Biomass: Technology and

Implementation

DINESH PANT

dpant@teri.res.in
TERI, New Delhi

December 13, 2012 , Thimpu, Bhutan

Source of biomass
 Technological options
Biomass

Dry biomass Wet biomass

Combustion Biomethanation

Densification
Other biomass technologies
Gasification

Carbonization Ethanol, Methanol, Biodiesel

Bio-oil production
 Briquetting

 Briquetting is a way to convert loose biomass

residues, such as sawdust, straw or rice husk,
into high density solid blocks that can be used as
a fuel. 
 Biomass briquettes replace fossil fuels or wood
for cooking and industrial processes.
 Cleaner, easier to handle and reduce green house
gas emissions
Raw Materials Used
Approaches to Briquetting
 High Pressure Briquetting
 Low pressure Briquetting
 Both require the loose biomass to be ground to a
coarse powder like sawdust.
 High pressure briquetting
 High pressure briquetting uses a power-driven press to raise
the pressure of dry, powdered biomass to about 1500 bar
(150 MPa). 
  The compression heats the biomass to a temperature of
about 120°C, which melts the lignin in the woody material. 
 The press forces the hot material through a die at a
controlled rate. As the pressure decreases, the lignin
cools and re-solidifies, binding the biomass powder into
uniform, solid briquettes.
 Two types of briquetting machine

 Piston press, which uses an oscillating piston to compress

the biomass, and produces cylindrical briquettes, 50 to 100
mm in diameter
 Screw press, which uses a tapered screw, and produces
longer, hollow briquettes
 Low pressure briquetting 

 Low pressure briquetting can be used for materials with a low amount
of lignin, such as paper and charcoal dust.
 The powdered biomass is mixed into a paste with a binder such as
starch or clay, and water
 A briquetting press is used to push the paste into a mould or through an
extruder, or it can simply be shaped by hand.
 The briquettes thus produced are left to dry, so that the binder sets and
holds the biomass powder together.
 Low pressure briquetting machines are often hand operated, using a
lever that drives a piston to compress the paste. 
 
 Advantages
 Renewable and sustainable source of energy
 Briquettes are cheaper than Coal.
 There is no sulfur in briquettes.
 Consistent quality and size as a fuel.
 Better thermal than loose biomass.
 Clean and easy handling.
 Less storage space requirement
 Low transport cost
 Biomass Pelleting
 Biomass pellets are generally a superior fuel when
compared to their raw feedstock.
 Not only are the pellets more energydense, they are also
easier to handle and use in automated feed systems.
 The standard shape of a fuel pellet is cylindrical, with a
diameter of 6 to 8 millimeters and a length of no more
than 38 millimeters.
 A high-quality pellet is dry, hard, and durable, with low
amounts of ash remaining after combustion.
 Pelleting Process
 Feedstock Grinding
 Standard-sized pellet mills generally require biomass that is
ground to particles that are no more than 3 millimeters in
size.
 If the biomass is quite large and dense (e.g., wood), the
material is first run through a “chipper,” and then run
through a hammer mill or similar device to reduce the
particles to the required size.
 Smaller and softer biomass (e.g., straw) can be fed directly
into the hammer mill without first being chipped.
 Moisture Control

 Maintaining an appropriate moisture level in the

feedstock is vital for overall quality of the final pellets.
 Moisture can be removed from the feedstock by oven-
drying or by blowing hot air over or through the
particles.
 If the feedstock is too dry, moisture can be added by
injecting steam or water into the feedstock.
 What is Biomass Gasification?
Basic Process Chemistry
 Conversion of solid fuels into combustible gas mixture

called producer gas (CO + H2 + CH4)

 Involves partial combustion of biomass at a temperature

of about 1000C
 Four distinct process in the gasifier viz.

 Drying

 Pyrolysis

 Combustion

 Reduction
Gasification process
 Types of Gasifier
 They are classified according to the way air or
oxygen is introduced in it.
 Updraft - air passing through the biomass from
bottom and the combustible gases come out from
the top of the gasifier
 Downdraft - the air is passed from just above the
combustion zone and gas comes out in the
downdraft direction.
 Composition of Producer Gas

Particulars Rice Husk Woody Biomass

CO 15-20% 15-20%
H2 10-15% 15-20%
CH4 Upto 4% Upto 3%
N2 45-55% 45-50%
CO2 8-12% 8-12%
Gas C.V. (kcal/Nm3) Above 1050 Above 1100
Gas generated in 2 2.5
Nm3/kg of biomass
 Advantages

 Suitable for decentralized application

 Thermal
 Power generation
 Most efficient process
 Saves ~40% of biomass
 Less air pollution

 Aesthetic look

Saves energy and money

 Biogas
 Raw material:
 Cattle dung,
 food waste,
 vegetable market waste,
 leafy biomass
 Food and fruit processing industries waste
 Organic fraction of MSW etc….
Constituents in solid wastes

Ash and earth

40.6%

Total organic
Rags matter
3.5% 42.1%
Glass
2.1% paper
metals plastics 5.8%
1.9% 3.9%
 Waste Generation trend in
India
Year Per capita waste Total urban municipal waste
generation (g/day) generation (MT/ yr)
1971 375 14.9
1981 430 25.1
1991 460 43.5
1997 490 48.5
2025 700 ~ Double the amt. of 1997

Per capita waste generation

2030

2010

1990

1970
375 430 460 490 700
Quantity of waste (gm)
 Daily waste generation
MSW generation

18000

16000
MSW generation

14000
Tonnes per day

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
 Statewise power generation potential
Power generation potential (MW)

300

250

200

150 Power generation potential (MW)

100

50

0
Methods of Disposal
 Landfilling
 Composting
 Suitable for household and residential
colonies
 Pelletisation
 Anaerobic digestion
 Hotels, restaurants and canteens of
township
 Anaerobic digestion
Complex organic
matter,
carbohydrates,
proteins, fats.
Process of generation of energy in the
form of biogas (CH4 & CO2) by the action Hydrolysis

of microbial population on the organic Soluble organic

constituents present in the waste. molecules, amino acids,
fatty acids

Acidogenesis

Fatty acids

Methanogenesis
Acetate H­2 + CO2

CH4 + CO2
Factors Affecting Optimum Biogas Production

• Temperature ( 35-37 C Mesophilic condition )

• C/N ratio ( optimum between 25:1 to 30:1)
• pH ( optimally pH between 6.8-7.2)
• Solid content ( feed material should have approx. 10:1 )
• Should not have toxic material/ harmful material to bacteria in
digester
• HRT ( Hydraulic Retention Time – 30, 40, 55 days)
• Loading rate
 Designs for biogas production
 Biogas plants for animal wastes
 KVIC,
 Janata
 Deenbandhu
 TERI’s fixed dome
Designs- Biogas (Contd.)
 Other wastes
 Modified biogas plant designs
 Plug flow reactor
 Biphasic designs
 Several imported plants for large scale
 Valorga Process
 Dranco
 BIMA digester
KVIC biogas plant
Janata Plant
Deenbandhu design
 TERI’s fixed dome biogas
plants
Salient features
 Completely spherical
shape, giving lowest
material consumption,
faster construction
 Increased gas storage, View of construction of spherical type biogas
plant - initial stage
prevention of slurry
entering gas pipes
 Reinforcement of dome
with tiles, better durability
 Costs and performance
comparable to
Deenbandhu model
Dome construction using hooks
Useful products from wastes
Manure for garden

Clean fuel- Biogas for cooking and li

Anaerobic digestion

TERI’s Enhanced Acidification &

Methanation Process
 TERI’s Enhanced Acidifcation & Methanation
(TEAM)Process

 Bi-phasic reactor
 Acidification
 The organics from solid waste are extracted in the form
of leachate (liquid form) by the action of hydrolytic and
acidogenic microbes
 Digested slurry is rich in available nutrients which is
dried and used as manure
 Methanation
 The extracted organics (leachate) are treated in a high
rate upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor to form
biogas (composed of methane and carbon dioxide) by
the action of acetogens and methanogens
Features of TEAM
 Elimination of Scum formation - a feature in small
size plants.
 Proven performance of pilot plant since Jan. 1999.
 Low capital cost compared to imported design
 Energy and enriched manure
 Suitability for small and decentralized application
 Very low water requirement due to recycling
 Low maintenance cost
 Ease in material handling
 Process suitable for adaptation by small
entrepreneurs and hence market potential is high
Schematic diagram of TEAM
BIOGAS
Waste
Shredder
Treated effluent
for recycling
UASB
Reactor

Digested
Sludge

Acidification modules

Dryer
DRY MANURE
for sale
Salient features of TEAM process
Acidification
 6 reactors for extraction of organics
 Volatile fatty acids
 HRT of 6 days
 Digested waste is a very good manure
Methanation
 High rate methanation reactor- UASB
 HRT-16 h and COD reduction- 90%
 Treatment of high strength leachate to
produce biogas (70-75%)
 Granules of 5 mm and SVI of 5 ml/g
 TEAM Process (acidification)

Startup of
acidification
process

Drying of
digested
sludge for
manure
production
 Product potential
Type of waste Biogas (m3/t) Manure value
N P K
Apple waste 32.4 0.9 0.04 0.43

Pineapple 13.77 0.33 0.06 0.51

Pressmud 8.9 0.61 0.60 0.37

Vegetable waste 20 2.1 1.6 2.4

Mixed waste 20.25 1.2 0.07 0.63

Coffee pulp 10 1.8 0.1 3

Food waste 54 0.5 0.1 0.3

Tapioca 6.1 2.3 0.02 0.34

TEAM process (methanation)
Granules in the UASB reactor
Granules Microscopic view

Granules in the UASB reactor

Granules Microscopic view
Performance of methanation
reactor

25000 120

20000 100

80

CODreduction (% )
Inlet COD (m g/l)

15000
60
10000
40
5000 20

0 0
1 12 31 45 70 98 118
No. of da ys

COD R e d u c t io n
Plant at Sona Steering Ltd., Gurgaon
Biomethanation plant at NRL,
Biomethanation plant at NTPC
township: case study
 LPG replaced – 3.7 ton

Uninterrupted operation – 80 months

Waste processed – 120 tons

 Resource requirement
Capacity Cost (Rs. In Cost (Rs. In Cost (Rs. In Land
(kg/day) lakh) lakh) lakh) requirement
(m2)
(Brick and (Mild steel (Stainless
mortar) with epoxy) steel)

50 3.0 4.5 50
100 4.3 7.0 75
250 3.2 4.8 100
500 5.0 6.2 11.3 150
1000 9.5 11 200