BIOMASS

FUELLED
POWER PLANTS

OUTLINES
Introduction
Biomass and its sources
Biomass power plant and its working
Biomass power generation modes
Social benefits
Economic viability
Prospective segments & challenges
Conclusions
References

WHAT IS BIOMASS ?
Biomass is a renewable energy source that is

derived from living or recently living organisms.

It is produced by metabolic activities of
biological systems (plants and animals) and/or
products of their decomposition or conversion
The chemical and energetic value of those
materials is based on the carbon-carbon and
carbon-hydrogen bond
Biomass suitable for utilization must have a net
heating value

SOURCES OF
BIOMASS
Comes from
the forest
Can also come
from plant and
animal waste
Wood and
waste can be
found virtually
anywhere

OVERVIEW

Biomass can be chemically and biochemically

treated to convert it to a energy-rich fuel.

Thermal energy is extracted by means of

combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification.

Energy derived from biomass is mostly used

to generate electricity or to produce heat.

KEY COMPONENTS OF BIOMASS

POWER PLANT
Fuel storage and handling equipment
Combustor / furnace
Boiler
Pumps
Fans
Steam turbine
Generator
Condenser
Cooling tower
Exhaust / emissions controls
System controls (automated).

BIOMASS POWER GENERATION

MODES
Different types of biomass power

generation modes are

Combustion
Gasification combustion
Mixed burning
Gasification mixed burning

BIOMASS POWER GENERATION MODES

COMBUSTION
Biomass burned directly in boiler to produce steam to generate

electricity

Main advantage
Mature technology
Low running cost
Simple biomass pretreatment
Disadvantage
Low efficiency at small scale
single biomass fuel
large investment

Application
Large scale power generation

BIOMASS POWER GENERATION

MODE
GASIFICATION COMBUSTION
solid biomass breaks down to form a flammable
gas.
Biomass gasified first and then fuel gas burned
in gas turbine or engine

Gasification
Advantage

High efficiency at small scale

Flexible in capacity
Low investment

Disadvantage

Complex equipment
High maintenance cost

Applications

Medium and small system

Combined cycles , which combine gas turbines and
steam turbines to produce electricity

BIOMASS POWER GENERATION

MODE
MIXED BURNING
Biomass mixed with coal and burned in boiler
Main advantage
Simple and convenient operation
Least investment if no reconstruction of existing

device

Main disadvantage
Strict biomass pretreatment and quality
Some impact on original system.
Application
Suitable for timber biomass.

BIOMASS POWER GENERATION

MODES
Gasification mixed burning
Biomass gasified first and then fuel gas burned with coal in

boiler

Main advantage
Universal application
Low impact on original coal-fired system
Economic benefit
Main disadvantage
Complex management
Certain metal erosion problem

Application
Power generation system for mass biomass.

VARIOUS TECHNIQUES AND OPTIONS

AVAILABLE
Biomass liquefaction via pyrolysis
A process similar to Gasification
Heating of Hydrocarbons in zero oxygen condition
Condenses the vapors to obtain Bio-oil (pyrolysis

oil)
Bio-oil is easily transportable, store and handle
Can be combusted in boiler for heat or electrical
generation

ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Minimizes cost involved with waste disposal
Can generate money for community
It provide job opportunity in rural areas
Power from biomass gasifier based plants are

cheap in rural areas

Overall cost of installation, running,
transmission, labor etc. per unit cost of
electricity is low.

PROSPECTIVE SEGMENTS &

CHALLENGES
Biomass

Combustion power plant is attractive to:

Industrial Factories owners

Plantation/Mill owners

Sugar cane (Bagasse)

Rice (Rice Husks)
Wood/Paper (Wood Wastes)
Corn (Corn Wastes)
Palm Oil (Empty Fruit Bunches, Shells)
Cassava (Roots, Stems)

Able to supply both Electricity and Heat (steam) for

factory use
Main challenges:
securing the long term supply of Biomass fuel source at stable prices
selling price of electricity, if connected to the grid to sell electricity

CONCLUSIONS
Uses low cost waste materials
Recycling waste materials can be a solution to

the problems with disposing of waste products

Reduced dependence on foreign oil
Biomass plants operate in a reliable and

consistent manner providing crucial base load

power generation.

REFERENCES
Biomass power generation modes.
http://www.V-FLO.com
B H KHAN, Non-conventional energy resources ,

3RD edition, pub. year 2006

Biomass energy
www.amrenewables.com
Pyrolysis and Other Thermal Processing. [U.S.
Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy Biomass Program]
http://
www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/printable_versions/pyro
lysis.html