Bioenergy Agreement Research Articles

Effect of Sample Aging on the Accuracy of the International Energy Agency's Tar Measurement Protocol

The Working Group of the Biomass Gasification Task of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Agreement has developed a protocol for sampling and analysis of tar and particulates from biomass gasifiers, which is commonly accepted as a standard for reliable measurement of tar in producer gas. The methodology is dependent upon dissolving tar in a solvent for subsequent recovery by evaporation or distillation. This paper investigates whether storage of the tar/solvent sample prior to analysis affects the accuracy of the tar measurement. On the basis of the results of this study, we recommend that samples be analyzed within a few hours of collection and never be stored longer than 24 h.

The development of a draft protocol for the sampling and analysis of particulate and organic contaminants in the gas from small biomass gasifiers

A number of companies have developed, and are developing, power generation technology based on the gasification of biomass. These technologies have three process steps: the gasification reactor, cleaning of the producer gas, and an engine generator set. The producer gas from all gasification reactors contains particulates and organic contaminants (tars) which, if not removed, would damage the engine or incur an unacceptable level of maintenance. The efficiency of the gas cleaning step is therefore fundamental to the successful operation of this technology. A number of different sampling and analysis methods have been used by manufacturers and other workers in this field to determine the level of particulates and organic contaminants in the gas exiting the gas cleaning system. This diversity of methods makes the comparison of operating data from different sources very difficult. This represents a significant barrier to the further development and commercialisation of the technology. The members of the Gasification Task of the IEA Bioenergy Agreement, the US DoE and DGXVII of the European Commission have been aware of this barrier for some time. To address it they called a joint meeting in Brussels, Spring 1998, where it was decided to develop two sampling and analysis protocols that could be used as reference methods for further work. One protocol would be used for small scale, fixed bed, engine based systems and the other for larger utility scale plant. The meeting delegated the preparation of the protocols to two working groups, one for each scale of operation. The goal is for these groups to progress the two protocols within a short time to a status that is sufficiently developed to enable work to start on the preparation of US and EU standards. This report details the initial discussions and conclusions reached by the working group for the small scale protocol. In principle, the group decided that a method similar to that used for sampling PAHs in stack gas would be appropriate. The main elements of the system would be an isokinetic probe for sample extraction, a heated filter for particulate collection, a water condenser and a series of impingers, containing cooled solvent to collect the organic contaminants. The group felt that the method should include both gravimetric and chromatographic determinations of the concentration of organic contaminants. Dichloromethane was selected by the group as the solvent that would be used for all aspects of the method. However, at this stage, there remains some uncertainty over this selection. To resolve this and other uncertainties a programme of work is described that will progress the protocol to a stage where procedures could be started to adopt it as a European and US standard. The report is structured in three sections. Section 1, the Working Group Report, documents the discussions of the working group and wider meeting. Section 2 is a draft protocol. The protocol is necessarily in a preliminary form at present but will be updated successively as a result of further work and consultations. Section 3 contains calculations for typical equipment items and procedures.

Survey of tar measurement protocols

Different sampling and analysis methods have been used by manufacturers and other workers to determine the level of particulates and organic contaminants in producer gas generated by biomass gasifier installations. This diversity of methods makes the comparison of operational data difficult and represents a barrier to the further development and commercialization of the technology. This problem was discussed by the members of the Gasification Task of the IEA Bioenergy Agreement in Zürich in October 1997. By request of Novem, Netherlands, a survey of existing tar measuring protocols was conducted with the aim to reach consensus on one uniform measuring protocol for determination of tar and dust content in producer gas flowstreams. This paper present the findings of this survey which were presented at the IEA meeting in Brussels on March 18, 1998 and at the 10th European Biomass from Energy and Waste Conference in Würzburg, Germany on June 10, 1998. The survey contributed to the realisation of two draft protocols titled ‘Provisional Protocols, Version 1998’; one for small scale and one for large scale gasifier installations.

96/01713 IEA Bioenergy Agreement Task IX. Harvesting and supply of woody biomass for energy 1992–1994

96/01713 IEA Bioenergy Agreement Task IX. Harvesting and supply of woody biomass for energy 1992–1994

96/01708 End of Task Report of the IA (incineration activity) of Task XI of the Bioenergy Agreement of the IEA

96/01708 End of Task Report of the IA (incineration activity) of Task XI of the Bioenergy Agreement of the IEA

Anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste: A modern waste disposal option on the verge of breakthrough

This paper is the synthesis of three years of work in the field of anaerobic digestion (AD), waste management issues in general and many plant visits to operational digestion installations, carried out in the framework of the International Energy Agency's Bioenergy Agreement, Annex XI's Anaerobic Digestion of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) activity. The paper presents an overview of the current status and deployment of AD-technology for MSW, systems available on the market, opportunities and barriers relating to this technology when competing with alternative ways for the management of MSW (landfill, incineration, aerobic composting), including its advantages (renewable energy source a.o.) and limitations. Furthermore, AD is placed in the context of end product and energy markets and in the context of recycling and environmental aspects in general.

End of task report of the IA (Incineration Activity) of Task XI of the bioenergy agreement of the IEA

In 1986 the IEA Bioenergy Agreement's MSW conversion activity was set up in the framework of the IEA Bioenergy Agreement. Its purpose was to provide an infrastructure for sharing information and coordinating work in this area internationally. The activity program covered three years and was extended for three more years in 1989 and 1992. This report describes the results of this last period, 1992–1994, of the Incineration Activity of Task XI.

Biomass utilisation: A perspective of task X IEA bioenergy agreement 1992–1994

The program to be carried out within the framework of the IEA Bioenergy Agreement consists of cooperative research, development, demonstrations and exchange of information regarding bioenergy. Within Task X Biomass Utilisation, thirteen participating countries have focused research efforts on thermal processing of biomass, biological conversion of feedstocks, processing of specialised biomass, and cross-cutting topics of interest across several technical areas. This paper addresses the various work programs and summarises the progress of Task X Biomass Utilisation during the period 1992 through 1994.

Environmental consequences of intensive harvesting

Sustainable deployment of bioenergy production systems requires that we achieve the ability to predict the impact of intensive harvesting on forest site productivity. During the period 1992–1994, collaborators in International Energy Agency Bioenergy Agreement (IEA/BA) Task IX Activity “Environmental consequences of intensive harvesting” have refined protocols for conducting field and laboratory research designed to reduce uncertainty associated with predictive models; have published comprehensive reviews of the state of our knowledge related to long-term productivity in intensively managed forests; have sought to improve our understanding of recent research advances on theoretical and empirical levels in the areas of carbon cycling, sustainable forest management, and managing site fertility; and to direct this information to developing acceptable and efficient bioenergy production systems. This paper summarises the findings of these efforts, and indicates where future international collaboration is required to achieve the predictive ability required by the IEA/BA.

IEA bioenergy agreement task XI: Municipal solid waste conversion to energy end of task review

This paper overviews the main work and achievements of the International Energy Agency's Task on Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) conversion to energy. The objectives of the Task were to encourage information exchange between research and development programmes and other new initiatives relating to energy recovery from MSW, and to use this information to benefit research, development and deployment programmes on energy recovery from MSW in participating countries. Governments are now encouraging the sustainable use of MSW resources, both domestically and as part of their international obligations. These encourage development of a waste management hierarchy which places greater emphasis on waste prevention and minimisation through materials and energy recovery. The IEA Task provided participating countries with an international perspective in the areas of thermal technologies (incineration of MSW and refuse derived fuel and ash residues), biological technologies (landfill gas and anaerobic digestion of MSW) and generic issues relating to MSW conversion technologies (source separation, recycling, mechanical processing, sampling and analytical protocols). Work was carried out through meetings, study tours and networks. The main benefits from this international collaboration were that participants obtained up-to-date information on technical and non-technical issues affecting energy from waste technologies, including legislation, methodologies, and plant experience, that they could then use to encourage the development of energy from waste in their own countries. The work of the Task will continue for a further three years during 1995–1997.

IEA bioenergy agreement task IX harvesting and supply of woody biomass for energy 1992 – 1994

The achievements of Task IX Harvesting and Supply of Woody Biomass for Energy are discussed. The main achievements are an increased industrial involvement in the Task, an improved contact between researchers dealing with ecological issues and those working with R,D&D of harvesting and supply systems, development of a spread-sheet decision support system to evaluate integrated biomass to heat or electricity systems, and a greater awareness of the importance to control and improve fuel feedstock quality in all stages of harvesting and supply systems.

Efficient and environmentally-sound biomass production systems 1992–1994

The achievements of Task VIII (Efficient and Environmentally-Sound Production Systems) of the IEA Bioenergy Agreement are reviewed. Some of the achievements of the Task's Activities are highlighted, such as the development of a computerised handbook on short rotation forestry, DNA fingerprinting, disease surveys, waste disposal and environmental guidelines.

Standardized analytical methods

The International Energy Agency — Bioenergy Agreement — Biomass Conversion Annex VII — Standardized Analytical Methods Activity has been ongoing for the past three years. Participating countries are Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. The goal is to provide researchers and technology developers with information on reliable methods in use, or proposed, for characterizing feedstocks, process intermediates, and end products from biomass conversion to fuels, energy-intensive chemicals, and electric power. Accurate compositional analyses of biomass feedstocks and lignins are important for the commercialization of these technologies. This international activity provided and tested selected analytical methods for use in the characterization of a wide range of biomass feedstocks and lignins. Two round robins were conducted, one on the analysis of whole biomass feedstocks and the other on analysis of lignins. The biomass feedstock round robin utilized four biomass samples very carefully prepared by the National Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). This round robin tested a specified procedure aimed at providing a summative analysis of the materials. The lignin round robin utilized five commercial grade lignins, and a ball milled enzyme lignin. A very wide range of techniques were used to characterize the lignins, permitting comparison of results from different methods. The results of the two round robins were presented and discussed at the IEA Pre-symposium on Modern Methods of Analyses of Wood, Annual Plants, and Lignins, in New Orleans, USA, November 1991, attended by 110 scientists from over 20 countries.

Wood feedstock qualities for energy conversion and the potential for their biological improvement

Abstract The accomplishments of the Wood Feedstock Quality activity of Task V of the International Energy Agency's Bioenergy Agreement are described. Areas investigated included energy products and co-products from woody biomass; effects of harvesting, processing and storage on feedstock quality; the effect of feedstock quality on the efficiency of biomass conversion; the potential for biological improvement; the need for standardization of feedstock qualities; and the need for clonal characterization.

Biomass supply from conventional forestry

Abstract The work conducted under the IEA Bioenergy Agreement Task VI Biomass Supply from Conventional Forestry in the period 1989 – 1991 is described. The achievements of the Task have been a greater appreciation of the wood fuel supply chain by participants, an increased level of coordination and cooperative research, a number of spin-off cooperative projects, and an increased industrial involvement in the cooperation.

IEA biomass thermal gasification project

Abstract The Biomass Thermal Gasification Project was started in late 1989 as Activity 4 of the IEA Bioenergy Agreement Task VII, Biomass Conversion. This paper reviews the project activities since its beginning, addressing biomass resources, state-of-the-art gasification technology, research needs, and the future project activities that are especially relevant to the nine (9) participating countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Biomass conversion: An overview of the IEA bioenergy agreement task VII

Extensive research and development activities have been conducted in the area of biomass conversion over the past several years. Task VII of the International Energy Agency's Bioenergy Agreement provided a means to coordinate the ongoing national programs of fourteen participating countries during the period from 1989 through 1991. This paper provides an overview of the state of the technology development for biomass conversion and summarizes the progress of the IEA program.

The structure and progress of a joint International energy agency information and research network between Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom

An example is presented of an international “network” in the field of energy-from-waste technologies involving the collaboration of government agencies, researchers and manufacturers. As part of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Agreement, which began in 1986, one “activity” involving Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom has been the promotion of the exchange of information on the recovery of energy from municipal solid waste (MSW). This has been undertaken to assist in the establishment of future co-operative research and development. The subject has direct relevance to the proposed UNDP/World Bank network on integrated resource recovery and waste management. The structure of the IEA network described in this paper may be of use in the process to finalise the organisation of the proposed UNDP/World Bank network.

Mechanization of the operational aspects of short-rotation forestry

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has recognized the importance of the proper use of current technologies in researching the concept of biomass as a renewable energy source. An early program included one project that dealt entirely with the mechanization of harvesting trees grown under short-rotation intensive culture (SRIC) forestry. The Bioenergy Agreement that ended 31 December 1988 expanded this involvement with mechanization by creating a separate Activity called ‘Production Technology’. This Activity investigated the current state of technology for establishing, managing and harvesting SRIC forests or plantations. Five countries participated: Canada, Denmark, Sweden, the UK, and the US. Several workshops were held, and a final joint project evolved. As the final effort, a ‘Sourcebook’ of Production Technology will be made available. A summary of the main findings is provided here. This document will be published by the IEA and updated in future years as needed.

Economic evaluations of biomass oriented systems for fuel

The application of systems analysis in evaluating biomass energy supply systems in member countries within the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Agreement is discussed. A review of the state of the art was given at an international workshop, arranged at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Garpenberg, 6–7 June 1988. The workshop covered a wide range of applications and clearly demonstrated the large variety and viability of existing concepts. The energy supply situations and policies of different countries strongly influence the directions in which systems are developed. Established methods for systems and economic analysis are sufficient as long as the applications are on the systems or corporate levels. Evaluations are more difficult on the national level. The neoclassical economic theory has severe shortcomings, when considering long range aspects on limited resources.