Introduction to

renewable energy
Thermochemical conversion process

Combustion

Dhia Jarray
Hazem Ben Saad
Ghazi Koubaa
Table of contents
01 Combustion process

02 Advantages & disadvantages

03 Used technologies

04 Technology costs

05 Environmental impacts
01
Combustion Process
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What is combustion ?

Combustion is a reaction of a fuel with oxygen in air to release heat. This process is
used every day in households for heating and cooking and in industries for generating
heat or steam. Combustion accounts for 85 percent of our world’s energy usage and is
vital to our current way of life. Combustion is a complex interaction of physical and
chemical processes.
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Good fuels for combustion are materials rich in hydrogen and carbon, called
hydrocarbons. Such fuels include natural gas, coal, diesel, gasoline, propane, wood,
agricultural residues and municipal solid waste. Ideally, all hydrogen and carbon
would split off and combine with the oxygen in the air to create water vapor, carbon
dioxide and heat. Below is the generalized formula for a combustion reaction:
Fuel + Oxygen Carbon Dioxide + Water Vapor + Heat
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Since biomass fuels are primarily composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the
main products from burning biomass are carbon dioxide and water. Flame
temperatures can exceed 2000°C, depending on the heating value and moisture
content of the fuel, the amount of air used to burn the fuel and the construction of the
furnace.
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Complete combustion of biomass requires a certain amount of air. Air consists of 21 percent
oxygen and about 79 percent nitrogen. Therefore, the product of a stoichiometric combustion
of biomass in air will include carbon dioxide, water vapor and nitrogen. This reaction will
generate heat. The stoichiometric equation for the combustion of biomass is given as follows:
Biomass + Air Carbon Dioxide + Water Vapor + Nitrogen + Heat
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What is needed for combustion to take place ?

The fire triangle

at

Fu
He

el
Oxygen
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What is the combustion mechanism ?

For solid biomass to be converted into useful heat energy, it has to undergo
combustion. Although there are many different combustion systems available, the
principle of biomass combustion is essentially the same for each. There are three main
stages to the combustion process
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- Drying :

All biomass contains moisture, and this moisture has

to be driven off before combustion can take place.
The heat for drying is supplied by radia tion from
flames and from the stored heat in the body of the
combustion unit.
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- Pyrolysis :

When the temperature of the dry biomass reaches between 200ºC and 350ºC, the
volatile gases are released. Pyrolysis products include carbon monoxide (CO),
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and high molecular weight compounds
(tar) that condense to a liquid if cooled. These gases mix with oxygen from the
air and burn producing a yellow flame. This process is self-sustaining as the heat
from the burning gases is used to dry the fresh fuel and release further volatile
gases. Oxygen has to be provided to sustain this part of the combustion process.
Char is the remaining material after all the volatiles have been burned off.
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- Oxidation :

At about 800ºC, the char oxidizes or burns. Again oxygen is

required, both at the fire bed for the oxidation of the carbon and,
secondly, above the fire bed where it mixes with carbon monoxide
to form carbon dioxide that is given off to the atmos phere. Long
residence time for fuel in a combustor allows the fuel to be
completely consumed. It is worth bearing in mind that all the above
stages can occur within a fire at the same time.
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Combustion is complete when 100 % of the energy in the biomass has been extracted.
It is important to strive for complete combustion to preserve fuel and improve the cost
efficiency of the combustion process. There must be enough air in the combustion
chamber for complete combustion to occur. The addition of excess air greatly lowers
the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) by allowing CO to react with O2. More
complete combustion will result in less CO in the flue gas.
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How Much Heat Could Be Produced From Combustion ?

The amount of heat produced by combustion depends on the type of fuel and the
combustion efficiency of the equipment used. The quantity of heat produced by a material’s
complete combustion at a designated standard temperature and pressure (atmospheric
pressure and 25°C) is called the material’s Heating Value (HV) or Calorific Value (CV). In
the following table is a selection of typical materials and their HV in BTUs per pound. One
BTU is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1
degree Fahrenheit.
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02
Advantages
&
Disadvantages
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Some of the advantages of biomass energy are:

1. Biomass is always and widely available as a renewable source of energy.
The organic materials used to produce biomass are infinite, since our society consistently produces waste such
as garbage, wood and manure.
2. It is carbon neutral.
As a natural part of photosynthesis, biomass fuels only release the same amount of carbon into the atmosphere
as was absorbed by plants in the course of their life cycle.
3. It reduces the overreliance of fossil fuels.
Not only is there is a limited supply of fossil fuels, but fossil fuels come with environmental baggage,
including the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and the pollutants that result
from removal, transportation and production.
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4. Is less expensive than fossil fuels.

While fossil fuel production requires a heavy outlay of capital, such as oil drills, gas pipelines and fuel
collection, biomass technology is much cheaper. Manufacturers and producers are able to generate higher
profits from a lower output.
5. Biomass production adds a revenue source for manufacturers.
Producers of waste can add value by channeling their garbage to create a more profitable use in the form
biomass energy.
6. Less garbage in landfills.
By burning solid waste, the amount of garbage dumped in landfills is reduced by 60 to 90 percent, and reduces
the cost of landfill disposal and amount of land required for landfill.
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While the advantages of biomass energy are plenty, there are also some shortcomings, including:
1. Biomass energy is not as efficient as fossil fuels
Some biofuels, like Ethanol, is relatively inefficient as compared to gasoline. In fact, it has to be fortified with
fossil fuels to increase its efficiency.
2. It is not entirely clean
While biomass is carbon neutral, the use of animal and human waste escalates the amount of methane gases,
which are also damaging to the environment. Additionally, the pollution created from burning wood and other
natural materials can be considered just as bad as that resulting from burning coal and other types of energy
resources.
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3. Can lead to deforestation.

Since wood is one of the most used source of biomass energy, vast amounts of wood and other waste products
have to be burned to produce the desired amount of power. While currently there is enough wood waste
already, there is a risk of deforestation in the future.
4. Biomass plants require a lot of space.
While it’s difficult to find a plant that is in a convenient place in an urban area, utilizing onsite hardware like
the BioMax® technology, companies can create biomass energy at a fraction of the space of a large facility.
While there are some downsides to biomass energy, more research and innovation is continuing to be devoted
to the field as a more widely available, cheaper alternate and valuable substitute for traditional electricity and
other energy sources.
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Advantages Disadvantages

Firing of wood log

- Low investment costs - High operating expense
- Low stock requirements for the solid - Buffer storage to avoid light load
fuels operation
- High efficiency (90%)

Firing of wood chips

- User friendly and low maintenance - Higher costs of investment
- Automatic provision of heat - Higher stock requirements for the
- Very high efficiency ( > 90% ) solid fuel necessary

Firing of wood pellets

- User friendly and low maintenance - Higher costs of investment
- Very high efficiency ( > 95% )
03
Used technologies
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Used technologies in the world

Standalone biomass combustion :

Standalone biomass combustion can be done using different types of feedstock, sizes
of applications and conversion routes.
Biomass-based generators: Vegetable oils, such as jatropha, can replace diesel in
diesel generators to produce electricity for off-grid applications or independent mini-
grids.
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Used technologies in the world

2. Biomass-based power plants: The heat produced by direct biomass combustion in a

boiler can be used to generate electricity via a steam turbine or engine.
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Used technologies in the world

3. Biomass-based cogeneration (CHP) plants: Co-generation is the process of

producing two useful forms of energy, normally electricity and heat, from the same
fuel source .
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Used technologies in the world

4. Waste-to-energy plants based on Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Municipal solid

waste (MSW) is a very diverse and usually heavily contaminated feedstock, requiring
robust technologies and strict controls over emissions, increasing the costs of waste-
to-energy facilities.
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Biomass co-firing
Biomass co-firing (or co-combustion) involves “supplementing existing fossil-based
(mostly pulverised coal) power plants with biomass feedstock” There are three types
of biomass co-firing:
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1. Direct co-firing: The biomass is burnt directly in the existing coal furnace. Direct
co-firing can be done either by pre-mixed the raw solid biomass (generally in
granular, pelletised or dust form), with the coal in the coal handling system or by the
milling it and directly injecting it into the pulverised coal firing system.
2. Indirect co-firing: The biomass is first gasified before the resulting syngas is
combusted in the coal furnace; and
3. Parallel co-firing: The biomass is burnt in separate boilers, with “utilisation of the
steam produced within the main coal power station steam circuits”
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Existing plants

Bio4 at Amagerværket, run by the Greater Copenhagen Utility (HOFOR) is one of the largest
biomass CHP (cogeneration) plants worldwide with a wood chip fuel capacity of 500 MW,
providing heat and power to the city of Copenhagen (Denmark).
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Existing plants

The RSCR system has been operating successfully for as long as five years on four wood-fired
boilers in the US — two 15 MW units in New Hampshire, a 54 MW unit in Vermont, and a 50
MW unit in Maine. Both 15 MW plants and the 54 MW plant use whole tree chips as fuel; the 50
MW plant uses whole tree chips, waste wood, and construction and demolition wood as fuel for
the boilers.
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Existing plants

The municipal solid waste- (MSW)-to-energy plant in Vienna operated by Wien

Energie converts 260,000 tonnes of MSW per year to heat and electricity for the
capital of Austria
04
Technology costs
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The profitability of a biomass combustion system is different for heat-only, power-

only, and CHP systems. For residential heating applications, biomass combustion
systems are often economically competitive under a variety of regulatory framework
conditions. Larger-scale heating plants, such as those providing process heat
applications in industry, usually require supportive economic environments with, for
instance, carbon pricing or taxation systems in place, to make them competitive
against fossil alternatives. In general, the economics of biomass combustion systems
improve with higher heat demand and higher full-load hours.
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For power and CHP applications, supportive regulatory framework conditions are
essential. Further major influencing factors are biomass fuel costs and electricity
market prices. Depending on electricity prices, biomass combustion-based power is
often economically feasible only if financial supporting schemes such as feed-in
tariffs or contracts for difference (CFDs) are available.
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However, this is also the case for other renewable sources, as a recent study by
Fraunhofer ISE concludes for the case of Germany. Levelised costs of electricity
(LCOE) from biomass combustion systems were calculated at 7–15 €cent/kWh which,
although higher than the average wholesale electricity prices of the past years, falls
into a similar range to most of the other technologies investigated. Only utility-scale
photovoltaics (PV) and on-shore wind power plants tend to reach lower LCOE,
whereas coal and gas power are found at the upper end of the cost range of 20€cent/
kWh and above. For fossil fuel systems, moderate emission certificate prices (within
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05
Environmental Impacts
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Combustion of biomass and pyrolysis can have several environmental

impacts:

- Air Pollution
- Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Effects on Human Health
- Toxic Waste and ashes
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Air pollution and emissions are significant

concerns associated with combustion, particularly
in the context of biomass and pyrolysis. These
processes release various pollutants into the
atmosphere, contributing to environmental
degradation and negative health effects.
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Biomass combustion Pyrolysis combustion

Biomass combustion refers to the burning of organic Pyrolysis combustion involves the thermal decomposition
materials such as wood, crop residues, and animal of organic materials in the absence of oxygen. This

waste for energy production. While biomass is process produces biochar, a carbon-rich solid, and
syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen
considered a renewable energy source, its
(H2), and methane (CH4). While pyrolysis can be a more
combustion releases carbon dioxide (CO2), a
efficient and cleaner form of combustion compared to
greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
traditional biomass combustion, the release of syngas
containing methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributes
to climate change.
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Effects on human health

Potential Health Risks;
⮚Exposure to combustion byproducts from biomass and pyrolysis combustion
can lead to respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of
breath.
⮚Inhaling fine particulate matter released during combustion can contribute to
the development or worsening of respiratory conditions such as asthma and
bronchitis.
⮚Certain combustion byproducts, such as carbon monoxide and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), can have neurological effects and may increase the risk of
cardiovascular diseases.
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❑Waste Management
Waste management is a critical aspect of biomass and pyrolysis combustion. It involves the
proper handling, storage, and disposal of waste materials generated during the combustion
process.
⮚Challenges
❖Variety of waste materials: Biomass and pyrolysis combustion can generate a wide range of
waste materials, including ash, char, and unburned residues. Each type of waste requires
specific handling and disposal methods.
❖Environmental impact: Improper waste management can lead to pollution of air, water, and
soil. It is crucial to implement effective waste management practices to minimize the
environmental impact.
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⮚Solutions

❖Segregation and sorting: Proper segregation and sorting of waste materials

can facilitate efficient waste management. This includes separating
recyclable materials from non-recyclable ones.

❖Treatment and disposal methods: Implementing appropriate treatment and

disposal methods for different types of waste materials is essential. This may
include incineration, landfilling, or recycling.
Thank you for your
attention