Quality parameters and sustainability of biomass pellets Margarida Gonçalves Environmental Biotechnology Unit Department of Science and Technology of the Biomass FCT-UNL Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
Sustainability and Energy in the European Union securing Europe s energy supplies; ensuring that energy prices do not make Europe less competitive; protecting the environment combating climate change; improving energy grids. Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources Use of local energy sources Sustainable biofuel production Sustainable biofuels should not: Originate in biodiverse areas Create impacts of land-use change Forests and agricultural lands are considered biodiverse areas Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
How much bioenergy can Europe produce without harming the environment? Report No 7/2006 Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
How much bioenergy can Europe produce without harming the environment?
BioEnergy CO 2 Capture CO 2 Capture Biomass Soil Remediation Sustainability BioMaterials Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
The use of woody-biomass for heating buildings has significant advantages: Biomass resources can be considered renewable energy sources. The combustion of biomass does not contribute to a significant increase in CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere. Major contributions to global warming originate in the stages of production and transport of the pellets. Biomass use leads to a partial independence from fossil fuels and the corresponding savings in foreign exchange. Biomass use facilitates the creation of a stimulating farming and rural economy. Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
CO 2 emissions for various fuels http://www.7energy.co.uk/biomass/products/pellets.html Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
Prices and material equivalence for various fuels Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
. therefore in several European countries the number of residential heating systems which consume biomass has grown significantly the field during the last decade. Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
Sustainability of the forest ecosystems Deforestation - Bolívia Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
Sustainability of the forest ecosystems Population Growth Increasing needs of arable land Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
Balance Energy Production and Environmental Protection Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
Reduce direct use of wood for biofuel production and Increase the incorporation of biomass wastes Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
PROFORBIOMED : WP4 - Pilot action 1.1. Assessment of the strutural diversity of forest habitats Residual Forestry Biomass in Algarve : a) potential use as solid biofuels b) extraction of valuable components Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
PROFORBIOMED : WP4 - Pilot action 1.1. Residual Forestry Biomass in Algarve : potential use as solid biofuels 5 1 CICAE Biomass collection and transport 4 2 3 2 3 4 FCT-UNL Task coordination Biomass collection and transport Biomass and pellet characterisation CMC Biomassa Pellet production IST-UTL Pellet combustion tests 1 5 CVR Acacia pellet production Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
Production of biomass pellets 1) Feedstock storage 2) Removal of undesirable impurities 3) Biomass drying 4) Biomass grinding 5) Pelletization 6) Cooling and sieving 7) Storage
PROFORBIOMED : WP4 - Pilot action 1.1. Equipment used in the pelletization operations : a) milling unit ; b) pelletization unit ; c) press die ; d) pellet cooling reservoir Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
Biomass Pellets PROFORBIOMED : WP4 - Pilot action 1.1. Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries
PROFORBIOMED : WP4 - Pilot action 1.1. Pellet Code Moisture (% w/w) Ash (% w/w, db) Bulk Density (Kg/m 3 ) Mechanical durability (% w/w) Amount of fines (% w/w) P1-100 % Pinus pinaster wood 7,1 1,1 733 91,9 0,3 P2-100% E. globulus branches 9,1 7,8 692 96,1 1,3 P3-100% P. pinaster branches 10,0 6,3 659 88,5 6,0 P4-100% C. ladanifer aerial part 8,7 6,0 670 95,9 0,4 P5-50% A. dealbata wood 7,5 0,9 671 94,2 1,1 P6-50% A. dealbata branches 2,6 1,9 695 91,5 2,4 P7-50% Lavandula aerial part 6,9 2,8 668 89,7 2,7 P8-50% mixed bushes 6,8 1,8 658 90,1 2,0 P9-50% A. dealbata wood + 50% Vitis vinifera prunnings 8,5 1,8 - - - P10-25% E. globulus branches + 75% pine mix 7,8 5,6 712,0 88,9 5,6 P11-25% C. ladanifer aerial part + 75% pine mix 8,1 4,6 681,8 90,8 5,5 P12-50% A. dealbata wood + 50% pine mix - - - - - P13-100% pine biomass mix 8,9 5,6 678,6 96,1 2,2 Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
PROFORBIOMED : WP4 - Pilot action 1.1. Pellet Code Concentration (% w/w, dry basis) HHV 1 N C H S O P1-100 % Pinus pinaster wood 0.5 46.4 6.3 < 0,01 47.7 18,5 P2-100% E. globulus branches 0,6 38,0 5,0 < 0,01 56,4 12,6 P3-100% P. pinaster branches 0,5 44,4 6,0 < 0,01 49,2 17,0 P4-100% C. ladanifer aerial part 0,4 39,5 5,2 < 0,01 54,9 13,5 P5-50% A. dealbata wood 0,3 46,2 6,5 < 0,01 47,0 18,7 P6-50% A. dealbata branches 0.8 49.0 6.9 < 0,01 43.4 20,4 P7-50% Lavandula aerial part 0.8 47.6 6.7 < 0,01 45.0 19,5 P8-50% mixed bushes 0.4 47.7 6.6 < 0,01 45.3 19,5 P9-50% A. dealbata wood + 50% Vitis vinifera 0,5 47,2 6,35 < 0,01 46,0 18,9 P10-25% E. globulus branches + 75% pine mix 1,9 45,8 6,28 < 0,01 46,0 18,1 P11-25% C. ladanifer aerial part + 75% pine mix 2,1 44,5 5,85 < 0,01 46,0 17,1 P12-50% A. dealbata wood + 50% pine mix - - - - - - P13-100% pine biomass mix 2,2 44,1 5,97 < 0,01 47,8 16,9 Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
Particle Distribution(% w/w of total fines) PROFORBIOMED : WP4 - Pilot action 1.1. 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P1-100 % Pinus pinaster wood P2-100% E. globulus branches P3-100% P. pinaster branches P4-100% C. ladanifer aerial part P5-50% A. dealbata wood P6-50% A. dealbata branches P7-50% Lavandula aerial part P8-50% mixed bushes Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
Carbon Monoxide concentration (ppm) PROFORBIOMED : WP4 - Pilot action 1.1. 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Combustion Tests Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
PM (mg/nm3@ 10% O2) CO, NOx, HC (ppm dry vol. @ 10% O2) PROFORBIOMED : WP4 - Pilot action 1.1. Combustion Tests 3000 2500 2000 PM total CO NOx HC 1500 1000 500 0 Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
PROFORBIOMED : WP4 - Pilot action 1.1. Pellet Production Highlights Forestry biomass can be used for pellet production and its inclusion may even benefit their mechanical durability and the heating value. The ash content may increase when certain species are included. Pellet production parameters and combustion conditions should be optimized in order to minimize the associated emissions. The use of biomasses with very different lignin content seemed to result in increased emissions probably because of different combustion behaviour. Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
PROJECT PROPELLET (QREN-INOVAÇÃO) Promotor: CMC Biomassa Forestry Wastes Solid Biofuels Urban Wastes Heating Value Emissions Sustainability Industrial Wastes Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
PROJECT PROPELLET (QREN-INOVAÇÃO) Promotor: CMC Biomassa Industrial Wastes Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
PROJECT PROPELLET (QREN-INOVAÇÃO) Promotor: CMC Biomassa Forestry Wastes Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
PROJECT PROPELLET (QREN-INOVAÇÃO) Promotor: CMC Biomassa Agro-industrial Wastes Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
PROJECT PROPELLET (QREN-INOVAÇÃO) Promotor: CMC Biomassa Urban Wastes 12 different species Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
PROJECT PROPELLET (QREN-INOVAÇÃO) Promotor: CMC Biomassa Sample Elemental Analysis N(%) C (%) H (%) S (%) O(%) Pine dust 3,74 0,04 46,86 0,16 5,75 0,01 0,00 0,00 43,65 Corck dust 0,56 0,21 45,20 0,29 5,31 0,03 0,00 0,00 48,93 Cistus ladanifer 0,49 0,06 46,59 0,06 6,20 0,06 0,00 0,00 46,72 Acacia 0,63 0,01 46,38 0,14 6,56 0,01 0,00 0,00 46,43 Olive pomace 1,00 0,01 36,49 0,12 7,57 0,03 0,00 0,00 54,94 Grape pomace 2,98 0,02 46,35 0,58 5,21 0,05 0,00 0,00 45,46 Peach tree prunnings 1,69 0,03 45,38 0,50 5,82 0,06 0,00 0,00 47,11 Prune tree prunnings 0,72 0,02 46,26 0,08 5,99 0,09 0,00 0,00 46,69 Olive tree prunnings 1,64 0,03 48,69 0,23 6,54 0,23 0,00 0,00 43,13 Eucalyptus 0,62 0,01 44,28 0,39 5,97 0,23 0,00 0,00 49,13 Casuarina equisetifolia 1,15 0,02 42,75 0,24 5,81 0,07 0,00 0,00 50,29 Acer negundo 2,45 0,01 42,45 0,06 6,10 0,08 0,00 0,00 49,00 Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
Highlights Our society produces large amounts of biomass wastes that could be converted in solid biofuels or biomaterials. The heterogeneous nature of those wastes requires their detailed characterization in order to decide the best possible use. The incorporation of wastes in the formulation of solid biofuels allows : diversification of raw materials reduction of costs protection of forest environments Reduction of the volumes of solids in waste management units Lignocellulosic Crops as Feedstock for Future Biorefineries,
Thanks to coleagues and co-workers Catarina Nobre, Benilde Mendes Unidade de Biotecnologia Ambiental, Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa, FCT-UNL Ulisses Fernandes, Mário Costa Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, IST-UTL Erika Santos, Inês Duarte, Joana Pacheco, Domitília Marques Centro de Investigação em Ciências do Ambiente e Empresariais Instituto Superior Dom Afonso III Maria Cândida Vilarinho, Jorge Araújo, José Carlos Teixeira Centro de Valorização de Resíduos, C2T Universidade do Minho and thank you for your attention