07 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

Bioconversion Energy

95lQ3717 Blodiesel fueled IDI englnes: Performances, emis- sions and heat release Investigation Laforgia, D. and Ardito, V. Bioresource Technol., 1995, 51, (1) 53-59. The use of fuel with a low amount of sulphur cannot be delayed in the major European cities and the use of purposely transesterified and refined seed oils - named biodiesel - appears to be the most convenient solution. This investigation presents the resutls of a wide experimental campaign caried out on an ID1 engine and aimed at evaluating the overall perform- ance, the emissions and the combustion trends observed with the new fuel. Pure biodiesel and blends of biodiesel combined with 10% methanol have been evaluated in detail. A remarkable reduction of smoke emerged from both solutions. When the injection timing was advanced, better results were obtained, thus confirming the advantage of these fuels.

9510371 a Blogas technology and the development of rural women In Yemen EIESCWAINRII 993111, Economic & Social Commission for Western Asia, UN, United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.1001 7, USA, 1994, 93 pp. Presents case studies on the introduction and diffusion of biogas technol- ogy m the Yeman.

95103719 Biomass between sun and wind Raaijen, W. Gas [Netherlands), May 1995, 115, (5), 26-29. (In Flemish) Biomass is increasingly being used as an energy carrier. Energy generation by energy crops (elephant grass, rape and poplars), demolition wood, straw, green waste, and for example roadside grass has excellent prospects. According to optimistic insiders, energy crops alone could eventually account for more than 10% of Dutch energy supply. Such projects can be started in the near future since an estimated number of about 500,000 hectares of agricultural land will become available in the Netherlands. On this land 135 to 180 Petajoules of biomass can be grown, i.e. 5 to 6% of total annual energy consumption in the Netherlands. In France, where much more agricultural land lies fallow, even half of total energy require- ments might be supplied.

95103720 Catalysts for liquid transportation fuels from petro- leum, coal, residual oil, and biomass Chianelli, R. R. et al., Catal. Today, 1994, 22, (2), 361-396. The paper discusses catalysts used for the production of liquid transporta- tion fuels from petroleum, coal, residual oil, and biomass. Outlines the opportunities in heterogeneous catalysis research and future challenges in liquid fuel production.

95103721 The coprocessing of fossll fuels,and blomass for CD2 emission reduction In the transportation sector Stemberg, M. et al., Spec. Publ. Royal Sot. Chem., 1994, (153), 189-199. Discusses the manufacture of alternative transportation fuels from fossil fuels and biomass for CO, emission reduction.

95103722 nese reed

Entrained flow gasification of coarsely ground Chi-

Roll, H. and Hedden, K. Chem. Eng. Process, 1994, 33, (5), 353-361. Describes an entrained flow process for hydrogen production by gasifica- tion (partial oxidation) of coarsely ground Chinese reed. One of the main characteristics of this process is the withdrawal of liquid slag from the reaction zone. The slag outlet is heated with two swirl burners in which fuel gas is burned with excess oxygen. The excess oxygen is heated up by the flames and subsequently used for the reed gasification. For gasifier design, the chemical and hydrodynamic behaviour of the reed has been investigated and a mathematical reactor model has been developed.

95103723 The Influence of allometrlc variation, vertical blo- mass distribution and sampling procedure on bio,mass esti- mates In commercial short-rotation forests Telenius, B. and Verwijst, T. Bioresource Technol., 1995, 51, (2), 247-253. Non-destructive biomass estimation methods for Salix which were devel- oped for research purposes in Swedish energy-forestry are too time-con- suming and expensive to be applied in commercial field-situations. Existing allometric equations (relating shoot weight to shoot diameter) may be used to exclude the destrutive, time-consuming phase in biomass-esti- mation procedures. These relations were shown to be specific for species, age, clone and site, implying that generalized equations may lead to con- siderable errors for biomass estimations of particular stands. However, generalized equations were identified which, in general, caused deviations of less than 10% compared to the outcome of site-specific equations.

07 Alternative energy sources (bioconversion energy)

95103724 Isolation and characterization of Clostridium Hob- sonii comb. nov. z:!;y V. K. and Hagen, J. C. Bioresource Technol., 1995, 51, (l),

The role played by an&robic micro-organisms in the digestion of organic matter, and in particular cellulose and hemicellulose, is important and so investigations have been made into the exact role of these macro-organisms in the rumen, as well as in systems for the production of liquid and gaseous fuels with concomitant pollution control. In the present report, a number of cellulolytic isolates obtained from a cattle-waste digester by direct isolation and by a continuous-culture technique are compared with those species which has been classified as Eubacterium cellulosolvens, Clostridium Cel- lobioparum and Clostridium thermocellum, and based on the results Clos- tridium hobsonii comb. nov. is suggested.

95103725 Potential for reducing CO, from fossil fuel through biomass for fossil fuel substitution Dote, Y. and Yokoyama, S. Japanese)

Shigen to Kankyo, 1994, 3, (2), 95-102. (In

A reduction in the amount of CO? from fossil fuel using biomass from fossil fuel substitution was establtshed. Plantation area, productivity of biomass, and CO, emission from biomass production were obtained from previous literature. Conventional biomass-fired power generation, bio- mass-integrated gasifierlgas turbine power generation, and ethanol fermen- tation were given consideration as biomass conversion technologies. The use of biomass has a large advantage for coping with global warming.

95103726 Saccharlflcation of agro-waste materials by fungal cellulases and hemicellulases Okeke, B. C. and Obi, S. K. Bioresource Technol., 1995, 51, (l), 23-27. Biodegradation of\)ignocellulose is one of the nature’s most important biological processes. Through-photosynthetic processes about 70 kg of lignocellulose is produced per person per day. Bioconversion of this vast natural resource is therefore of immense biotechnological and ecological importance. Saccharification of lignocelluloses to sugars that can be used either for the production of organic solvents such as ethanol, or single cell protein will help solve two serious problems facing mankind today; that of energy and food shortages. This study describes, for the first time, the converison of some locally-available agro-waste materials by fungal cellu- lases and xylanases to soluble sugars.

95103727 Status and potential of wood energy utllisation - The Swiss example Rutschmann, C. Sanit. Heiz. Tech., Feb. 1995, 60, (2), 77-83. (In German)

95103728 Tar-decomposing activity of carbonate rocks under high CO, partial pressure Simell, P. A. er al., Fuel, Jun. 1995, 74, (6), 938-945. Hot fuel gas cleaning is one of the most crucial problems in developing simplified integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) processes based on biomass fuels. The biomass-derived gas contains tar that can easil

! plug

the particulate filters required for burning the gas in a gas turbine. n this study, the tar-decomposing activity of three different carbonate rocks in the calcined and recarbonated forms was measured under high pressure using gas of various CO, contents. The effect of gas atmosphere and the decom- position of a tar model compound were also evaluated.

95103729 The technical and economic feasibility of biomass gasification for power generation Bridgwater, A. V. Fuel, May 1995, 74, (5), 631-653. The paper reviews the costs and technologies involved in an integrated system for the production of electricity from biomass in general and wood in particular. It first examines the economics of gasification, showing that the potential for this form of renewable energy lies in either processing low-cost wastes or relying on some sort of fiscal incentive, even at rela- tively large scales of operation and with high-efficiency processes. The paper then considers all the elements required with respect to wood han- dling and preparation, gasification, gas quality and gas cleaning, and estab- lishes the criteria for their selection for delivery of a clean gas to a gas turbine or engine. Special emphasis has been placed on the technology status and key uncertainties that are considered to be crucial to the success or failure of a biomass-based IGCC system.

I 95103730 Trees and biomass energy: Carbon storage and/or fossil fuel substitution? Hall, D. 0. and House, J. I. Biomass Bioenergy, 1994, 6, (l), 11-30. The

P aper assesses various forestry strategies and examines land availabil-

ity, orest management, environmental sustainability, social and political factors, infrastructure and organization, economic feasibility, and ancillary benefits associated with biomass for energy.

Fuel and Energy Abstracts July 1995 269