Design, Fabrication and Evaluation of Multi-feed Biomass Gasifier for Smallholder Families in Ghana. Team members. Institutions

Transcription

1 Design, Fabrication and Evaluation of Multi-feed Biomass. Team members Gilbert A. Akolgo Claudia Maria B F Maia Institutions University of Energy and Natural Resources (Sunyane) Embrapa Florestas (PR)

2 Rationale Unsustainable harvesting of wood for fuel and timber is the main driver of deforestation (2% deforestation rate); Charcoal and firewood represent ~85% of cooking energy in Ghana inefficient burning of biomass produces combustion products that are very harmful to human health and the environment.

3 Land Use in Ghana Quacou, I.E. Intern. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 4 (6), 2016,

4 Traditional Charcoal production: an inefficient activity

5 Traditional Cooking in Ghana

6 Objectives To design and construct a multi-feed, user and environmentally friendly stove to produce energy and biochar.

7 Actions Determine how to make a sustainable and popular stove ; Minimize cost by stove design, evaluation and modification using readily available materials; Qualify the gas (energy) and biochar produced from the prototype stove; Test biochar produced from prototype stove on vegetable and maize farms in the northern Ghana; Perfom SWOT analysis on the new stove to determine how to make it a business opportunity for rural entrepreneurs; Fabricate and disseminate twenty improved stoves to stakeholders throughout the ten region of Ghana. Assist the smallholders on how to use biochar through field training and demonstration.

8 Determine how to make a sustainable and popular stove: a survey found out that Ghanaians (40%) are willing to pay only about $5.00 for an improved stove; users want to solve challenges such as: smoke and heat, difficulty in use, expensive cost of the stoves, fuel scarcity; about 83.0 % of Ghanaians have no idea of the use of charcoal as a soil amendment tool (biochar); main available residues are husk rice and maize cobs

9 stove design of low cost:

10 stove design of low cost domestic unity:

11 stove design of low cost industrial unity:

12 Gyapa reference stove Obeng et al., Energies 2017, 10(5), 641;

13 Gasifier Energy Quality Cook System Efficiency (%) Boiling Time (min) Input Heat Energy (MJ) Burning Rate (g/min) Gasifier Ch Gasifier MC Gasifier SDR Gasifier RH Gasifier SC Gasifier SD Gyapa (Ref.)

14 Gasifier Emissions Source Average TVOC Average HCHO (mg/m 3 ) (mg/m 3 ) Biomass gasifier Local Coal pot Open wood fire TVOC = total volatile organic compounds; HCHO = formaldehyde

15 Field testing - Comparison Cooking time (min) Banku Rice Palm oil extraction Boiling Time (min) Banku Rice Palm Oil extraction Fuel Use (kg) Banku Rice Palm oil extraction Gyapa kg charcoal (13 MJ) 0.2 kg charcoal (~7 MJ) 4.2 kg wood (~69 MJ) Gasifier Stove kg wood (8 MJ) 0.7 kg wood (11 MJ) 3.2 kg wood (51 MJ)

16 Biochar Quality Table 1. Chemical, elemental (ash free) and proximate analysis of rice husks and corn stalks feedstocks and biochars. Sample/ Temp Extractives Lignin Holocellulose Moist Ash C H N S O H/C O/C % Atomic ratio Rice husk Corn stalk CV ph EC Yield Vol Fix C Moist Ash C H N S O H/C O/C MJ.kg -1 ms % Atomic ratio RH RH RH CS CS CS RH: Rice Husk Biochar; CS: Corn Stalk Biochar; CV: calorific value; Moist: moisture; Vol: volatiles; Fix C: fixed C.

17 Biochar Quality field testing

18 Biochar Quality field testing Plots with biochar were less acidic and had higher organic C and exchangeable cations ph 1:2.5 % % % Exchangeable cations cmol/kg cmol/kg cmol/kg cmol/kg % LABELS H 2 O CO TN SOM Ca Mg K Na T.E.B EX. ACIDITY ECEC BASE SAT. B0F B0F B0F B1F B1F B1F B2F B2F B2F

19 Biochar Quality pot testing with Caupi bean

20 Biochar Quality ecotoxixity Both biochars from husk rice and from maize cobs in temperatures of 350, 450 e 550 degrees doens t cause any mortality or affect earthworm s reproduction

21 Gasifier for Smallholder Families in Ghana Expect Results Reduce green house emission from cooking and crop production. Reduce the stove cost by 70% in relation to the current cost (between 15 to USD, (GS-VER- PDD, 2006) Increase thermal efficiency of biomass stove. Produce high quality biochar and increase the use. Achieved Results Reduced fuel use and emmission can reduce deforestation and climate change if only the gasifier is well developed, dessiminated and marketed. Only widespread adoption could lead to these benefits. Also the use of agricultural and industrial waste as feedstock can limit the dependence on forest resources with potential benefits for C sequestration. Although the initial cost of the gasifier is higher than the gyapa, the use of agricultural and industrial waste obtained at no cost can offset this cost difference within the short to medium term (3 6 months). Thermal efficiency of the gasifier cookstove has been increase to 42.4% High quality biochar produced was tested and demonstrated in the field. The biochar produces soil with higher exchangeable organic carbon and reduces soil acidity. A second phase of the project with substantial dissemination component can increase the use of biochar among farmers.

22 Gasifier for Smallholder Families in Ghana Estimate the availability of residual biomass/feedstock in Ghana by means of a survey. Increase the use of the biomass stove. The study will increase and sustain the use of the biomass cook stove. Increase the yield of cassava, maize and vegetables through the use of biochar. Participants and observers during the field demonstration exercises showed keen interest in the technology and even proposed alternative areas where its use can be beneficial. It is therefore expected that proper dissemination of the DPG can increase use of the technology among different categories of users (industrial, domestic and commercial). The promotion of the good quality biochar produced can help increase crop production as indicated by the field test. Dissemination, perhaps through a second phase of the project can lead to increased use of biochar for soil amendments and subsequently, increased farm outputs.

23 Gasifier for Smallholder Families in Ghana Other outputs/outcomes of the project Results were presented and published in four separate conferences. Two papers are also under review for publication in peer reviewed journals. The survey revealed that: Ghanaians are likely to accept improved stoves with reduced smoke levels, easy to use, relatively low cost, durable and have readily available fuel. Less than ten percent (10%) of Ghanaians know that charcoal (biochar) can be used for soil amendment and environmental management. This presents an opportunity to entrepreneurs. On the average Ghanaians spend between Gh 2.82 and Gh 4.36 on cooking fuel in a day. The DPG will be cost effective alternative given that users can rely on industrial and agricultural waste at no cost whatsoever. Prototype domestic and industrial size gasifier cookstoves have been developed, tested and demonstrated to farmers and industrialists. A PhD thesis is been written based on the project results. The thesis will be submitted for examination by 10/12/2017.

24 Gasifier for Smallholder Families in Ghana IMPACTS In the long run, the following impacts are realisable based on widespread adoption of the technology: Improved health benefits for users due to reduced smoke inhalation Improved farm level outputs from the use of biochar for soil improvement Reduced emission levels from cooking Reduced deforestation due to the reliance on agricultural and industrial waste as feedstock

25 Gasifier for Smallholder Families in Ghana Lessons Learned There are readily available feedstock/biomass (from rice and maize) New stove performs dual function of cooking and preparing biochar There are considerable market size It is easy to build/construct The new stove reduces indoor pollution when compared to traditional use of woodlots It takes less cooking time with reduced fuel consumption It can perform multiple scale (power dryers, industrial use, household use and commercial use)

26 Gasifier for Smallholder Families in Ghana Bottlenecks Poorly disseminated/marketed Discolouration of saucepans Relatively bulky/ less portable Relatively more expensive (3X) when compared to the traditional gyapa cook stove

27 Gasifier for Smallholder Families in Ghana Next Steps Technology transfer to local artisans, entrepreneurs and farmers on the construction and use of the gasifier cookstove and the biochar application. Estimate general health benefits resulting from reduced indoor pollution Look for Governmental/institutional support for fund efficient cook stoves Estimate the potential to help increase farm outputs Estimate how it can potentially help reduce deforestation in the long run The involvement of postgraduate students in the study of the evaluation and true impact of the project needs to be done.

28 Thank you very much Gilbert Akolgo Claudia Maia Vídeo de Claudia Maia short.mp4