Abstract
Poultry litter is one type of biomass and waste generated from the farming process. This study performed a performance and process analysis of poultry litter to energy using the lab-scale shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) system along with a Stirling engine and a swirling fluidized bed combustor (SFBC). The effects of tube shape, flow direction, and water flow rates on water and trailer temperature changes were investigated during the poultry litter co-combustion process. Energy flow analysis and emissions were also studied. Results showed that the water outlet temperature of 62.8 ° C in the twisted tube was higher than the straight tube case (58.3 ° C ) after 130 min of the co-combustion process. It was found that the counter-current direction had higher water temperature changes, higher logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD), and higher trailer temperature changes than the co-current direction. A water flow rate of 4.54 L/min showed adequate heat absorption in the lab-scale STHE system and heat rejection in the trailer. Results indicated that the lab-scale STHE system has a conversion efficiency of 42.3% and produces hot water (at about 63.9 ° C ) along with lower emissions. This research study confirmed that poultry litter can be used to generate energy (e.g., hot water and electricity) by using a lab-scale biomass conversion system for space heating applications.
Highlights
IntroductionFossil fuel depletion and adverse environmental factors (i.e., greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change) play a significant role in seeking alternative renewable energy sources that can replace fossil fuels during energy production processes [1]
Fossil fuel depletion and adverse environmental factors play a significant role in seeking alternative renewable energy sources that can replace fossil fuels during energy production processes [1]
Owing to the increasing cost of fuels and environmental problems associated with excess production and land application of poultry litter, it is imperative that poultry litter is converted into useful energy via the lab-scale shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) system
Summary
Fossil fuel depletion and adverse environmental factors (i.e., greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change) play a significant role in seeking alternative renewable energy sources that can replace fossil fuels during energy production processes [1]. Among all the renewable sources, there is an increasing interest in biomass utilization for energy production due to the benefits of the CO2 neutral effect, large availability, and low cost of biomass fuels all over the world [2]. Poultry litter is one type of biomass and animal waste occurring during the poultry farming process. In 2009, assuming 1.4 tons of litter per 1000 birds, a total of about 25 million tons of poultry litter was generated by the US and the EU [4].
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