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This presentation is on Torrefaction of biomass. This thesis includes numbers of objectives that aimed at investigating torrefaction and combustion properties of some Nigerian biomass. Some potential energy crops and woods from Nigeria, namely Terminalia superba, Gmelina arborea, Lophira alata, Nauclea diderrichii, and also one abundant agricultural residue, palm kernel expellers (PKE), were characterized for their combustion properties. Some of the drawbacks in the utilisation of biomass as feedstocks in power stations is their heterogeneous nature and high moisture content at first harvest (hydroscopic and hydrophilic) which makes them susceptible to bacterial degradation during storage. In addition, their fibrous nature that makes them very difficult to grind, and their low heating value reduces their competitiveness in the energy generation market. Biomass feedstocks can differ noticeably in term of morphological, physical, and chemical properties. The problems associated with the characteristics of biomass thus increase the processing cost in its supply chain, especially during feedstock preparation, handling, and transportation. A feasible solution to solve the problems associated with solid biomass is to pre-treat the fuels using some of the methods that were described in Chapter 1. One of the pre-treatment solutions which is of great interest in the last decade is torrefaction. Here, an investigation is carried out of how this thermochemical treatment affects the physical and chemical properties of biomass thereby presenting a more premium fuel. A feasible solution to solve the problems associated with solid biomass is to pre-treat the fuels using some of the methods that were described in Chapter 1. One of the pre-treatment solutions which is of great interest in the last decade is torrefaction. Here, an investigation is carried out of how this thermochemical treatment affects the physical and chemical properties of biomass thereby presenting a more premium fuel. A feasible solution to solve the problems associated with solid biomass is to pre-treat the fuels using some of the methods that were described here. One of the pre-treatment solutions which is of great interest in the last decade is torrefaction. Here, an investigation is carried out of how this thermochemical treatment affects the physical and chemical properties of biomass thereby presenting a more premium fuel.
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School of somethingFACULTY OF OTHER
Nigerian Energy Crops – Properties and Improvement via Torrefaction
Nwigwudu Ikechukwu
Supervisor: Prof. Jenny .M. Jones
2nd August, 2012ugust, 2012
(Project overview)
School of Chemical and Process, Engineering
Femi S. Akinrinola
27th January, 2015
Supervisors : Prof. Jenny .M. Jones & Alan Williams
Torrefaction and Combustion Properties of Some Nigerian Biomass
The Challenges
Environmental concerns
Energy security
Power outage: Demand versus Supply
Global challenges
Local (Nigeria) challenges
Fewer people are connected to grid
Environmental pollution from sawmills.
Images source: creative common, assessed 26/01/2015.
Obligations/Targets
The Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC
Renewables’ share of electricity generation increased from 13.6 per cent in 2013 Q3 to 17.8 per cent in 2014 Q3.
Nigeria
45% of this energy quota is Bioenergy in 2014 Q3
Source: Department of Energy & Climate Change, United Kingdom, (2015).
Issues with biomass
Aim and objectives
The aim of this study is to evaluate the energy potential of Nigerian woods and a residue for large scale electricity generation.
Key objectives
To assess the energy potential of some of the biomass resources in Nigerian and see how they compare with European biomass.
To carry out torrefaction studies on some European and Nigerian biomass.
To examine the fate of nitrogen in the fuel during torrefaction as well as the behaviour of lignocellulosic component of the fuel upon torrefaction.
To investigate the products of torrefaction in terms of their composition, chemical and physical characteristics.
To understand the pyrolytic characteristics of thermally treated biomass.
To study the combustion behaviour of thermally treated biomass and also to assess the reactivities of the chars from torrefied fuels.
Methodology
Steps Approach
Sourcing of common Nigerian raw fuels Gmelina, Terminalia, Nauclea, Lophira and PKE
Characterisation of the sourced fuels Proximate and ultimate analyse, metal analysis, fouling and slagging indices, ash fusion tests and lignocellulose analysis
Pyrolysis & combustion studies of the sourced fuels
TGA analysis, fuel reactivity, PyGCMS analysis and single particle combustion study
Treatment of the sourced fuels Torrefaction
Characterisation of the treated biomass Proximate and ultimate analyse, metal analysis, fouling and slagging indices, ash fusion tests, grindability , lignocellulose analysis
Pyrolysis & combustion studies of treated biomass
TGA analysis, fuel reactivity, PyGCMS analysis and single particle combustion study
Introduction to Torrefaction
Torrefaction – a mild thermochemical process Temperature range is 230-290o C.
Torrefied Biomass Becomes friable and
hydrophobic. Improved calorific value
(18-23MJ/kg) Improved grindability Improved storage,
handling and transport Reduced possibility of
contamination Increased bulk energy
density
Result
Key findings
Nigerian fuels have low N, S, Cl.
High carbon content resulted in relatively higher CV than the European biomass
(19.2-21.2 MJ/kg for the raw fuels to 21.2-25.6 MJ/kg for the torrefied fuels).
The low alkali index of the fuels suggest they are not predicted to cause severe
fouling problems.
Generally, torrefaction showed significant improvement on the fuel properties with
respect to calorific value and grindability except for PKE where little effect was
seen in its grindability performance.
Torrefaction process led to loss of N in the fuels.
Upon torrefaction, the fuel becomes less reactive and thermally stable.
In summary, these fuels showed high potential for large scale electricity production.
However, further studies should examine the sustainability of supply chain for this
fuel to ensure good Carbon reduction.
THANK YOU
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