COOLING, HEATING, AND POWER (MICRO-CHP) AND BIO-FUEL CENTER MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

• Sponsoring Institution: State Agricultural Experiment Station
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: STATE
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0217935
• Project Start Date: May 1, 2008
• Project End Date: Apr 30, 2013
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
(N/A)
MISSISSIPPI STATE,MS 39762

Performing Department
Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Non Technical Summary
The rising demand for electrical power as well as energy for heating and cooling of buildings is a growing worldwide concern. Cooling, Heating and Power (CHP) generation systems have been widely recognized as a key alternative for heat and electricity generation because of its outstanding energy efficiency, reduced environmental emissions, and relative independence from centralized power grids. CHP systems produce electric power and useable thermal energy onsite or near site, converting as much as 80% of the fuel into useable energy while traditional power plants convert about 30% of the fuel into useable energy. Acceptability, viability, relevance of micro-CHP systems in the current socio-economic environment can be further enhanced with integration of bio-fuels into those systems. Using the conversion of wood chips into sythesis gas as the test case, alternative integrated processes/systems covering unit operations from field collection to biofuel production will be proposed and designed and suitability, cost, reliability, and efficiencies of operation of the systems in rural applications will be assessed through statistical analysis and modeling. A base model to accomplish this has already been developed. The objectives of the study will be 1) to design unit operations for an integrated syngas and bio-oil production facility involving CHP technologies and 2) to develop an economic profile for such systems. The three critical requirements for the success of rural energy technologies are: ease of use, low capital investment and suitability with the available local biomass feedstock. Direct combustion is a biomass conversion method, which could satisfy all of the above three criteria. Past efforts in rural energy technology have focused on the use of natural gas as the fuel source. Natural gas price fluctuates heavily in the US and the price is increasing due to reliance on foreign sources. During natural catastrophes, the supply of natural gas is cut off due to disruption in pipelines causing power shutdowns, as happened during hurricane Katrina. Biomass is a low priced feedstock, which is available even during natural catastrophes. There is a need for developing technologies which utilize biomass as feedstock. The aim of this project is to develop a direct combustion technology for producing energy from biomass, with applications in rural areas. The objectives of this project are to design and test a system with a direct combustion furnace, engine/turbine to produce electricity from the heat produced in the furnace and heat exchangers to utilize the excess heat for cooling and heating buildings.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
511	2299	2000	50%
511	2299	2020	50%

Knowledge Area
511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes;

Subject Of Investigation
2299 - Miscellaneous and new crops, general/other;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 2000 - Chemistry;

Keywords

chp

cooling heating and power

biomass

synthesis gas

heating and cooling broiler facilities

disaster debris

two-stage evaporative cooling system cooling poultry broiler

facilities

biomass feedstock handling

emergency power

biofuels

Goals / Objectives
Develop an Engineering Economics model of electrical energy generation using syngas-diesel engine arrangement that relates inputs and outputs. Determine pertinent operational parameters associated with syngas quality, carburetion methodology, control and regulation, and fuel mixture that influence the performance of electrical energy generation and exhaust constituents. Detection of condensation and other failure inducing parameters in the duel-fuel engine and system will be accomplished. Develop optimal process to provide conditioned syngas fuel to electrical generator set. In-line/real-time monitoring of pre and post conditioning of syngas/diesel mixture with mathematical prediction of condensate forming, corrosion and other properties that influence the performance or long-term operation of the dual-fuel engine. Simplified filtration system that can permit extended operation of gasifier will be researched. Determine the design parameters for a two-stage evaporative cooling system in a tunnel-ventilated commercial broiler facility. Develop an economic analysis model for a two-stage evaporative cooling system utilizing CHP technologies in a tunnel-ventilated commercial broiler facility. Determine the quantity and composition of debris produced for a given size, location and type of disaster. Determine the feedstock potential for different types of debris materials and states of deterioration. Develop an economic analysis model for the production of emergency power using disaster debris as a feedstock in a CHP system. Design unit operations particularly to biomass handling for an integrated syngas production facility involving CHP technologies. Develop an economic profile for an integrated syngas production facility involving CHP technologies through modeling.

Project Methods
Synthesis gas (from a gasifier or stored sources) could be used to produce electricity and heat instead of gasoline or other product. A commercially available internal combustion engine (Briggs and Stratton, 10 hp OHV) and a diesel engine have been customized for using synthesis gas as fuel. Chemical components of tar and water are suspected of having a negative impact on optimal operation of engines especially under the humid atmospheric condition of Mississippi. The concentrations of Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen in the flue gas would also need to be quantified in order to determine the ventilation and safety requirements in a domestic utilization scenario. The amount of input and output will be measured and monitored and an engineering economic computer model will be developed to enable better understanding of various possible scenarios of operating the system. Synthetic gas produced by a gasifier contains among other things, a considerable amount of particulate material and water. The filtration system currently in use consists of a bag filter which traps particles of larger than the porosity of the filter. Clogged filter is a major impediment in the current operation of a gasifier because of the requirements for replacing filters. The mixture of particulate and water in an engine is an issue that increases maintenance and down time. The generation of syngas from a gasifier is a continuous process. Currently, the synthetic gas is channeled either to a flare system or the GENSET or both. Storage of syngas is being studied in another part of this project, meanwhile an automated regulation of syngas for the generation of electricity is required in order to improve safety. The aim of this project is to quantify the current particulate trapping system and to develop a more efficient system that will control the particulate and moisture content of the syngas to reduce down time. It is also proposed to developed an automated three-way regulation system that will enable the channeling of syngas from a gasifier to a flare, an engine, a storage system, or to all three designations simultaneously. Complete the design of a two-stage evaporative cooling system sized for a tunnel-ventilated commercial broiler facility. An economic model illustrating the feasibility of a CHP based two-stage evaporative cooling system. Economics associated with the collection and preparation (sorting and chipping) costs in transforming debris into a CHP system feedstock. Energy values for type of debris material, moisture content, and deterioration. An economic model that demonstrates the power output (kWh) produced by a CHP system per quantity of debris feedstock. Economic analysis model for an integrated syngas production facility involving CHP technologies. Feasibility study for a small-scale facility with an energy production equivalent to 18 kW as the test case.

Progress 05/01/08 to 04/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The major goals and objectives were met.

Publications

Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: A 15 KVA asynchronous diesel engine driven power generator was successfully instrumented and operated with diesel-syngas fuel mixture using syngas produced from biomass gasification. The reduction of diesel fuel consumption achievable was 60% and the average power output was 7.3 KWh. The fuel consumption at this output level was computed to be approximately 3.75 m3/kwh of syngas and 0.35 L/kwh diesel. The efficiency of power production decreases with the increase in syngas proportion and the efficiency was around 11% at 58% syngas level in relation to 18% efficiency at 100% diesel. Physicochemical properties of biomass feedstocks, such as composition, shape, size,moisture content, etc., have effects on the gasification process. The properties affect feedstock selection, sizing, transportation, and storage; gasification and syngas recovery, and co-product processing. The extent of the effects of feedstock properties depend on gasfier type, operating conditions, and syngas quality product requirements. Fixed-bed downdraft gasifiers are widely used in small-scale biomass gasification facilities because of their simple and robust construction, easy and reliable operation, suitability with various feedstocks, high conversion rate,and production of relatively clean syngas containing low tar and particulate concentrations. Results of the modeling indicated that operating cost was the major part of the syngas production cost, and the single-shift operating cost could be up to 83.64% of the total annual cost of syngas production at the 60 Nm3 h-1 capacity level. Labor cost was the largest part of the operating cost and the total annual cost. The labor cost could be up to 73.60% of the total of annual operating cost and 61.56% of the total annual cost of syngas production. The unit cost and energy cost of syngas production of the 60 Nm3 h-1 facility were $0.55 Nm-3 and $0.095 MJ-1, respectively, which were higher than the $0.357 Nm-3 and $0.009 MJ-1 natural gas average retail prices in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2008. Hurricane Katrina data were used in the area of the 10 Mississippi Gulf Coast counties. Predominate tree type present in the disaster area was Pinus (species included slash pine and loblolly pine and represent Mississippi Forest Inventory (MIFI) damage plots that had observable wind damage after Hurricane Katrina. Debris Emergency Power Production Simulation (DEPPS) model was developed to characterize the volume of woody debris (forest residues) for a given hurricane event. The simulation created 207,147 supply points over the ten county study areas. Mean woody debris volume for each supply point was 13.08 cubic meters. An in-field hay cuber was used to densify Bermuda grass into cubes in the 8-25% moisture content range. An overall higher percentage of cubed material was produced between the 9% and 16% MC. The largest percentage of cubes (78%) were produced at 15% MC. No cubed material was produced at the 25% MC. The John Deere 425 Hay cuber showed promise of providing densified cubes in the field, however, efforts were directed towards the use of a binding agent to increase the percentage of cubes developed. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The southeastern United States could produce enough biomass crops (grasses or woody crops) to help establish America's energy independence. The conversion of this biomass to energy can be accomplished by either producing ethanol and/or synthetic gas to burn in internal combustions engines to power generators or create steam that will produce electricity. This conversion of the biomass (wood or grassy crops) could generate new industries in the region which will improve the economic situation of the area. The heat from the engines and generators can also be used in the total concept of Cooling Heating and Power (CHP) which will make the region and the US less dependent upon petroleum products.

Publications

• Shah, A., Srinivasan, R., To, F.D., and Columbus, E.P. 2010. Performance and emissions of a spark-ignited engine driven generator on biomass based syngas. Bioresource Technol. 101:4656-4661.
• L. Wei, L. O. Pordesimo, S. D. Filip To, C. W. Herndon, W. D. Batchelor. 2010. Evaluation of Micro-Scale SYNGAS Production Costs Through Modeling. Trans ASAE Vol. 52(5): 1649-1659.
• Lin Wei, Filip To, Eugene Columbus, Fei Yu, James Wooten, William D. Batchelor. Production of Syngas from Downdraft Fixed-bed Biomass Gasification Systems. Presentation at Int. Conf. on Bioenergy Tech. (ICBT), Beijing China, Aug. 22, 2010.
• Lin Wei, Filip To, Eugene Columbus, Fei Yu, James Wooten, William D. Batchelor. Biomass-based Syngas from Downdraft Fixed-bed Gasifier. Poster at Int. Sustainable Energy Technology (ISET), Shanghai, China, Aug. 25, 2010.
• L. Wei, S. D. Filip To, L. O. Pordesimo, and W. D. Batchelor. Evaluation of micro-scale electricity generation cost using biomass-derived synthetic gas through modeling. Journal of ASABE, in review, 2010.
• Igathinathane, C., J.D. Davis, J.L. Purswell, and E.P. Columbus. 2010. Application of 3D scanned imaging methodology for volume, surface area, and envelope density evaluation of densified biomass. Bioresource Technology. 101(11): 4220-4227.