Biomass Gasification (Small-scale) - Revision history

Nesdon Booth: /* The Technology */ added some impacts of biochar byproducts

2024-12-04T20:21:59Z

The Technology: added some impacts of biochar byproducts

Lisafeldmann: /* Further Information */

2018-04-10T15:51:16Z

Further Information

Lisafeldmann at 13:17, 2 December 2015

2015-12-02T13:17:31Z

Lisafeldmann at 13:16, 2 December 2015

2015-12-02T13:16:38Z

Show changes

Wiki Gardener: /* India */

2014-10-16T13:58:45Z

India

Wiki Gardener at 13:53, 16 October 2014

2014-10-16T13:53:26Z

Stefan Salow: /* Further Information */

2014-07-14T13:07:21Z

Further Information

Stefan Salow: /* Further Information */

2014-03-31T12:33:34Z

Further Information

Fungai Cecilia Sandamu at 11:17, 20 November 2013

2013-11-20T11:17:39Z

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Michael Rohrer: /* Further Information */

2013-11-14T16:00:04Z

Further Information

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 <u>Products of the gasification process are:</u>
-*solid ashes
+*solid ashes often fused as vitrified clinkers
-*partially oxidized products like soot (which have to be removed periodically from the gasifier) and
+*partially oxidized products like soot and charcoal/biochar (which have to be removed periodically from the gasifier)
-*generator gas.
+*generator/producer gas often contaminated with tars and other volatile pyrolysis products.
 <br/>
 <u>The main flammable components of the resulting generator gas are:</u>
 *Carbon monoxide (CO)
@@ Line 57: / Line 58: @@
 <br/>
-Theoretically, electricity can be produced by various kinds of technical equipment, for exam-ple a combustion unit in combination with a steam turbine, a gas turbine, a Stirling motor, or even a fuel cell. <span lang="en">The steam turbine seems to be appropriate only for larger applications ~ above 0.5 MW. The application of fuel cells is still a topic of research and at this moment much too expensive. </span> In practice internal combustion piston engines are almost exclusively used to drive electric generators for the small-scale applications discussed here. Apart from some minor adaptations, this generator set is more or less the same as used with other fuels. Spark ignition “Otto” engines as well as compression ignition “diesel” engines can also be used. While the Otto engines can be operated on generator gas only, diesel engines generally need co-fuelling of conventional diesel fuel. However, all internal combustion engines require a very clean gas as a fuel. Otherwise ex-cessive engine wear and low power output will inevitably occur. Therefore a cleaning system is an essential component of a gasifier plant. Cleaning systems that use water to wash out the undesired components are quite efficient. However, they produce a high quantity of toxic and carcinogenic liquid waste. Hence, dry cleaning systems are the preferred solution in non-industrial systems today.
+Theoretically, electricity can be produced by various kinds of technical equipment, for example a combustion unit in combination with a steam turbine, a gas turbine, a Stirling motor, or even a fuel cell. <span lang="en">The steam turbine seems to be appropriate only for larger applications ~ above 0.5 MW. The application of fuel cells is still a topic of research and at this moment much too expensive. </span> In practice internal combustion piston engines are almost exclusively used to drive electric generators for the small-scale applications discussed here. Apart from some minor adaptations, this generator set is more or less the same as used with other fuels. Spark ignition “Otto” engines as well as compression ignition “diesel” engines can also be used. While the Otto engines can be operated on generator gas only, diesel engines generally need co-fuelling of conventional diesel fuel. However, all internal combustion engines require a very clean gas as a fuel. Otherwise ex-cessive engine wear and low power output will inevitably occur. Therefore a cleaning system is an essential component of a gasifier plant. Cleaning systems that use water to wash out the undesired components are quite efficient. However, they produce a high quantity of toxic and carcinogenic liquid waste. Hence, dry cleaning systems are the preferred solution in non-industrial systems today.
 <br/>
-The gasification technology is principally well suited for small power plants ranging from 10 kW to over 100 kW. Appropriate gasifier systems with internal combustion engines can produce 1 kWh of electricity from 1.1 – 1.5 kg wood, 0.7 – 1.3 kg charcoal, or 1.8 – 3.6 kg rice husks. Assuming the wood originates from renewable production – regardless of whether planned forestation or natural regeneration - it would be a perfect, nearly CO<sub>2</sub> neutral, renewable energy source.
+The gasification technology is principally well suited for small power plants ranging from 10 kW to over 100 kW. Appropriate gasifier systems with internal combustion engines can produce 1 kWh of electricity from 1.1 – 1.5 kg wood, 0.7 – 1.3 kg charcoal, or 1.8 – 3.6 kg rice husks. Assuming the wood originates from renewable production – regardless of whether planned forestation, natural regeneration, or forestry and agricultural waste - it would be a perfect, nearly CO<sub>2</sub> neutral, renewable energy source. Distribution of the biochar byproduct as a soil amendment can sequester much of the carbon present in the feedstock while improving soil fertility.
 <br/>

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 <br/>
 = Further Information<br/> =
@@ Line 310: / Line 311: @@
 *A list of Manufacturers working in collaboration with Indian National Mission on Bamboo Applications: [http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/bamboogasifier http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/bamboogasifier]
 *The Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) in the United States [http://www.biomasscenter.org/component/search/gasifier.html?ordering=&searchphrase=all www.biomasscenter.org]
 <br/><u>Additional sources of information:</u>
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 <br/>
 = References<br/> =

@@ Line 327: / Line 327: @@
 <references />
 [[Category:Sri_Lanka]]
-[[Category:Mali]]
+[[Category:Gasifier]]

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 <br/>
 == India ==
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 <br/>
-Recently, two biomass gasification initiatives have caught significant attention as both claim to work with viable business models and hardly any major technical faults: [http://www.desipower.com/ www.desipower.com] and [http://www.huskpowersystems.com/ www.huskpowersystems.com]. A [[Cdf.ifmr.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Empowering-Villages.pdf|comparative analysis]] was conducted by the Centre for Development Finance in 2010.
+Recently, two biomass gasification initiatives have caught significant attention as both claim to work with viable business models and hardly any major technical faults: [http://www.desipower.com/ www.desipower.com] and [http://www.huskpowersystems.com/ www.huskpowersystems.com]. A [http://cdf.ifmr.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Empowering-Villages.pdf comparative analysis] was conducted by the Centre for Development Finance in 2010.
 <br/>
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 <br/>
 == Sri Lanka ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-= Introduction =
+= Overview =
-It appears to be a fascinating solution: The conversion of wood or other carbon-rich dry bio-mass into a combustible gas and then into electricity via a generator set – a perfect solution for remote rural areas with a lack of electricity but an abundance of shrubs, straw, rice and peanut husks or other forms of biomass.
+It appears to be a fascinating solution: The conversion of wood or other carbon-rich dry [[Basics_on_Biomass|biomass]] into a combustible gas and then into electricity via a generator set – a perfect solution for remote rural areas with a lack of electricity but an abundance of shrubs, straw, rice and peanut husks or other forms of biomass.
 The technology has been well known for more than a hundred years. In light of rising prices of fossil fuels in 2008 and the debate about climate change, this technology has again come under consideration as a renewable energy source in rural areas. In fact, it is possible to convert dry wood or rice husks into gas and electricity. However, it is not as easy as some manufacturers would like to make us believe.
-The '''Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)''' on behalf of the '''German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) '''has been searching for sustainable solutions to provide access to basic energy services in rural areas and has analysed experiences with small-scale applications of the gasification technology over the last decades. This analysis was based on publicly available documents, as well as interviews and email discussions with experts in this field. This text summarises the results, revealing several difficulties and challenges. It refers to small-scale applications of less than 100 kW only and focuses on potentials for providing basic energy services to rural households and small businesses.
+[http://www.giz.de/en/ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)] on behalf of the [http://www.bmz.de/en/ German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)] has been searching for sustainable solutions to provide access to [[Basic_Energy_Services_-_Overview|basic energy services]] in rural areas and has analysed experiences with small-scale applications of the gasification technology over the last decades. This analysis was based on publicly available documents, as well as interviews and email discussions with experts in this field. This text summarises the results, revealing several difficulties and challenges. It refers to small-scale applications of less than 100 kW only and focuses on potentials for providing basic energy services to rural households and small businesses.
 <br/>
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 The gasifier is essentially a chemical reactor that uses wood chips, charcoal, coal or similar carbonaceous materials as fuel and burns them in a process of incomplete combustion due to a limited air supply.
-Gasification is a process based on pyrolysis at high temperatures (>800°C) and in general long residence time of the hot vapour in the system. This generates as main component a combustible gas. The technical units using this principle are the gasifiers:
+Gasification is a process based on pyrolysis at high temperatures (>800°C) and in general long residence time of the hot vapour in the system. This generates as main component a combustible gas.
 *“Gasifier” stoves gasify the fuel (e.g. wood) and burn this gas directly providing heat for cooking or room heating.
 *Wood gas generators gasify the fuel in a similar way as it happens in the stoves. However in this case the gas, denominated “syngas”, “generator gas” “producer gas” or “wood gas”, is extracted and used as fuel or as feedstock for further chemical processes. The latter is actually the focus of discussions and research activities in industrialized countries. In this case the generator gas can be used in complex chemical processes to produce liquid fuels, the so called 2<sup>nd</sup> generation bio-fuels. The producer gas can also be used to fuel external burners producing heat in ovens, dryers, boilers or kilns. In such applications gasifier systems are called “heat gasifiers”. The requirements on their gas quality are low and hence the gasifier systems are relatively simple and cheap. In “power gasifier” applications the producer gas is used as fuel, in general for internal combustion engines, to produce shaft power for generating electricity, milling, water pumping, sawing of timber etc.
 The following text refers only to this latter process where the gas is used for internal combustion engines for the generation of electricity. And it refers only to small scale applications smaller than 100 kW, only in some cases considering lessons from slightly bigger plants.
@@ Line 162: / Line 168: @@
 <u>Even though availability of operation data is limited, the multitude of gasification projects allows for an appraisal of the potentials and challenges:</u>
-<u></u><br/>
+<br/>
 == Technological Appraisal and Challenges ==
@@ Line 208: / Line 214: @@
 The economic benefits of small-scale power gasifiers depend on the potential savings of switching from high-cost commercial fuel to locally available low-cost biomass. The potential fuel cost savings have to compensate the higher costs for the initial investment, labour, operation and maintenance.
-<br/>
+<u><br/></u>
-Little reliable operating data on the economy of gasification plants is available. The available experiences indicate:
+<u>Little reliable operating data on the economy of gasification plants is available. The available experiences indicate:</u>
 *The WB study quotes operational costs between US$0.03/kWh and US$0.25/kWh in the 1990s with no or only marginal profitability.
 *Many projects show that even in cases where capital costs did not have to be covered by the users, the system’s profitable operation is difficult.
@@ Line 224: / Line 230: @@
 <u>It promises:</u>
 *Sustainable conversion of locally available biomass into electricity for local supplies;
 *Local value chain with income generation for the suppliers of the biomass as fuel;
 *Incentives for reforestation.
 Hence it will remain on the energy development agenda.
+<br/>
 <u>However, many severe challenges remain unsolved:</u>
 *There is no reliable technology readily available.
 *High costs for technical development, repair and maintenance make it unprofitable.
 *Dangerous threats exist to the environment and health due to carcinogenic waste.
+<br/>
 Therefore, at present the application of the gasifier technology for small-scale electricity pro-duction in developing countries seems to be justifiable only in very few cases. Each new plant would be a unique tailor-made facility.
@@ Line 244: / Line 250: @@
 <u>The main preconditions for a successfully operating gasification plant are:</u>
 *Major obstacles (economic or environmental) for the use of other fuels (fossil or re-newable) or forms of energy;
 *High and constant availability of cheap appropriate biomass fuel;
 *Availability of an experienced manufacturer;
@@ Line 271: / Line 277: @@
 <br/>
 = Further Information<br/> =
@@ Line 287: / Line 291: @@
 *GIZ (2011): Small-scale Electricity Generation from Biomass Part I: Biomass Gasification. [http://www.giz.de/Themen/en/dokumente/giz2011-en-small-scale-electricity-generation-from-biomass-part-I.pdf www.giz.de]
 *[https://energypedia.info/images/0/05/Micro_Gasification_2.0_Cooking_with_gas_from_dry_biomass.pdf Micro-gasifiers: much more than „just another improved cook stove”]. In this new HERA handbook, Christa Roth provides an introduction to the concept and the application of wood-gas burning technologies for cooking. Original Version [https://energypedia.info/images/f/f6/Micro_Gasification_Cooking_with_gas_from_biomass.pdf here].
-*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodgas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodgas]
+*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodgas wikipedia.org-Woodgas]
-*Homepage of Indian manufacturer: [http://www.ankurscientific.com/whatisgasification.htm http://www.ankurscientific.com/whatisgasification.htm]
+*Homepage of Indian manufacturer:[http://www.ankurscientific.com/whatisgasification.htm www.ankurscientific.com-whatisgasification]
 *A list of Manufacturers working in collaboration with Indian National Mission on Bamboo Applications: [http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/bamboogasifier http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/bamboogasifier]
-*The Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) in the United States [http://www.biomasscenter.org/component/search/gasifier.html?ordering=&searchphrase=all http://www.biomasscenter.org/component/search/gasifier.html?ordering=&searchphrase=all]
+*The Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) in the United States [http://www.biomasscenter.org/component/search/gasifier.html?ordering=&searchphrase=all www.biomasscenter.org]
 <br/><u>Additional sources of information:</u>
@@ Line 302: / Line 306: @@
 <br/>
 = References<br/> =
@@ Line 308: / Line 311: @@
 <references />
 [[Category:Sri_Lanka]]

@@ Line 271: / Line 271: @@
 <br/>
 = Further Information<br/> =
@@ Line 284: / Line 285: @@
 *Wheldon, Anne and Jeremy Rawlings (2009): Case Study -Saran Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd, [http://www.ashdenawards.org/files/pdfs/finalist_2009/Saran_case_study_2009.pdf www.ashdenawards.org (pdf)]
 *GIZ (2011): Small-scale Electricity Generation from Biomass Part I: Biomass Gasification. [http://www.giz.de/Themen/en/dokumente/giz2011-en-small-scale-electricity-generation-from-biomass-part-I.pdf www.giz.de]
-*[https://energypedia.info/:File:Micro Gasification Cooking with gas from biomass.pdf Micro-gasification: Cooking with gas from biomass]<br/>Micro-gasifiers: much more than „just another improved cook stove”. In this new HERA handbook, Christa Roth provides an introduction to the concept and the application of wood-gas burning technologies for cooking.
+*[https://energypedia.info/wiki/File:2014-03_Micro_gasification_manual_GIZ_HERA_Roth.pdf Micro Gasification: Cooking with Gas from Biomass]<br/>Micro-gasifiers: much more than „just another improved cook stove”. In this new HERA handbook, Christa Roth provides an introduction to the concept and the application of wood-gas burning technologies for cooking. Original Version [https://energypedia.info/:File:Micro here].
 *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodgas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodgas]
 *Homepage of Indian manufacturer: [http://www.ankurscientific.com/whatisgasification.htm http://www.ankurscientific.com/whatisgasification.htm]
@@ Line 300: / Line 301: @@
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 = References<br/> =

@@ Line 223: / Line 223: @@
 Due to the discrepancy between the promises of gasifier manufacturers and the numerous questionable or negative experiences on the ground; the discussion within GTZ resulted in the following conclusion: If any private company (producer or developer) claims to have an appropriate solution for a particular situation (considering availability of fuel and maintenance know-how, as well as energy needs and cost limits) it should be given a chance to implement the plant. However, the private company should not be paid for the installation of the plant and its develop-ment directly, but instead should be remunerated for the electricity supplied based on output per kWh. How to translate this into appropriate contractual terms remains a chal-lenge. Similar to corresponding guaranteed feed-in tariffs on the national level, output-based remuneration in small mini grids could lead to more sustainable applications of the gasification technology for rural electrification purposes.
@@ Line 245: / Line 246: @@
 *Homepage of Indian manufacturer Ankur: [http://www.ankurscientific.com/whatisgasification.htm www.ankurscientific.com]
 *A list of Manufacturers working in collaboration with Indian National Mission on Bamboo Ap-plications: [http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/bamboogasifier gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/bamboogasifier]
-*The Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) in the United States [http://www.biomasscenter.org/component/search/gasifier.html?ordering=&searchphrase=all www.biomasscenter.org]
+*The Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) in the United States [http://www.biomasscenter.org www.biomasscenter.org]
 *Dalili, Simon (2009): Biomass Gasification and Pyrolysis - Opportunities and Barriers for effi-ciency and Sustainability. In: UNDP: Bio-Carbon Opportunities in Eastern & Southern Africa. P: 233 - 266. [http://www.undp.org/climatechange/carbon-finance/Docs/ www.undp.org] Good overview of the whole range of different pyrolysis and gasification technologies from charcoal to syngas production as well as of potential processing of syngas to liquid fuels (BTL), the “2nd generation bio-fuels”.
 *Russel, Andy (2008)l: Producer Gas for Power Generation. Practical Answers -Technical Information Online. Dez. 2008. [http://practicalaction.org/practicalanswers/product_info.php?products_id=381 practicalaction.org/practicalanswers] Short, comprehensive overview with focus on small-scale applications in developing coun-tries.
-*Steinbrecher, Nils; J. Walter (2001): Marktübersicht dezentrale Holzvergasung: Marktanalyse 2000 für Holzvergasersysteme bis 5 MW. Öko Institut, Darmstadt. [http://www.oeko.de/service/bio/dateien/de/bio-marktuebersicht-2001.pdf www.oeko.de (pdf)] Comprehensive overview of gasification projects in Germany and other European countries. Description of technology, market and producers and operation experience regarding reliabil-ity, security and readiness for marketing.
+*Steinbrecher, Nils; J. Walter (2001): Marktübersicht dezentrale Holzvergasung: Marktanalyse 2000 für Holzvergasersysteme bis 5 MW. Öko Institut, Darmstadt. Comprehensive overview of gasification projects in Germany and other European countries. Description of technology, market and producers and operation experience regarding reliabil-ity, security and readiness for marketing.
-*Wiese, Lars (2008): Energetische, exergetische und ökonomische Evaluierung der thermo-chemischen Vergasung zur Stromerzeugung aus Biomasse. Research report of TU Ham-burg-Harburg. 222p Based on measurements at existing European biomass gasification plants simulation models of these plants are set up. Afterwards the plant concepts are optimised and evaluated. It can be shown, that the power production in biomass gasification plants can be an energetic and exergetic interesting alternative to existing biomass steam power plants. [http://doku.b.tu-harburg.de/volltexte/2008/382/ doku.b.tu-harburg.de]
+*Wiese, Lars (2008): Energetische, exergetische und ökonomische Evaluierung der thermo-chemischen Vergasung zur Stromerzeugung aus Biomasse. Research report of TU Ham-burg-Harburg. 222p Based on measurements at existing European biomass gasification plants simulation models of these plants are set up. Afterwards the plant concepts are optimised and evaluated. It can be shown, that the power production in biomass gasification plants can be an energetic and exergetic interesting alternative to existing biomass steam power plants.