues like rice husk and rice straw as a renewable energy resource. These rice residues typically exhibit low energy density which limits an economic transportation for electrical power generation. In addition to this, combustion does not make any sense due to the transportation restrictions and the high contents of ash and dust. To master this challenge, the process of Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) is applied to produce bio coal as a transportable value added product with high energy density and the same caloric value as lignite. The produced bio coal can be transported to gasification units in remote villages to generate electrical base load power for mini-grids. The advantage of HTC in the preparation of bio coal lies in the fact that, it is a clean gasification process with a very low level of ash and dust pollution. In addition to this, it is showed that this approach is economically profitable. In the case of the Philippines, the levelized cost of electricity is lower than using Diesel Gensets and it is comparable to the retail tariff of the national grid. Thus, this approach could be the key to a profitable generation of electricity as the HTC facility produces enough bio coal to achieve economic efficiency while supplying remote gasification units to produce electricity for mini-grids on a reliable and steady level.
- Sessions: Biomass Conversion Methods | Biomass Applications | Environmental Impact of Biomass | Biomass Market Analysis
Location: Hampton Suit
Chair
Tatjana Stevanovic
Laval University, Canada
Session Introduction
Tatjana Stevanovic
Laval University, Canada
Title: High purity lignin from new Organosolv biorefinery
Time : 11:25-11:55
Biography:
Tatjana Stevanovic has completed her undergraduate and graduate studies up to PhD at the University of Belgrade at which she was teaching Wood Chemistry and Chemical Transformation of Wood until 1997. Since then she is teaching these same cources at Laval University and performing research on bioactive polyphenols as well as on polymeric applications of lignins. She has published numerous scientific papers and book chapters as well as Wood chemistry textbook. She has deposited a international patent on new organoslv process leading to highly pure lignin along with cellulose pulp and bioactive extractives from pre-extraction.
Abstract:
The transformation of lignocellulosic biomass has become a particular interest for fuel and chemical productions. Lignins are the major polyphenolic polymers available presently from commercial pulping processes (kraft, sulfite). These industrial lignins enclose sulfur in their structures and have relatively important contents of ashes and residual carbohydrates. We are presenting here a new organosolv process which consists of pretreatment of biomass followed by pulping with the same solvent mixture in presence of Lewis acid catalyst. The lignin recovered from this process preserves the native lignin features. This new strategy of organosolv biorefinery allows not only the access to valuable secondary metabolites from the pretreatment, but also to cellulosic pulp and most importantly to high purity lignin. The comparative studies on other organosolv lignins (produced in our laboratory according to the published procedures) like Alcell and Lignol demonstrate that, our lignin has low condensation index (as calculated from FT-IR spectra), preserves the ï¢-O-4 moieties (identified in 2D HSQC NMR) and have higher free-phenol content (determined from 31P NMR ). It has high Klason lignin content, low carbohydrate (HPLC analysis) and ash content (ASTM). The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis of our lignin revealed a high Tg (between 140 and 155°C) which is the property to be explored for high value applications in composites and carbon fiber production. The results obtained from melt electro-spinning assay with this high purity organosolv lignin indicate a great potential for its carbon fiber and other high value applications.
Ãlvaro Cruz-Izquierdo
University of Bath, United Kingdom
Title: Cellulose-based films for electronics. Enzymatic triggered degradation for metal recovery
Time : 11:55-12:25
Biography:
Ãlvaro Cruz-Izquierdo has completed his PhD on enzymatic biosynthesis of biodiesel and biopolymers in 2013 from Univeristy of Basque Country (Spain). He has worked on biobased technogly in the last 8 years, and also has teaching experience on Molecular Biology, Enzymology and Analytical Chemistry. He currently works as Research Associate at the Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies at the Univeristy of Bath in the framework of CLEVER (Closed Loop Emotionally Valuable E-waste Recovery) project lead by Dr Janet L. Scott.
Abstract:
Cellulose, the most abundant polymer in nature, is composed of glucose units with the resulting linear polymeric chains having both inter- and intrachain hydrogen bonding in the crystalline polymer. In recent years, ionic liquids have been shown to be exceptional solvents for cellulose and thus hold great promise as biomass pre-treatment media. Additionally, the reconstitution of cellulose after ionic liquid not only facilitates formation of films, but also the pre-treatment increases enzymatic digestibility by cellulases. Different fillers can be also added to cellulose in order to give new properties to the regenerated films, such as greater flame retardancy or hydrophobicity. The aim of this work is to develop new cellulose-based films in order to use them as printing board for electronics. In this way, this new bio-based scaffold will hold conductive ink and different metals that are found in electronics. Moreover, an enzymatic treatement with cellulases will decompose the cellulose scaffolds and will facilitate the recovery of the precious metals in the material. In this work, α-cellulose was solubilised by 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate and cellulose films were obtained by phase inversion and treated with different fillers (e.g. laponite, amonium polyphosphate) and hydrophobizing agents (e.g. ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate, lignin). Different enzymatic studies were carried out in order to understand how they are affected by added fillers, agents and most metals found in e-waste. Moreover, a particular effort was made in order to develop specific method to use lignin as hydrophobizing agent.
Yifei Zhang
Harbin Insititute of Technology, China
Title: Spatial Planning Pattern of Biomass Energy Developing Network in Heilongjiang Province’s Village-Town System
Time : 12:25-12:55
Biography:
Yifei Zhang has completed his PhD at the age of 32 years from Harbin Insititute of Technology in 2011 and postdoctoral studies at the age of 36 years from Harbin Insititute of Technology in 2015. In 2011, he started to work in Harbin Insititute of Technology. His major research direction is biomass energy space planning in recent years. He has published 11 papers in reputed journals and published 1 book in China Building Industry Press. In 4 years, he presided 5 research projects (including 1 national research projects) as a head and total research funding is ¥914,000; at the same time, he involved in 2 national research projects.
Abstract:
In order to alleviate the energy shortage problem in northeast China, we apply “Energy landscape†theories and methods to guide and control the development of biomass energy from the perspective of spatial planning, and try to make full use of the rich resource of agricultural biomass in Heilongjiang province. By analyzing biomass energy production potential, we have established development orientation of biomass energy in Heilongjiang, which is to develop agriculture and limit deforestation. Further, we make analyze energy supply and energy demand as the key affecting factors, and improve strategy of space planning with biomass energy’s space network model on the basis of cross research between energy planning and spatial planning. In the revising process, we try to reveal laws of quantitative relation between settlements’ positions and transportation cost with GIS analysis tools. On the basis of theory, we select Fujin county as the research target to explore the optimal layout forms of biomass power plant development network, and this is the core research content for founding biomass energy’s space network model. Because different towns’ layout density and positions’ relation can impact space network model’s forms, we revise the model’s structure and shapes to make it to be more economical. By drawing up development strategy and founding biomass energy’s spatial network model, we can optimize the biomass energy consumption structure and reduce non-renewable energy consumption indirectly, and this kind of crucial energy-saving strategy should be promoted in the coming decades to slow down the process of problem of energy crisis getting worse.
Mande Kato Hosea
Kaduna state university, Nigeria
Title: Forests carbon input and changes soil properties of the tropical rain forestmalaysia
Time : 12:55-13:25
Biography:
I have completed my PhD from the University Putra Malaysia and with a postdoctoral studies offered from the Institute of tropical Forest , University Putra malaysia . Iam the research coodinatore of the faculty of environmental studies, Kaduna state university Nigeria and projector coordinator of the department of enviironmental managemen of the same faculty. I have published more than 23 papers in reputed journals and I have won three international research grants.
Abstract:
The tropical forest ecosystem play a critical role in the forest carbon input and it is important to understand the rate of occurrences by quantifying the forest biomass and its effect on soil properties in relation to microclimate condition and environmental factors. The study was conducted in the tropical forest ecosystem of Malaysia. The aim of the study was to estimate the forest carbon input and its effects on changes soil properties in the tropical forests. The Malaysia lowland tropical forest was found to be a carbon sink with an accumulation rate of total above ground biomass (TAGB), below ground biomass (BGB) and total forest carbon (SOCs) of 2788.64 to 3009.97, 100.88 to 134.94 and 2996.13 to 3088.98 mg ha-1 respectively and varied between February and September and October and January. The soil properties; total organic carbon (TOC), soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil carbon stock (SOCstock) varied in relation to forest biomass at a ranges of 1.1 to 3.0, 1.1 to 5.89 and 58.01 to 70.46 mg ha-1 , respectively. The forest biomass gradually increase over time and also influence the concentration and increase in soil properties in present of environmental factors responsible for physiological activity. The multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation indicated a strong positive correlation (R2=0.98, p<0.01) between forest biomass, soil properties and environmental factors. The tropical lowland forest of Malaysia indicated to increase the forest biomass over time and significantly influenced the concentration of soil properties.
Saida Tayibi
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
Title: Bio-fertilizers from biomasses and wastes: high added value products for agriculture
Time : 14:25-14:45
Biography:
Saida has a master degree in functional materials (2015). Actually, she is a PhD student in Center for Advanced Materials (CAM), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in collaboration with National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA).
Abstract:
The growing demand for energy, water and high value-added products have considerable economic and environmental issues and highlights the need to recycle and valorize the wastes. The Valorization of wastes is one of the routes that can contribute to a future sustainable economy; the challenge is to find the appropriate technologies that can convert wastes into bioenergy and by-products. In this process, organic waste and lignocellulosic biomass appear naturally as the main renewable materials able to providing not only alternative energy sources but also intermediate molecules derived from green chemistry and enabling access to a range of new products and formulations. The production of bio-fertilizers from wastes and lignocellulosic biomass appear as promising alternative to chemical fertilizers that can be contribute to increase of soil fertility and agriculture efficiency in sustainable farming . The aim of this study is to develop and produce different new bio-fertilizers using different technologies such as pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, composting and microalgae cultivation. Different technologies and bio-fertilizers developed in this study were be compared in term of soil fertility, energy efficiency and environmental impact.
Charles E. Wyman
University of California, California
Title: Co-Solvent Enhanced Lignocellulosic Fractionation (CELF): A Novel and Versatile Pretreatment to Increase Yields for Biological or Catalytic Biorefining
Biography:
Charles Wyman has been the Ford Motor Company Chair in Environmental Engineering at CE-CERT and a professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering at University of California, Riverside since 2005. Dr. Wyman’s research focuses on aqueous processing of cellulosic biomass for sustainable production of transportation fuels via biological and catalytic conversion. Prior to joining UCR, he was the Paul E. and Joan H. Queneau Distinguished Professor in Environmental Engineering Design at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. Dr. Wyman is also the cofounder, Chief Development Officer, and chair of the Scientific Advisory Board for Mascoma Corporation, a startup company focused on biomass conversion to ethanol and other products. Wyman has a BS degree in chemical engineering from the University of Massachusetts, MA and PhD degrees in chemical engineering from Princeton University, and an MBA from the University of Denver. He also has substantial experience leading R&D in a national laboratory and industry.
Abstract:
Our team recently invented a novel pretreatment called Co-solvent Enhanced Lignocellulosic Fractionation (CELF) that applies renewable, water-miscible tetrahydrofuran (THF) with dilute sulfuric acid to fractionate cellulosic biomass and achieve high yields of sugars or furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and levulinic acid for biological or catalytic conversion, respectively, into fuels and chemicals. Recovering highly volatile THF for recycle from post CELF liquid precipitates nearly pure low molecular weight lignin for its potential valorization into fuels and chemicals. For biological conversion, CELF recovers about 90% of available sugars from hemicellulose while removing similar fractions of lignin. Of note, hydrolysis of CELF solids with just 2 mg enzyme/g glucan achieves nearly theoretical glucan yields, and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) hydrolyzes and ferments about 90% of these solids at 5 mg-enzyme g-glucan-1. Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) with Clostridium thermocellum solubilizes most CELF glucan in 1 day without external enzyme addition. Alternatively, operating CELF at more severe conditions converts about 87% of pentose sugars to furfural for catalytic conversion, and glucan-rich solids can be further reacted with dilute acid to levulinic acid at about 75% of theoretical yield or digested to glucose with high yields at very low enzyme loadings. Additionally, CELF realized similar results with agricultural residues and recalcitrant hardwoods. In addition to its potential impact in increasing yields and reducing costly enzyme loadings for biomass deconstruction to sugars, the remarkable features of CELF can also be invaluable for gaining new insights into biomass deconstruction that suggest advanced approaches to overcoming recalcitrance, the key economic obstacle to fuels and chemicals from biomass. For example, enzymes show prolonged high activity over weeks for application to CELF pretreated solids at low enzyme loadings and do not suffer from the rapid drop off in enzyme action witnessed when such low enzyme loadings are applied to pure cellulose or solids produced by dilute acid or hydrothermal pretreatments. In addition to providing more details into application of CELF pretreatment to deconstruction of cellulosic biomass, an overview will be given of process strategies that can capitalize on these unique features.
Craig B. Faulds
Aix Marseille University, France
Title: Exploiting fungal diversity for optimized deconstruction and valorization of lignocellulosic biomass
Biography:
Craig Faulds completed his PhD in 1989 from the University of East Anglia in Norwich while at the Institute of Food Research. He has subsequently worked in Madrid at CIB-CSIC, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and now is a Professor of Biochemistry att he Polytech School of Engineering in Aix Marseille University. He is the head of the mixed research unit of INRA looking at exploiting the natural biodivesity of filamentous fungi for the deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass. He has published more than 110 papers in reputed journals and is an editorial board member of Fungal Biology and Biotechnology.
Abstract:
Filamentous fungi are an invaluable source of enzymes able to deconstruct the complex lignocellulosic plant cell wall. The wealth of genomic data obtained recently from wood-rotting fungi has revealed the diversity of lignocellulolytic enzymes they produce. The CIRM-CF collection hosted in our lab (https://www6.inra.fr/cirm/Champignons-Filamenteux) is dedicated to such fungi originating from specific temperate and tropical biotopes. This provides a unique tool to explore fungal functional biodiversity with applications in various fields of biotechnology, including the pretreatment and saccharification of biomass as well as the biotransformation of biomass-derived compounds into platform chemicals for food and non-food application. Beyond the comparison of genome portfolios, the analysis of transcriptome profiles in vivo allows identification of the sets of genes encoding the enzyme machineries expressed according to the organisms’ strategy for plant cell wall degradation/modification. These analyses reveal which enzymes are produced during the different stages of plant cell wall deconstruction, whether it will be drastic disruption or more subtle modifications, and under challenging environmental conditions, such as marine environments. Under the auspices of a Joint Genome Initiative-sponsored project from the US Department of Energy, we are currently establishing the genomic, transcriptomic and secretomic data from 40 Polyporales species grown on complex (Pine chips, Aspen chips, Wheat Straw) and simple (cellulose, xylan, maltose) substrates. This compliments previous studies on selected fungi and the ligninolytic enzymes they produce and allows us to identify novel enzymes and try to elucidate the different mechanisms in nature involved in biomass deconstruction.
Leo Rummel
Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
Title: Work Regimes and Behaviour of Mineral Matter in Biomass Boiler Systems
Biography:
Leo Rummel has finished MSc and MBA in Tallinn University of Technology and is currently doing a PhD in Thermal Power Engineering under the supervision of prof. Aadu Paist. He is working as a By-Product Development Manager in the Estonian national energy company Enefit. He is the Deputy Chairman of Estonian Thermal Power Engineers Association.
Abstract:
This article gives an overview of the first results of a long-term research on work regimes and behaviour of mineral matter in biomass boiler systems. As woody biomass is gaining importance as an energy source for electricity and heat we need to investigate with scientific methodology the main problems that occur with biomass boiler systems. There is more research on large power plants and lab scale batch boilers, but the results are often not applicable in case of small and medium size biomass boilers on which the research has been limited. In this article two small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) plant industrial boilers systems are compared based on design and measured operating data. One boiler system uses grate firing and the other one bubbling fluidised bed technology. Both CHP plants have capacities of 2 MW electrical and 8 MW thermal. Previous research on the subject is reviewed, the set-up of the experiment is described and the results are provided and analysed. First conclusions on a more suitable technology for a mixed woody biomass fuel are drawn.
Thomas D. Foust
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA
Title: Producing advantaged biofuels for high efficiency engines
Biography:
Dr. Thomas Foust is the Director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Bioenergy and Biofuels Center. He has over 25 years of experience in the biofuels field. His areas of expertise include feedstock production, biomass conversion technologies to fuels and products, and environmental and societal sustainability issues associated with biofuels. He has over 100 publications in the biomass field covering all aspects of biofuels technology. Dr. Foust has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Abstract:
The world desires both higher efficiency engines and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting biofuels. To achieve these goals a large number of countries have passed provisions that require higher efficiency engines and lower GHG fuels. Unfortunately, these provisions have largely been developed independent of each other and can conflict with each other. For example the requirement to blend in ethanol at the 10% level into gasoline in the US decreases the distance traveled per volume basis (km/l) in current spark ignition engine powered cars due to the lower energy content of ethanol. A better approach would be to develop biofuels that as a minimum maintain status quo with current gasoline, diesel and jet fuels but ideally allow for higher engine and thus vehicle efficiencies. This talk will discuss some possibilities for producing biofuels that look promising for being superior to current petrol, diesel and jet fuels for use in the next generation of higher efficiency light and heavy duty engines.
Filip B. Harasimiuk
West Poleranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland
Title: The use of selected strains of microalgae to rapidly reduce nutrient pollutants in industrial wastewater
Biography:
Filip Harasimiuk is a PhD student of the Department of Aquatic Sozology of Faculty of Food Science and Fisheries West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Food Sciences and Fisheries at the Agricultural University in Szczecin. In the circle of scientific interests doctoral student is to optimize biomass production of selected species of microalgae. In addition, research interests also apply to the issue of the interdisciplinary use of microalgae, in particular biotechnological processes used in environmental protection and in various branches of food industry.
Abstract:
Treatment of wastewater from industry creates serious technical and technological problems. The direct method is related to the fact that most of the waste water is characterized by a non-uniform composition, high concentrations of organic compounds and the content of specific substances. Additionally wastewater may also be characterized by the presence of simple phosphates and organic phosphorus. A perfect example of such contaminants are effluent from fish farming. Because of the potential negative impact of the plant on natural systems, it is necessary standardization allowable concentrations of pollutants in waste water emitted. The organic phosphorus compounds are a major problem in the purification of this kind of treatment, as they are difficult to remove. Same because conventional methods of disposal of sewage are not always effective. So far the problem has not been completely solved and the technology their rapid removal from wastewater has not been developed. Therefore fully reasonable to searching for new methods of removal of phosphorus from waste water from fish farming. The aim of the study was to determine the applicability of microalgae Monoraphidium controtum reductions of organic forms of phosphorus from waste water from closed circuit farming (RAS). The presented results indicate that, during seven days of the process it is possible to remove about 30% organic phosphorus. At the same time it has been observed increase in biomass microalgae determined from measurements of chlorophyll "a" of at ok.1700%. Analyzing the results of the above it can be concluded that the solution proposed in the study can be competitive solution for traditional methods of sewage treatment with loads of phosphorus technology currently used.
Nwabunwanne Nwokolo
University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Title: Analytical and thermal evaluation of carbon particles recovered at the cyclone of a biomass gasification system
Biography:
Nwokolo Nwabunwanne is currently enrolled for Doctor of philosophy in Physics at University of Fort Hare South Africa. She completed her Masters of Science in physics in May 2014 at the same instuition. She also holds a bachelor of engineering in Electronics and Computer Engineering. She has published two papers in Elsevier Journals and have one currently under review. Her current study is on Heat recovery form biomass gasification system.
Abstract:
Gasification of biomass for the generation of heat and power gives off product gases that are contaminated mostly by carbon particulates and tars. The degree of contamination depends on the gasification process, type of gasifier and type of biomass used. The use of downdraft gasifier minimizes the production of tar to a tolerable limit; however carbon particles still pose a challenge particularly with integration of heat exchanger for heat recovery from the product gas. Although the presence of carbon particles in the product gas does not affect the quality and quantity of heat contained in the product gas, it does influence the heat recovery process and materials used in the recovery. Hence there is need for characterization of these carbon particles to ascertain their chemical compositions, thermal properties and morphological features. This study aims at evaluating the characteristic features of carbon particles recovered from the syngas stream during gas cleaning at the cyclone. The elemental analysis of the carbon particle sample was performed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. An electron beam from scanning electron microscopy was passed through the sample surface at a magnification of 1000 and accelerating voltage of 15 kV to determine the morphological features. The thermal properties were investigated using thermo gravimetric analyzer. Silicon, oxygen and carbon were found to be the dominating elements in the carbon particulate. The final paper will present the final result
- Sessions: Advanced Biofuels | Production of Biofuels
Location: Hampton Suit
Chair
Markku Saloheimo
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Finland
Session Introduction
Markku Saloheimo
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Finland
Title: Development of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei as an enzyme production cell factory for biorefineries
Time : 14:45-15:15
Biography:
Markku Saloheimo has completed his PhD in 1991 from Helsinki University and postdoctoral studies in University of Hannover. He is a Research team leader at VTT Technical Research Centre. He has published about 90 peer-reviewed papers and is an inventor in 23 patent families.
Abstract:
In biotechnical production processes of biofuels and chemicals from plant biomass, lignocellulose is converted to C5 and C6 sugars by hydrolytic enzymes. They form a major cost factor for the whole process. For this reason a lot of research and development work has been recently invested into making more efficient lignocellulose degradation enzyme cocktails and creating more efficient enzyme production strains. The major production host for biorefinery enzymes is the fungus Trichoderma reesei that can produce enzyme titres of over 100 g/l. Our institute has over 30 years of experience in the molecular, systems and synthetic biology as well as in strain improvement and bioprocess optimisation in this production system. We have used a number of different approaches to develop more potent hydrolytic enzyme mixtures and production strains with improved efficiency. For example, we have discovered novel enzymes from other filamentous fungi that can boost up the efficiency of the lignocellulose degradation enzyme mixtures. We have identified and deleted genes encoding major proteases that hamper the production of enzymes in T. reesei, in particular ones from a foreign organism. Furthermore, we have used systems biology approaches to identify new transcription factors regulating enzyme production, and enhanced enzyme productivity by modifying the expression of these factors. The establishment of better enzyme production and hydrolysis technology by these means will be discussed in the presentation.
Huang Juanjuan
Lanzhou University of Technology, China
Title: Heating Biogas Digester with Solar Energy: Research Status and Prospects
Time : 15:15-15:45
Biography:
Huang Juanjuan has got her Master Degree from Lanzhou University in 2012. She is a engineer in Key Laboratory of Complementary Energy System of Biomass and Solar Energy, Gansu Province, China.
Abstract:
Solar heated biogas production technology, not only helps to improve the rate of anaerobic fermentation and biogas production yield, but also solves the problems like low yield or no biogas production under the cold circumstance very effectively. This technology supplies the energy efficiently and steadily with solar and bio-energy, and it has become a research focus for renewable energy, both in China and other countries. The summary of the related research status and the exploration about the prospects of this research development can contribute to the improvement of the technology. For this purpose, we have worked on the solar warming systems for small biogas production systems and biogas projects, including operation principle, thermal performance, biogas productivity, advantages and disadvantages, system applicability and so on. The prospective development of various solar heated biogas production systems is also discussed. Focusing on the cost-effective aspect of solar and biomass energy complementary CCHP with biogas system, and the solar and biomass energy complementary CHP with biogas systems was found to be the promising in the direction of small-scale solar warming biogas production systems and biogas project with solar energy. The results serve to guide the biogas production systems with solar warming and its engineering demonstration application; they also have significant value for the beautiful village and ecological civilization construction of China.
Saloua Fertahi
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
Title: Biofertilizers based on biomass: Efficiency and impact on the chemical and biological soil quality
Time : 15:45-16:05
Biography:
Saloua is currently doing her PhD at the Center for Advanced Materials, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, in collaboration with the National Institute of Agronomic Research. She works on biofertilizers based on biopolymers. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in physical and chemical sciences (2010). In 2015, she obtained her engineering degree in process, energy and environment (Head of the class with the highest honor).
Abstract:
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the production of food will need to increase by 70% in order to supply the population which expected to reach approximately 9.5 billion in 2050. To respond on this exponential growth of the global population food need, fertilizers are one of the most important elements to increase the agriculture efficiency for objective to insure the global food security. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are the three major elements required for plant growth. In the other hand, plant benefits just from a small quantity of conventional fertilizers (30–60% N, 10–20% P and 30–50% K), and the rest is lost by volatilization in the atmosphere, leaching into the groundwater or fixation in the soil. This fertilizers class has a negatively impact on the environment and are not economically efficient. The aim of our project is to produce a new generation of biofertilizers, using an eco-friendly coating based on biomass and biopolymers derived from biomass (cellulose, pectin, alginate, and chitin). These different produced biofertilizers are compared in term of the soil fertility, the physical properties, the nutrient release rate, the biodegradability in the soil after the total release and the environmental impact.
Joseph Wood
University of Birmingham, UK
Title: Catalytic Upgrading of HTL Bio-Oil Using Bio-Pd/C Catalyst
Time : 16:20-16:50
Biography:
Professor Joe Wood completed a BEng degree in Chemical Engineering at Loughborough University and PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Cambridge (2001). He has three years of industrial experience with BP and Albright and Wilson. Since 2001 he has worked at the University of Birmingham, where he was awarded a Chair in 2012 and leads the Chemical Reaction Engineering Group in the School of Chemical Engineering. He has published 72 journal papers and four book chapters.
Abstract:
With depleting oil reserves and increased worldwide demand for transportation fuels and chemicals, the need for an alternative fuel source is becoming increasingly apparent. Bio-oil is produced through fast pyrolysis or hydrothermal liquefaction routes1, 2. But the produced bio-oil has a high oxygen content, leading to a low heating value and lower stability over time. Hence methods to upgrade bio-oil to make it more closely resemble crude oil are urgently sought. Catalytic hydrotreatment is as one of the most promising technologies for hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) biofuel upgrading. In the current study, HTL bio-oil produced from a chlorella microalgae slurry in a continuous flow reactor was hydrotreated with bio-Pd/C. Bio-Pd-C uses metallic NP-decorated whole bacterial cells as chemical catalysts. The activity of the Bio-Pd/C catalyst was evaluated against commercial Pd/C. The upgrading potential of the bio-Pd/C was investigated under three variables; time, temperature and oil to catalyst ratio in a stirred reactor. Both catalysts Pd/C and bio-Pd/C showed similar activity under similar upgrading condition. Oxygen and nitrogen content were reduced by 65% and 35%, respectively, at 325°C in 4 h reaction time and bio-oil to catalyst ratio of 20. Further analysis of upgraded oil by GC-MS, Sim-Dist, and elemental analysis attributed to improvement in the fuel properties of bio-oil. Catalyst analysis with ICP-MS, TGA and elemental analyzer attributed that the biomass from bio-Pd/C contributed to bio-oil yield. 1. Xiu, S, Shahbazi, A., Renew. Sustain. Energy Reviews 2012, 16, 4406. 2. Mortensen, P.M. et al., Appl. Catal. A: Gen 2011, 407, 1.
Laura Vieira Maia de Sousa
University of BrasÃlia, Brazil
Title: Characterization and gaseification of biomass Macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata)
Biography:
Laura Vieira de Sousa Maia is an undergraduate student in Energy Engineering, at the University of Brasilia. Is a fellow of the Institutional Extension Program Scholarships since 2014 in Macaria project: Macaúba and Engineering : Oil production of pulp and almond of Macaúba and Gasification of its Waste . Has an article published in the Annals of the VI Meeting of Science and Technology Faculty Gama called Gasification of Macaúba: the Technical and Chemical Aspects Assessment.
Abstract:
The species Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. Ex Mart. Macaúba common name, is an oleaginous fruit which has 4.000kg oil yield per hectare, ten times greater than soy. It is distributed throughout Brazil, its highest concentration in the Southeast, North and Midwest of the country. Their exploitation, as subsistence crop has become an alternative for the production of biodiesel, bio-kerosene for aviation and by-products of forest products.
The culture of macaúba is in domestication phase, and is still practiced an extractived in a small-scale culture. In this condition, many fruits of macaúba are lost by deterioration of endogenous enzymatic and/or microbial activity, damaging the quality of the oil. Thus, gasification is presented as an alternative use of these residues to generate electricity primarily for its internal use in agro-extractive communities.
This study is divided into four parts: pyrolysis, characterization of the fruit, chromatography of gases and generation of electricity. The steps of pyrolysis and characterization of the fruit have been completed, and it was possible to obtain high values of yield of pyrolysis and Potential Higher Calorific, 30, 54% and 23.1244 MJ / kg, respectively. The values obtained for the fixed carbon content, volatile content and ash content were respectively 74,615%, 23.18% and 5.44%.
Biography:
Darshit Upadhyay is working as an Assistance Professor in Mechanical Engineering Department, Nirma University. He is pursuing PhD from the same institution. He has published one paper in International Reputed Journal( Energy).
Abstract:
Large availability of agricultural land in India provides the country with abundant biomass energy resource of 500 million metric tonnes per year. With programmes like Make in India, Digital India putting the country on a fast track growth coupled with existing power deficit, it might be very difficult to meet the energy needs. India’s Energy Development Programme has been put to severe pressure with the ever increasing demand supply gap. Many interior regions of India also known as dark zones are yet to be connected with power grid. Biomass also happens to be the third largest primary source of energy after coal and oil. The current power production through biomass is 2,667 MW compared to the potential of about 18,000 MW . Uneven geographic distribution of biomass, improper supply chain distribution, availability of easier direct combustion methods restrict use of other efficient advanced technologies. Converting biomass into producer gas by gasification is one of the suitable ways for off grid power solution. This paper analyzes various challenges restrict the growth of biomass gasification in India. Thermal and Electrical routes for power generation from biomass are reviewed from technical and economical point of view. Production of biomass and utilization are critically reviewed from yesteryears till the latest developments. Government policies and financial support is also brought under the purview of analysis. The analysis suggests a combined approach to promote awareness as well as subsidize or provide grants to overcome these challenges. Also, decentralized collection of biomass can lead extensive growth of small scale off grid biomass gasifier. In last few years, lots of research institutes and industries in India like IISC, TERI, ANKUR etc. have contributed a lot in all over growth of gasification technology in the country.
José João Gaspar
BIOCOM – Angola Bioenergy Company, Angola
Title: WasteIntegration of methane for electricity generation in sugar and alcohol industry from sugar cane
Biography:
Jose Gaspar It is an agricultural engineer and doctoral studies at the Instituto Superior Politecnico Jose Antonio Echeverria- CUJAE in Havana, Cuba. He is the College Professor of ISPTEC (Polytechnic Institute of Technology and Science). Specialist cooperatives by the Catholic University of Goias in Goiania, Federative Republic of Brazil. Was Head of Department of Promotion and Assistance Techniques in Agriculture Ministry. He was Head of Section Project of Angola Cooperatives Union and is Advisor to the National Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture Seed Angola.
Abstract:
The present work has as main objective the technological assessment of Waste (vinasse) to generate electricity from the biogas generated in the anaerobic fermentation to the study object of BIOCOM a plant located in the municipality of Cacuso, Malanje Province. The vinasse is the main residue from the distillation of fermented wine of sugar cane, which is produced in bulk and has both nutritional characteristics and pollutants. The stillage has a high organic load, this load that is fermented in anaerobic digesters and reactors. The digestion is the fermentation of organic fillers in anaerobic environments produce a gas rich in methane. The biogas produced in the process can be recovered through chambers and piping systems that deliver gas to washing and subsequent use in heat engines. The technical analysis of the work aims to measure and qualify tools, machines and reactors required for the digestion occurs efficiently and that produces biogas with methane enough to power internal combustion engine.
Biography:
Phil Longhurst is a Reader in Environmental Technology with research interests in resource management, bioenergy, and the diversion of materials from landfill. His current research focusses on the recovery of metal contaminants and energy from phytoremediation crops (EPSRC project “Cleaning Land for Wealthâ€) to form valuable particles. His work aims to assist the creation of new processes and give confidence to investors seeking innovative methods to retain resource value. Cranfield is part of a UK university consortium on resource efficiency project (EPSRC CORE network) developing new industrial processes and challenging the way in which we use materials throughout their lifecycle.
Abstract:
Widespread pollution from the release of elemental contaminants is a growing concern. Elements such as arsenic, nickel and platinum group metals increasingly pollute the biosphere from contaminated sites. Phytoremediation - the process of accumulating elements within plant biomass has the potential to treat contaminated sites at low cost. This presentation discusses the scope for an approach that combines land remediation with biomass post-processing to achieve energy conversion from crops alongside the recovery of high value elements. Process performance and return on investment are key factors in establishing phytoremediation. This presentation explains an analytical review of plant species for phytoremediation to assess viability. The study includes the application of Monte Carlo simulation to look at the project risk in achieving adequate biomass yields. It then considers options for recovery of elements from the biomass - low energy, low cost and resource recovery from land remediation.
J.P. Paredes-Sánchez
University of Oviedo, Spain
Title: Forest Bioenergy at Regional Level in Europe. A Case Study
Biography:
J.P. Paredes-Sánchez, is a lecturer in the Department of Energy at the University of Oviedo, Spain. He has been associated with energy projects at the Oviedo Higher Technical School of Mining and Engineering since 2007. He is the author or co-author of papers, books and conferences on energy. He is also involved in EU programs for updating renewable energy research and higher education.
Abstract:
Forest biomass has turned out to be one of the most interesting energy sources in the change to a sustainable energy model, because of its consideration as a renewable resource as well as a reducing agent of the greenhouse effect gas emissions. Forest residue can be an energy source to substitute the use of CO2-emitting fossil fuel. Therefore, the management of the forests can affect the global carbon cycle. Asturias is a region located in the North part of Spain. The natural vegetation is formed by characteristic species of humid areas. Forest biomass is studied like forest residue suppliers and natural key resources for a bioenergy industry. For forest the cleaning is not carried out in a periodic way, mainly because the management of this kind of residue is very complicated as a consequence of the orography and the lack of suitable machinery. Nowadays, in general, biomass residues from cleaning, thinning and forest exploitation (branches, etc.) have no clear application in Asturias. A fraction of the residue due to the nature of the raw material was unavoidable, but improvements in evaluation, operating practices and processing equipment can improve the situation. The results show forest biomass as an alternative energy resource to fossil fuels at regional level.
- Sessions: Biomass Energy Resources | Bioenergy Conversion Methods | Renewable Energy | Waste Biomass
Location: Hampton Suit
Chair
Fabiano Ximenes
NSW Dept of Primary Industries, Australia
Session Introduction
WeiSheng Zeng
Academy of Forest Inventory and Planning, China
Title: Construction of Tree Biomass Models and Carbon Accounting Parameters for Major Tree Species in China
Biography:
WeiSheng Zeng is a professional engineer of the Academy of Forest Inventory and Planning (Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Center), State Forestry Administration. He received his Ph.D. in forest management from Chinese Academy of Forestry, in July 2011. He worked in the Central-South Forest Inventory and Planning Institute in Changsha, Hunan, during 1990-2008. He worked as Deputy General Engineer in charge of forest resource inventory and monitoring, responsible for the 6th and 7th NFI of eight provinces in central-south region. His research interests cover forest inventory and monitoring, mathematical modeling of tree volumes and biomass. He has published more than 130 papers in journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of Sci. Silvae Sin.
Abstract:
Addressing climate change has become a concern issue worldwide in the 21st century and an important mission in Chinese forestry. Accompanying the implementation of the 8th National Forest Inventory during 2009-2013, a program of individual tree biomass modeling for major tree species in China was completed. Based on thematic studies, a scheme of population classification on modeling individual tree biomass equations was presented, including 34 tree species or species groups, 6 large scale geographic regions, and a total of 70 populations; and two technical regulations on procedures for collecting samples and methodology for biomass modeling were published as ministerial standards for application. During the five years, a total amount of 5860 sample trees for 38 modeling populations of 15 tree species were felled for aboveground biomass (including four components: stem wood, stem bark, branches and foliage) mensuration, and about 1/3 trees were also used for belowground biomass mensaration. In addtion, carbon accounting parameters, such as carbon factor and wood density, were also measured in laboratory. Up to now, the individual tree biomass models for 33 populations of 13 tree species have been developed using the approaches of dummy models, mixed models and error-in-variable simultaneous equations. The biomass models involve above- and below-ground biomass, and four component biomass. Aboveground biomass model is compatible to tree volume model and biomass conversion factor model and additive to four component biomass models, and belowground biomass model is compatible to root-shoot ratio model. The biomass models and carbon accounting parameters for five tree species were published as ministerial standards for application. The ministerial standards for other eight tree species (groups) would be published in 2016. The tree biomass models and carbon accounting parameters would lay the foundation for estimating carbon storage and evaluating carbon sequestration capacity of forest ecosystems in China.
Fabiano Ximenes
NSW Dept of Primary Industries, Australia
Title: Linking forest biomass production with biomass users: a perspective from Australia
Time : 10:35-11:05
Biography:
Fabiano Ximenes is a Research Scientist with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries with a Masters in Wood Science (Australian National University). For the last fifteen years his research interests have revolved around biomass and carbon in forest and wood products, and bioenergy in Australia. Fabiano has published numerous papers and technical reports, and he was one of the lead authors of the “Harvested Wood Products†Chapter of the recently published IPCC document titled “Revised Supplementary Methods and Good Practice Guidance Arising from the Kyoto Protocolâ€.
Abstract:
There are large volumes of forestry based residues in Australia, currently wasted or under-utilized in a very low-value applications. In some regions, this situation has been made worse by the decrease in the strong demand for woodchips for pulp production. Use of biomass for large-scale bio-energy applications in Australia has been slow, especially in comparison with the practice in many European countries and North America. One of the main reasons for this slow uptake has historically been the abundance of fossil-fuel resources such as brown coal, black coal and natural gas. There has also been certain reluctance from parts of the community to embrace greater use of biomass for bio-energy, due to the perceptions of negative impacts on the forests. The North Coast of NSW is an example of a region where we know that there is abundant forestry biomass potentially available for energy applications. In this project we are working with forest biomass producers (forest and facility levels), energy technology providers, local communities and various levels of Government, with the aim to create opportunities for new markets to develop. The work includes a detailed assessment of resource availability (also spatially), physical characterization of the biomass, impacts of extraction at the forest level (nutrient availability, biodiversity and greenhouse emissions), as well as a cost-benefit analysis. In this presentation, I will discuss the results to date and prospects for rolling out similar engagement models across different regions in Australia.
Li Jinping
Lanzhou University of Technology, China
Title: The Feasibility to Meeting the Energy Demands of Single Building with Solar Energy and Biomass
Time : 11:20-11:50
Biography:
After getting doctor degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong Universtiy on March, 2005, Li Jinping have been on the way to research and development of the renewable energy system completely depending on solar energy and biomass, which is self-sufficient and able to meet all-round energy needs of users. Now, he is a professor in Lanzhou University of Technology. He has more than 60 papers published and serves as the dean of Key Laboratory of Complementary Energy System of Biomass and Solar Energy and the dean of Collaborative Innovation Center of Key Technology for Northwest Low-Carbon Urbanization, Gansu Province, China.
Abstract:
In order to meet the energy demands of electricity, heating and cooking gas continuously and steadily with solar energy and biomass, which is abundant in Northwest China, a 117 m2 single building was considered and a renewable energy system was integrated with the photovoltaic array, solar thermal collector and thermostatic biogas digester in Minqin County, Gansu Provinice, China. The performances of CHPB was experimentaly studied and the economic and environmental benefits were evaluated. During the whole heating period, the system meets 69% of building heating. When the daily average ambient temperature is higher than 3℃, the system can meet building heating completely. While the accmumlated daily solar radiation is less than 14 MJ/m2, the system can not meet the energy demads for building heating.The total biogas produced by system during test is 110.71 m3, with an average methane content of 54.74%, which always meets the cooking fuel demands of the residents. The daily electricity generated is always higher than the consumed by the system itself, the system can meet the electricity demands partly in the heating periods, and meet completely in the non-heatingperiods. Every year, the system saves 3556kg standard coal, and meets 79.3% total energy demands of the building. Thus, the system leads to 9317 kg CO2 reduction, 30.2 kg SO2 reduction and 26.3kg NOx reduction, 9.2 m3sheep manure recycle and 11 m3 organic fertilizer production. The static payback period of the system is 6.75 years.
Subir Kumar Nandy
UNIBIO A/S, Denmark
Title: Towards a green future: bacterial biomass used for feed
Time : 11:50-12:20
Biography:
Subir Kumar Nandy (m), is a Senior Fermentation Specialist and responsible for Unibio’s fermentation facilities at DTU. Subir has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in India, and did two postdoctoral works at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, and at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). He has performed fermentation biomass composition analysis, kinetic modelling, fluxomics and other omics analysis, and used novel biological methods. He has teaching activity and supervised Bachelor/Diploma/Masters/PhD student works in these fields. He joined the Unibio team in January 2015 with responsibility for developing and improving Standard Operating Procedures as well as developing the optimal medium composition for running fermentations in the lab-scale fermentor and U-Loop. He is involved in most Unibio projects. He has more than ten years of experience in fermentation.
Abstract:
Demand for animal protein (meat) will increase due to the combined effects of population growth and increasing standards of living in the world. This will lead to stronger demand for traditional major sources of protein used in commercial livestock feeds. The supply of these proteins is limited and cannot be increased without e.g. resulting in land use changes or adding unsustainable pressure to ocean fish stock. Methylococcus capsulatus is a methanotroph that contains 70% protein when grown under aerobic conditions. The high content of protein makes M. capsulatus biomass attractive for use as feed material. Process development efforts have been made, resulting in the use of a U-Loop reactor for continuous production of biomass using M. capsulatus as the main population and three other bacteria in smaller quantities in the culture, utilizing methane from natural gas as the carbon source. In this paper we present the preliminary results of the operation of a pilot plant 100 L U-Loop reactor. All four bacteria are non-GMO, and their use as feed material has been approved (EU Commission Regulation No 575/2011, Section 12.1.2). The environmental virtue of the process lies in the fact that it is able to exploit excess natural gas which will otherwise be vented and/or burned, producing carbon dioxide. Thus, the process paves the way for realizing a circular economy where waste is used to produce a useful material. The application of this process also releases land used for producing feed for other uses, as the same amount of protein can be produced using significantly smaller areas of land.
Longyu Zheng
Huazhong Agricultural University, China
Title: Insect-Based Biorefinery for Converting Waste Biomass into Energy and Protein
Time : 12:20-12:50
Biography:
Longyu Zheng has completed his PhD from Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), China, in 2012 and did collaborative research on Entomology at Texas A&M University and USDA, USA, during 2009-2010. Currently Dr. Zheng is Associated Professor at HZAU and State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology. His research has been focusing on waste biomass management employing insects and microbes to produce bioenergy, animal feed, microbial fertiliser and other coproducts. He has published more than 17 papers in reputed journals.
Abstract:
Fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation are twin crises confronted by all mankind. Thus, considerable amount of studies have been promoted to develop clean and renewable alternative energies, achieving a harmonious, balanced and sustainable development. In this context, bioconversion of waste biomass has been found to be a good way to recover the hidden energy. Certain insects especially some saprophagous species such as Hermetia illucens, Musca domestica in Diptera and Tenebrio molitor in Coleoptera, can be used to degrade organic waste, including animal manure, food waste, municipal waste, lignocelluloses, and other bio-solids; an economically viable insect biomass rich in fat and protein could be produced and further processed into biodiesel and animal feed. Properties of insect derived biodiesel have been shown comparable to rapeseed biodiesel and other vegetable oil biodiesel. Insect fat could serve as a promising low cost and non-food feedstock for biodiesel. Furthermore, insect-based conversion of waste biomass does not require large land or waster areas when compared to energy crops and other forms of bioenergy materials such as microalgae. A union of insects and microbes could further improve the current artificial mass breeding system of insects, enhance the processing capacity of the waste management system, and increase the final insect biomass yields, making waste-to-energy more feasible.
Doha EL Alami
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
Title: Valorization and treatment of wastewater sludge by biological and thermochemical processes: Production of bioenergy and bio fertilizers
Time : 12:50-13:10
Biography:
Doha has completed it studies in process engineering last year, and now she is a PhD student working on the conversion of sewage sludge into bioenergy, at the center for advanced materials (CAM) in Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in collaboration with the National Institute of Agronomic Research.
Abstract:
The excessive uses of water in domestic, industrial and agricultural activities lead to produce more wastewater. This latter requires more specific treatment before being reused, which generates higher sewage sludge quantities rich in organic matters and toxicproducts. The accumulation and production of sludge in high quantity have a negative environmental impact, whichrequire theirs treatment and valorization. Many technologiesare developed and usedin wastewater sludge treatment such as thermochemical process (gasification, combustion and pyrolysis) and biological fermentation(aerobic and anaerobic digestion). These different technologies can produces, bioenergy, biochars and bio-oils and biomolecules at a pilot and industrial scale.. Biochar could be used as soil amendment or as adsorbent of some heavy metals and could be involved in wastewater treatment operations.Bio-oils are the main products of fast pyrolysis and could replace fossil fuel without taking into consideration its chemical instability.From previous studies methods like pretreatment of raw sludge and co-digestion with other biomass wastes make the feedstock more accessible to microorganisms, which enhance biogas production yield. The coupling ofthermochemical process and biological fermentation process is a promising and an alternative technology to produce energy, to extract the maximum of nutrients from organic wastes, to minimize the environment impact for objective to reach “zero wasteâ€. This study proposes a review of works on the valorisation of sludge from wastewater into bioenergy and fertilizers.Thesedifferent technologies used for the sludge valorization are comparedwith the comprehensive description ofthe impacts of different pretreatments on theirs performance on bioenergy and the quality of bio-fertilizersproduction.
Xiaofei Zhen
Lanzhou University of Technology, China
Title: Feasibility and Performances of Thermostatic Biogas Digester Heated by Solar Thermal Collector in Northwest of China
Time : 14:10-14:30
Biography:
Xiaofei Zhen had completed his bachelor’s degree at the age of 23 years from Lanzhou university of technology. Now, he is working for his PhD. And he has published more than 2 papers in reputed journals. Besides, he is a member of the China Northwestern Collaborative Innovation Center of Low-carbon Urbanization Technologies.
Abstract:
The application of biogas production technology encounters great challenge in northwest of China. Low ambient temperature leads to low anaerobic fermentation temperature, low biogas production rate, unstability of biogas plant, and so on. Therefore, solar thermal energy was introduced to heat the biogas digester and two same thermostatic biogas digesters heated by solar water heater were developed and tested in winters of 2013 and 2014 in Gaolan County and Minqin County respectively. The thermostatic biogas digester was mainly comprised of 3 m3 fermentation tank, solar water heater with 30 pieces of 58×1800 evacuated glass tubes, and automatical temerature controller. The tests prove that it is a feasible way to thermostatic biogas production with the heating absorbed by evacuated glass tubes. The heat from solar water heater could easily guarantee the biogas digester works at 26 ℃ even when the ambient temperature is below -23.8℃. And 1.38m3 biogas is produced every day and the volume fraction of methane is usually over 54.7% with different fermentation raw material. Daily biogas production could meet the cooking energy demand for a family with 4-5 people. When the intensity of solar radiation is over 15.3MJ/m2, it is feasible for 1 m3 biogas digester to run steadily with 10 pieces of 58×1800 evacuated glass tubes, which means it is suitable for most Northwest regions of China. Besides, as a living fuel, biogas can save 730kg standard coal and 1095RMB per year for a family.
Ganglin Cao
Lanzhou University of Technology, China
Title: Economic Comparison of Two Auxiliary Heating Methods for a Cogeneration System of Heat and Power with Biogas in Northwest China
Time : 14:30-14:50
Biography:
Ganglin Cao has completed his bachelor at the age of 23 years from Yulin University. He is a postgraduate in Lanzhou University of Technoloy. His major is Thermal engineering in China Northwestern Collaborative Innovation Center of Low-carbon Urbanization Technologies. He has published one papers in China Biogas.
Abstract:
It is environment-friendly and high-efficient way to cogenerate power and heat with biogas from the anaerobic fermentation process of cow manure. However, in Northwest China, it is difficult for a cogeneration system of heat and power, which is also called as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to run normally during winter. Two generators are made in Czech Republic by an engineering company TEDOM, model Cento T88 SPE BIO, with a maximum power output of 76 kW and the power generation efficiency is 31.5%. But the heat from the exhausted gas is just not enough to preheat the feedstock and to maintain the thermostat for the anaerobic fermentation. Therefore, solar thermal collector and biogas boiler were introduced to a CHP built at Huazhuang town in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, China and theoretical analysis was carried out to compare the economic performance of two auxiliary heating methods in this paper. we also did an economic study on the two assisted warming mode of solar collector and biogas boiler, while maintaining the temperature of the fermentation tank at 52ºC in summer and 37ºC in other seasons. The results showed that, the initial investment ratio of solar collector and biogas boiler auxiliary warming system is 4.02:1, and the net annual value of solar collector is 19.3% higher than the gas boiler. Taking into consideration, the premise including the relevant policies, economic and environmental benefits will provide sufficient solar energy in Northwest, whereas, energy of waste heat power generation recovery is insufficient hence, solar collector of biogas plant’s as an auxiliary warming system should be preferred.
Networking and Refreshment Break 15:50-16:05 @ Albany Foyer
Mande Kato Hosea
Kaduna state university, Nigeria
Title: Forests carbon input and changes soil properties of the tropical rain forestmalaysia
Biography:
I have completed my PhD from the University Putra Malaysia and with a postdoctoral studies offered from the Institute of tropical Forest , University Putra malaysia . Iam the research coodinatore of the faculty of environmental studies, Kaduna state university Nigeria and projector coordinator of the department of enviironmental managemen of the same faculty. I have published more than 23 papers in reputed journals and I have won three international research grants.
Abstract:
The tropical forest ecosystem play a critical role in the forest carbon input and it is important to understand the rate of occurrences by quantifying the forest biomass and its effect on soil properties in relation to microclimate condition and environmental factors. The study was conducted in the tropical forest ecosystem of Malaysia. The aim of the study was to estimate the forest carbon input and its effects on changes soil properties in the tropical forests. The Malaysia lowland tropical forest was found to be a carbon sink with an accumulation rate of total above ground biomass (TAGB), below ground biomass (BGB) and total forest carbon (SOCs) of 2788.64 to 3009.97, 100.88 to 134.94 and 2996.13 to 3088.98 mg ha-1 respectively and varied between February and September and October and January. The soil properties; total organic carbon (TOC), soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil carbon stock (SOCstock) varied in relation to forest biomass at a ranges of 1.1 to 3.0, 1.1 to 5.89 and 58.01 to 70.46 mg ha-1 , respectively. The forest biomass gradually increase over time and also influence the concentration and increase in soil properties in present of environmental factors responsible for physiological activity. The multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation indicated a strong positive correlation (R2=0.98, p<0.01) between forest biomass, soil properties and environmental factors. The tropical lowland forest of Malaysia indicated to increase the forest biomass over time and significantly influenced the concentration of soil properties.
- Workshop
Location: Birmingham
Chair
AV Bridgwater
Aston University, UK
Session Introduction
Cristina Rodriguez
University of the West of Scotland, UK
Title: Mechanical pretreatment of grass for biogas production
Biography:
Cristina Rodriguez is doing her PhD at the Institute of Engineering and Energy Technologies in the University of the West of Scotland in the field of biomass pretretament for biogas production.
Abstract:
In the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic materials, the accessibility of microorganisms to the fermentable sugars is restricted by a layer of digestion-recalcitrant compound, lignin, which acts as an inhibitor restricting the degradation activity. In order to reduce the biomass particle size and to increase the feedstock’ specific surface area available to the microorganisms, and therefore improve the hydrolysis kinetics, lignocellulosic biomass should be mechanically pretreated before undergo anaerobic digestion. A Hollander beater was successfully used for the comminution task of waste paper for methane production, in this research is proposed its use to treat grass for biogas conversion. The pretreatment time as well as the digestion time are studied using statistical methods and correlated to the methane and biogas yields resulting from the anaerobic digestion of grass. This assay provides information on how much and how fast the pretreated material can be degraded under optimal batch conditions, which are valuable parameters in the design and operation of biogas plants. Optimizing the parameters of the mechanical pretreatment, a more energy efficient process and better biomass exploitation can be achieved, improving the design and economic viability of a lignocellulosic biorefinery.
Ralph-Uwe Dietrich
Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics, Germany
Title: Renewable liquid transport fuels: finding the economic pathway
Biography:
Ralph-Uwe Dietrich has completed his PhD at 2013 from Clausthal Technical University. He is Research Area Manager Alternative Fuels at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the national research centre for aeronautics, space, energy, transport and security as well as the national space agency. The Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics does research in the field of efficient energy storage systems that conserve natural resources and next generation energy conversion technologies with a staff of 150 scientific and technical employees, engineers and Ph.D. candidates. Dietrich has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals and serves as reviewer of scientific peer-reviewed papers.
Abstract:
Liquid fuels will remain the fuel of choice for air and cargo transport for the coming decades. Synthetic fuels produced by the Power-to-Liquid (PtL) route are a promising alternative to 1. generation biofuels. Electrolysis-based hydrogen together with carbon monoxide is converted by Fisher-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) to liquid hydrocarbons. Sustainable hydrogen can be derived from water electrolysis using renewable power. Sustainable carbon monoxide sources are biomass or air-based carbon dioxide. Using “unavoidable” industrial CO2 from steel or cement production shall reduce the society’s carbon footprint as well. For techno-economic assessment the Biomass-to-Liquid and PtL process routes have been modeled in process simulation software. Furthermore, a combined process concept called Power+Biomass-to-Liquid is developed and presented. Efficiency, cost and realistic quantities of synthetic fuels production are compared for different process routes and feedstocks. Renewable synthetic fuels can be produced at a cost of 1.50 to 4.50 €/l, depending on the feedstock, process route, equipment cost and plant scale. Hydrogen generation is the most significant cost factor, drawing the attention towards the renewable power generation cost as well as the electrolyzer type, efficiency and investment cost. Biomass respectively CO2 availability limits the plant size or will add additional feedstock transport efforts. The overall energetic efficiency from power to chemical energy (LHV) stored in liquid fuel can reach 60% for optimal conditions and unit operations. Operating water electrolysis with fluctuating power requires an electrolyzer oversize as well as hydrogen storage capacities. A sustainable pathway for the production of synthetic liquid fuels is able to absorb huge amounts of renewable excess power. Economic implication compared to present cost of fossil based fuels will be quantified.
AV Bridgwater
Aston University, Birmingham
Title: Quality Assessment of Biomass Fast Pyrolysis Liquids
Biography:
Tony Bridgwater is Professor of Chemical Engineering at Aston University in Birmingham UK. He has worked at Aston University for most of his professional career. He is Director of the recently created European Bioenergy Research Institute as well as leading the internationally renowned Bioenergy Research Group, with a world-wide research portfolio focussing on fast pyrolysis as a key technology in thermal biomass conversion for power, heat, biofuels and biorefineries. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and a Fellow of the Institute of Energy.
Abstract:
A thorough assessment has been made of the characteristics of bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of biomass. Fast pyrolysis uniquely gives high yields of a homogenous mobile liquid for direct use for heat and power and indirect use for biofuels and green chemicals. An improved understanding of the significance of the different aspects of quality of bio-oil helps to establish standards and key quality requirements which help to define limitations for use. An appreciation of the potential for bio-oil to meet a broad spectrum of applications in renewable energy has led to a significantly increased R&D activity in studying the science and technology of fast pyrolysis with increased emphasis on quality improvement. This increased activity is evident in North America, Europe and Asia with many new entrants as well as expansion of existing activities. The only disappointment is the continued limited industrial development and deployment of fast pyrolysis that are necessary to provide the basic bio-oil raw material for development and exploitation of applications.
- Video Presentations
Session Introduction
Hermes Jose Loschi
State University of Campinas, Brazil
Title: Biomass Cogeneration with Green Coconut Husk: an analysis of efficiency energy solutions
Time : 16:05-16:25
Biography:
Hermes José Loschi holds a BSc in Control and Automation Engineering from Paulista University. He has undergone several postgraduate studies, focused on Wireless Network, Smart Grid, Broadcasting, Photovoltaic Systems Applications, Energy, Biomass and Solar Tracking. He has published more than 12 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as editorial board member and reviewer of some academic journals and research centers.
Abstract:
The potential identification for use the residue from the green coconut husk for Electricity Generation, including how to storage and collection, must consider a process with efficiency energy solutions. This paper presents an analysis that makes it possible to identify the needs in efficiency energy solutions, to enable the power cogeneration with biomass from the green coconut husk. Initially presents an analysis the composition and characteristics of green coconut husk fiber. We conclude that the green coconut husk fibers have median values of cellulose and high values of lignina, especially when compared with other vegetable fibers. Regarding the mechanical properties, elongation, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity, It is proposed to conduct a more detailed analysis of the fiber characteristics such as age; cellulose type; relationship between cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, among others to determine its use in composite, It is this analysis one of the main fields for technology-based innovation in Brazil, both for the design of the analysis as well as for application of the expected results. Another analysis presented discusses the beneficiation steps of green coconut husk to obtain fiber and powder. We conclude that in several points of the process it is necessary to develop means for treatments and application of waste arising and improvements in production performance, such as a temperature control system, which automatically activates the fuel supply for the process, where the greatest of the consumed electricity is provided by a thermodynamic process that takes advantage the temperature of the exhaust gases.
Nancy Quaranta
National Technological University, Argentina.
Title: Physicochemical and environmental characterization of pistachio shells
Time : 16:25-16:45
Biography:
Dr. Nancy Quaranta obtained her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the Universidad Nacional del Sur (Argentina). She is a researcher of the Scientific Research Commission of Buenos Aires Province. She is the head of Environmental Studies Group and Materials Program Coordinator at the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Her current research fields are the materials and environmental sciences.
Abstract:
The objective of this work is to characterize a residual biomass material, salted pistachio shells, from both a physcochemical and an environmental point of view, in order to analyze its possible valorization. Studies on pyrolysis of pistachio shells for energy production have been carried out by various authors. Low heat capacities when compared to the coal traditionally used were obtained. Furthermore, the activated carbon manufacturing and adsorption of heavy metals have been studied. These discards are analyzed using different characterization techniques: optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDS), X-ray difraction, loss on ignition (LOI), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (DTA-TGA), ecotoxicity and emission during calcination, among others. This material has a microscopic structure in the form of fibers, with resistant characteristics, and are mainly composed of C and O (98%), containing small percentages of Na, K, Cl, Ca and Si. When washed Na, K and Cl are not detected by EDS. The DTA-TGA analysis shows combustion-decomposition exothermic reactions in the range 200°C-470°C that were assigned to hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. From these essays a total weight loss of 98.2% of the original sample has been determined. These values have been compared with the test LOI performed in the laboratory, whose results were about 99.5%. The XRD pattern shows four reflexion peaks for 2ï± values of 16.7, 21.7, 34.7 and 44.4, values, assigned to microcrystalline cellulose. According to the obtained results different new alternatives for recycling this waste are discussed.