Solid Biofuels for Energy

Abstract

Fossil fuels, widely used for electricity generation and heating, emit greenhouse gases which should be minimized according to the most recent environmental legislation. The utilization of solid fuels of biogenic origin could contribute, to some extent, towards the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Within this book, special attention has been given to biomass co-firing with coal as it has the highest potential for commercial application in large-scale units, whereas according to the author’s interpretation, combustion and gasification are more promising for units of small to medium scale. In chapter 1, key questions arising from biomass availability and supply are discussed. A detailed analysis of solid agricultural biomass feedstock in EU27 summarizes the relevant data, which influence the availability and future supply of this feedstock for energy and fuel production. The European Standards for the specifications of solid biofuels are presented in chapter 2. Chapter 3 provides an overview of all technical issues for biomass-coal cofiring in boilers designed exclusively for coal (mainly pulverized coal) combustion. Biomass-coal co-combustion represents a low-risk, low-cost, sustainable, renewable energy option that promises an effective near-term reduction in CO2, SOX, and often NOX emissions, as well as several societal benefits. A step ahead on co-firing development is covered in chapter 4 in which the co-utilization of solid recovered fuels (SRF) with coal is extensively reviewed. SRF are solid fuels prepared from high-calorific fractions of non-hazardous waste materials intended to be fired in existing coal power plants and industrial furnaces. The subject of chapter 5 deals with the biomass combustion characteristics. Unlike pulverized coal, biomass particles are neither small enough to neglect internal temperature gradients nor equate enough to model them as spheres. Experimental and theoretical investigations indicate particle shape and size influence on the biomass particle dynamics, including essentially all aspects of combustion such as drying, heating, and reaction. This chapter theoretically and experimentally illustrates how these effects impact particle conversion. Fluidized bed combustion (FBC) technology developed in the 1970s has recently expanded to the usage of biomass and other low-grade fuels as presented in chapter 6. The benefit of the FBC is the large amount of bed material compared to the mass of the fuel and, thus, the large heat capacity of the bed material that stabilizes the energy output caused by variations in fuel properties. Another thermochemical conversion technology for biomass is gasification which is examined in chapter 7. Gasification is a mature technology for energy production that permits an easier separation of CO2 for its storage. This chapter concentrates on syngas end uses, focusing on newly developed ones, such as gas turbines or engines in IGCC, synthesis of methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl ether, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and hydrogen production. Integrated schemes of micro-CHP and biofuels are very promising for decentralized applications. Renewable micro-CHP systems are a combination of micro-CHP technology and renewable energy technology, such as biomass gasification systems or solar concentrators. Chapter 8 discusses the state of the art of technological options in the field of renewable micro-CHP with biofuels with regard to technology, cost, and environmental impacts. It also presents a market survey concerning the possibility of future penetration of the technology in Europe. Chapter 9 provides an overview of the main ash formation and deposition Correspondence: Michael.Flamme@kit.edu Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie (KIT), Institut fur Technische Chemie ITC, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany Flamme Energy, Sustainability and Society 2012, 2:8 http://www.energsustainsoc.com/content/2/1/8