View: An Intro to Biomass
View: An Intro to Biomass
This resource includes the following information:
Biomass is as organic material derived directly from plants and is produced through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process used by plants to convert the sun’s energy into chemical energy. This chemical energy can then be extracted from the biomass through combustion, to produce energy that can be used as heat or power.
Biomass energy, or bioenergy, refers to all forms of renewable energy that are derived from plant materials produced by photosynthesis. Biomass fuels can be derived from wood, agricultural crops and other organic residues. These fuels can be obtained from many sources in Canada, including sawmills, woodworking shops, forest operations and farms.
Assuming that biomass resources, such as forests, are managed properly, biomass fuels are infinitely renewable
They have already proven to be economically stable sources of energy over time
Bioenergy is neutral in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
The burning of biomass fuels merely releases the CO2 that the plants absorbed over their life spans
In contrast, the combustion of fossil fuels releases large quantities of long-stored CO2, which contribute directly to global warming. Using bioenergy displaces fossil fuels and helps slow the rate of climate change.
Raw biomass consists mainly of trees, shrubs, crops, grains. It can also be aquatic materials such as kelp, seaweed or algae. It can even be animal manure.
Raw biomass can also be obtained through crops that are referred to as ENERGY CROPS. These include hybrid poplars, willows, switchgrass and reed canary grass.
Secondary biomass includes paper and cardboard, leather, pulping liquors, cotton, linen, hemp, natural rubber products, cellulose-derived casings, used cooking oils, tall oil, cheese whey, etc, and is essentially any material that was derived from raw biomass but has undergone significant chemical and physical changes.
Biomass energy uses natural materials and in some cases waste material to product electricity. Examples of these materials include:
Forest residue-floor debris, harvesting residues and trees
Crops, shrubs, grasses - Agricultural crops and residues
Remnant wood from sawmills
Remnant paper and wood waste from paper mills
Corn stalks, corn cobs and seed corn from farms
Un-recyclable paper and cardboard
Manure
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Sewage
Industry
Communities
Institutions
Private citizens
Local government
Remote communities
Wood processing plants- Re-man, furniture, etc.
Schools, hospitals, correctional institutions, etc.
Biomass is a proven technology, which is available year round as there is an abundant source of waste products of approximately 650,000 (tones?) per year. The cost of processing biomass remain constant and the can be achieved in remote locations.
Biomass contributes to:
Decreased level of greenhouse gasses
Effective and efficient means of utilizing waste products
Reduced dependency of oil
Enhance rural economies
Enhanced opportunities for Canadian farm industry. An excellent approach for the farming industry providing a means of
generating higher annual revenues through processing of crop waste
Reduced level of gas consumption
Effective return on investment
Bioenergy creates more permanent jobs than other energy sources
Bioenergy — 22 jobs/$MM invested
Other renewables —12
Fossil — 7
Jobs are local! Often in rural and high unemployment areas
Jobs help small communities grow
Jobs develop local economies through the multiplier effect
Pulp and paper industry is already using bioenergy producing 6% of Canada’s electricity plus providing their own process heat
Large sawmills are increasing the amount used electrical generation and process heat
Greenhouse growers for heat since natural gas price in 2002
Burn in a heat recovery system
Compost
Convert into something different
For Biomass to be useful it needs to be processed in a combuster and the following are types of combusters:
Manual feed
Semi automatic and auto
Step grate
Auger feed
Fluidised bed
Gasifier
Combustion produces heat which in turn can be utilized in various ways:
Hot air for process or space heating
Hot water for process or space heating
Steam for process or electrical generation
Hot gases for process heat or electrical generation
Biomass may also be converted to something into:
Ethanol
Bio-diesel
Bio oil
Charcoal
Pharmaceuticals
Click here for more information...
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The recent upward trend in oil and gas prices has caused many Canadians to reflect on the finite nature of fossil fuels and to take another look at renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, earth and biomass. Many are discovering that renewable energy technologies today are well developed and reliable.
For an overview of Cost Factors ... click to view A Costing Example
