An Experimental Determination of Gross Calorific Value of Different Agroforestry Species and Bio-Based Industry Residues

Ioannis Gravalos,Theodoros Gialamas,Dimitrios Bartzialis,Dimitrios Kateris,Kyriakos Giannoulis,Panagiotis Xyradakis

doi:10.4236/nr.2016.71006

Abstract

Solid biomass fuels are useful and cost effective renewable energy source. The energy content of biomass is determined by its calorific value. The objective of this study was to determine experimentally the gross calorific value (GCV) of different agroforestry species and bio-based industry residues that could be used by: a) companies specialized in processing raw biomass solid biofuel production, b) small-scale consumers (households, medium-sized residential buildings, etc.). The fuel samples used were from agricultural residues and wastes (rice husks, apricot kernels, olive pits, sunflower husks, cotton stems, etc.), energy crops and wetland herbs (cardoon, switchgrass, common reed, narrow-leaf cattail), and forest residues (populus, fagus, pinus). The GCV of the bio-mass samples was experimentally determined based on CEN/TS 14918:2005, and an oxygen bomb calorimeter was used (Model C5000 Adiabatic Calorimeter, IKA®-Werke, Staufen, Germany). The GCV of different agroforestry species and residues ranges from 14.3 - 25.4 MJ•kg–1. The highest GCV was obtained by seeds and kernels due to higher unit mass and higher lipid content. Pinus sylvestris with moisture content 24.59% obtained the lowest GCV (13.973 MJ•kg–1).

Highlights

Biomass is a biological material derived from living organisms
The energy content of biomass is determined by its calorific value
The calorific value influenced by biomass elemental composition, moisture and ash content

Summary

Introduction

Biomass is a biological material derived from living organisms (plants and animals). Often, it refers to plant based materials, which are called lignocellulosic biomass [1] [2]. Biomass includes wastes and residues from agro forestry and related bio-based industries and plantation biomass (energy crops) [3]. Energy crops are herbaceous plantations (sugarcane, switch grass, sorghum) and trees grown through traditional agricultural practices (eucalyptus, poplar, oil palm). Wood wastes and forestry residues include wood chips, bark, sawdust, timber slash, and mill scrap [4]. Examples of bio-based industry wastes that have potential for biomass production are pulp sludge, fruit pits, alcohol fermentation stillage, and other organic wastes [5]

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