Methods of Handling the Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) for Energy Production

Kamil Witaszek,Wojciech Czekała,Agnieszka A Pilarska,Marcin Herkowiak

doi:10.3390/en15051897

Kamil Witaszek, Wojciech Czekała + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/en15051897

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the possibilities of using cup plants (Silphium perfoliatum L.) to generate energy. The energy balances of the combustion and anaerobic digestion were compared. The research showed that cup plants could be used as a raw material for solid fuel and for anaerobic digestion. An energy balance simulation showed that electricity could be generated through the anaerobic digestion of cup plants. The following amounts could be generated in the anaerobic digestion process: 1069 kWhe from 1 Mg of the raw material fragmented with an impact mill, 738.8 kWhe from 1 Mg of the raw material extruded at a temperature of 150 °C, and as much as 850.1 kWhe from 1 Mg of the raw material extruded at 175 °C. The energy balance of the combustion of biofuel in the form of cup plant pellets showed that 858.28 kWht could be generated from 1 Mg of the raw material. The combustion of solid biofuel generated a relatively low amount of heat in comparison with the expected amount of heat from a biogas-powered cogeneration system due to the high energy consumption of the processes of drying and agglomeration of the raw material for the production of pellets.

Highlights

Every year increasing amounts of biomass are used for the production of bioenergy in the European Union
The study showed that Silphium perfoliatum L. could be used for energy production both as a raw material for solid fuel and for anaerobic digestion
The energy balance simulation showed that 1069 kWhe of electricity could be generated through the anaerobic digestion of 1 Mg of Silphium perfoliatum L. comminuted with an impact mill, 738.8 kWhe from 1 Mg of the raw material extruded at 150 ◦ C, and as much as 850.1 kWhe from 1 Mg of the raw material extruded at 175 ◦ C

Summary

Introduction

Every year increasing amounts of biomass are used for the production of bioenergy in the European Union. Biomass was the only RES with a considerable share in energy consumption (the share of solid biomass among the RES used in the industry amounted to 93%, the share of municipal waste 3%, and the share of biogas 2%) [1]. According to the European Environment Agency, biomass for combustion has the greatest potential among renewable energy sources in Poland [2]. This forecast results from the availability of biomass and its cost-effectiveness as a fuel. Every year in the European Union, there is growing interest in renewable energy generated from solid biofuels. The share of renewable energy generated from solid biofuels in the European Union is about 45%, whereas it is 76.6% in Poland [3]

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