Progress 06/01/10 to 05/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: As continued increases from greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels negatively impact our environment, finding renewable forms of energy that can reduce those emissions are becoming increasingly important. Biomass is an abundant renewable resource and Wisconsin is fortunate to have a wide variety of biomass materials with land and water resources to grow more. To utilize biomass effectively in combustion processes, developments are needed to allow biomass to be processed and handled more similarly to coal. Densification of biomass into small pellets or briquettes is believed to be a good first step. However, biomass does not easily deform and requires high binder amounts, high temperature, and high pressure to be densified. This research project seeks to improve the economics and environmental performance of biomass combustion by understanding biomass deformation fundamentals and leveraging the understanding to develop an improved process to densify biomass. The first task was to characterize biomass and identify chemical and physical characteristics that allow biomass to be more easily densified. Moisture had the greatest impact with significant energy savings from proper control of this variable. A novel method of treating biomass with a mild acid treatment was found to significantly reduce size reduction energy and create improved pellets. The second task measured the deformable media mechanical properties of the biomass under densification conditions. A compression electromechanical system was created that allowed measurement of stress and strain during pellet production. This test was used to simultaneously measure the biomass mechanical properties and make pellets that could be measured for durability. As the pellets produced were small in number, new test methods were developed to measure the pellet durability. The third task identified processing conditions and binder systems to create densified biomass fuels with minimal cost and energy. Thermoplastic binders were shown to require less energy and the ability to create high quality pellets. If low cost waste plastic, such as ag bags can be sourced, the research indicated they made excellent binders. Additionally, it was found if a portion of the hemicellulose was extracted using either hot water or dilute acid solutions, the biomass was easier to size reduce and made higher density pellets. The fourth task was to characterize the resulting densified biomass for suitability to heat and power generation, boiler operations, and air emissions. Thirty solid fuels from various biomass collected from the state were tested for ultimate (C, H, N, O, S), proximate (moisture, ash, volatiles, fixed carbon), Cl, and Hg and mineral ash analysis. Woody fuels were found in general to be the best fuel for combustion, benefiting from low values in problematic elements, and herbaceous fuels were the next most desirable fuels, presenting emissions and corrosion issues related to sulfur and chlorine. Residual fuel compositions varied greatly with some indicating significant emissions or operational issues. They therefore require review on a case by case basis. PARTICIPANTS: Pamella Wipperfurth, MS Student; Jeffrey Mueller, MS Student. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our findings were presented at several conferences that included professionals doing biomass to power projects. Based on the positive feedback from the audience, it was evident that this knowledge was useful for both biomass pellet producers as well as utilities trying to utilize this solid fuel. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The biomass characterization information was used to help guide the biomass supply chain development for bio-power installations. Information was provided during several conferences, which led to several additional invitations based on audience interest. The conferences included the following: 1. Runge, Troy, Du, Sheldon, Porter, Pam, Radloff, Gary Biomass Quality for Combustion: Not all Biomass is Equal, Heating the Midwest Conference, Eau Claire, WI (April 26, 2012). 2. Radloff, Gary, Runge, Troy, Du, Sheldon, Runge, Troy, Du, Sheldon Coupling Biomass Quality and Quantity to Create a Statewide Energy Plan International Biomass Conference, Denver, CO (April 17, 2012). 3. Runge, Troy; Value Prior to Pelletization, Transforming Biomass into High-Quality On-Spec, High-Density Feedstocks Workshop, in Idaho Falls, ID (August 23, 2011). 4. Mueller, Jeff, Runge, Troy; Fuel Survey for Solid Fuel Combustion, International Biomass Conference, in St. Louis, MO (May 3, 2011). 5. Wipperfurth, Pam, Runge, Troy, Chunhui Zhang; Simple Biorefinery: Creating an Improved Solid Fuel and Soluble Sugar Stream, TAPPI International Bioenergy & Bioproducts Conference, in Atlanta, GA (March 16, 2011). 6. Runge, Troy; Biomass for Heat and Power Midwest Renewable Energy Conference, in St. Paul, MN (March 4, 2011). 7. Runge, Troy; "Developing a Biomass Supply Chain," Midwest Biomass Conference, Dubuque, IA , November 17, 2010. 8. Runge, Troy; "Biomass Supply Development," TAPPI Management Meeting at Madison, WI on November 4, 2010. 9. Runge, Troy; "Biomass Feedstock Development for your Energy Project," International Bioenergy Days, Rockford, IL, September 28, 2010.
Publications
- Runge, Troy; Wipperfurth, Pamella; Zhang, Chunhui; Improving biomass combustion quality using a liquid hot water treatment, Biofuels, Vol. 4, No. 1, Pages 73-83 (2013).
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: As greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels negatively impact our environment, renewable energy is becoming increasingly important. Biomass is a renewable resource that Wisconsin is fortunate to have an abundance of, with land and water resources to grow more. Solid fuel combustion represents a cost effective renewable resource that utilizes well developed combustion technologies, but requires further research to improve the quality of the biomass supply. To utilize biomass effectively in combustion processes, developments are needed to allow biomass to be processed and handled more similarly to coal. Densification of biomass into small pellets or briquettes is believed to be a good first step. However, biomass does not easily deform and requires high binder amounts, high temperature, and high pressure to be densified. This research project seeks to improve the economics and environmental performance of biomass combustion by understanding biomass deformation fundamentals and leveraging the understanding to develop an improved process to densify biomass. The first task was to characterize biomass and identify chemical and physical characteristics that allow biomass to be more easily densified. Several biomasses at sizes and moistures were utilized to explore densification. Moisture had the greatest impact with significant energy savings from proper control of this variable. A novel method of treating biomass with a mild acid treatment was found to significantly reduce size reduction energy and create improved pellets. The second task measured the deformable media mechanical properties of the biomass under densification conditions. A compression electromechanical system was created that allowed measurement of stress and strain during pellet production. This test was used to simultaneously measure the biomass mechanical properties and make pellets that could be measured for durability. As the pellets produced were small in number, new test methods were developed to measure the pellet durability. The third task identified processing conditions and binder systems to create densified biomass fuels with minimal cost and energy. Thermoplastic binders were shown to require less energy and the ability to create high quality pellets. If low cost waste plastic, such as ag bags can be sourced, they make excellent binders. The fourth task was to characterize the resulting densified biomass for suitability to heat and power generation, boiler operations, and air emissions. Thirty solid fuels from various biomass were collected from the state were tested for ultimate (C, H, N, O, S), proximate (moisture, ash, volatiles, fixed carbon), Cl, and Hg and mineral ash analysis. Woody fuels were found in general to be the best fuel for combustion benefiting from low values in problematic elements and herbaceous fuels were the next most desirable fuels presenting emissions and corrosion issues related to sulfur and chlorine. Residuals fuels compositions varied greatly with some indicating the ability in significant emissions or operational issues and require review on a case by case basis. PARTICIPANTS: Two graduate students were involved with this project including:Pamella Wipperfurth, Master Student; January 1, 2011 through July 31, 2011.Jeff Mueller, Master Student; January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. TARGET AUDIENCES: Outreach presentations were provided to reach companies interested in biomass for heat and power. Information was provided during several conferences including: Runge, Troy, "Biomass for Heat and Power,"Midwest Renewable Energy Conference, Minneapolis, MD, March 4, 2011 Runge, Troy; "Bioenergy Project Development, The Wisconsin Experience," US Department of Energy, Biomass 2011: Replace the Whole Barrel, Supply the Whole Market, National Harbor, MD , July 27, 2011. Runge, Troy; "Value Prior to Pelletization," Biomass Preconversion, Formulation, and Densification Workshop, INL, Idaho Falls, ID , August 23, 2011. Runge, Troy; "Value Prior to Pelletization," DOE sponsored webinar, August 30, 2011. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The biomass characterization information was used to help guide the biomass supply chain development for bio-power installations.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Lab tests to be able accurately quantify biomass as solid fuels were developed to be able to quantify the solid fuel properties of various biomasses accurately. Approximately 30 different biomass samples were collected from around Wisconsin and analyzed for solid fuel properties including proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, and potential air pollution precursors of mercury and chloride. The samples represented a wide variety of woody materials, bioenergy crops, agriculture residuals, and waste products. The data is currently being analyzed and submitted for publication to provide publically available information for bioenergy projects. Additionally, this data was used along with information on biomass availability to create several presentations at bioenergy conferences including: + IBED Rockford IL (September 28, 2010) + Platts Biofuel Conference at Chicago, IL on October 5, 2010. + Midwest Biomass Conference at Dubuque, IA on November 17, 2010 PARTICIPANTS: Troy Runge, Principle Investigator; Jeff Mueller, Master Student; TARGET AUDIENCES: Companies, communities, and regions trying to commercialized biomass to energy projects. Biomass to energy projects that outreach information stemming from this project have so far included: Charter Street Heating Plant, UW Madison in Madison, WI; Efrim Energy in Sturgeon Bay, WI PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The biomass characterization information was used to help guide the biomass supply chain development for the UW Madison Charter Street Heating Plant upgrade project. The project is currently planned to convert a coal fired boiler to a new biomass boiler. The biomass data was supplied to the project to enable planning for air emission control equipment as well as inform potential suppliers as to the suitability of their material to meet the State's desired specification. Information was shared through several public hearings to insure that both the project staff and potential future suppliers were informed.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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