Development of a Combined Solar Bioenergy Plant for Disposal of Household Waste

This article presents one of the methods for modernizing a biowaste plant. Development opportunities are also being discussed to optimize the installation to maximize energy and environmental benefits. Methods for the biogas production, electrical energy and biological residue were considered and an analysis of the mass balance of the plant inputs and outputs was carried out. The energy and its environmental impact of the facility was assessed and ascertained that the facility has noteworthy ecological benefits. However, the research work elaborated by analyzing the plant operational material balance, that the quantity of methane generation and therefore the electricity generated can be further enhanced by combining this plant.

Calculation of the power of thermal energy consumed for heating the reactor of a bioenergy plant

The issues of calculating the power of thermal energy consumed for heating biomass in the reactor of a bioenergy plant are considered. Based on the Fourier heat equation, a solution for the axisymmetric cylindrical problem under boundary conditions of the first kind is obtained, and the power of additional heat sources in a cylindrical biogas reactor is calculated. The influence of the height of the bioreactor and the temperature difference of the biomass on the power consumption of an additional source of thermal energy is analyzed

Burner development for efficient combustion of biogas

Now in metallurgical production energy resources demand is almost completely satisfied by gaseous fuel. Biogas obtained during organic waste processing is considered as an alternative and cheaper type of fuel. The experience of biogas application has shown that in most modern burners decrease of efficiency and limitation of the range of load regulation is observed. To apply biogas in an industrial environment, it is necessary to develop burners and the methods of its combustion, which provide a high combustion efficiency, as well as a higher energy conversion efficiency. The authors have used the results of gas analysis of biogas obtained in the process of anaerobic decomposition process of organic waste in the reactors of a bioenergy plant. Methods of mathematical statistics with the use of regression analysis of experimental data were used to assess the indicators of the energy efficiency of the gas burner. The possibility of using biogas and landfill gas in the process of roasting, blast-furnace smelting, production of rolled products and steel, as well as heat treatment of metal has been experimentally proven. The properties and composition of biogas at the outlet of the methanogenesis reactor of the bioenergy plant “EcoVoltAgro” are described. A new design of a gas burner is proposed. In this model the efficiency of mixture formation and the completeness of combustion of the flow of a methane-containing gas mixture are significantly increased (up to 32 %) due to the effect of rotation of the perforated pipelines of the gas inlet pipe. On the basis of the results of the full-scale experiment, the optimal values of the gas-air mixture supply rate, the temperature of the supplied air, the volume fraction of methane were determined in order to obtain the largest width of the zone of deviations of the permissible concentrations of carbon dioxide. The use of the designed gas burner provides energy-efficient combustion of biogas in metallurgical furnaces, kilns, and dryers, as well as in any steam and hot water boilers.

Multi-Bale Handling Unit for Efficient Logistics

This paper presents a design for a feedstock logistics system to supply a bioenergy plant located in the Southeast USA, specifically Piedmont, a physiographic region covering part of five states (VA, NC, SC, GA, and AL). The design uses a perennial grass (switchgrass) as the feedstock. Harvest is done with a round baler, and round bales are stored in single-layer ambient storage in satellite storage locations. New technology, 20-bale racks, was designed as the multi-bale handling unit. The analysis shows how proper design of the interactions between the several unit operations in a “logistics chain” can be used to minimize average delivered cost for the feedstock required for 24/7 operation. Racks are loaded at the satellite storage and delivered by hauling contractors hired by the plant and controlled by a “Feedstock Manager” at the plant to insure approximately the same number of loads are received each day. Single-bale handling at the plant is eliminated, thus the truck unload time is reduced and truck productivity (tons/day) is increased. At-plant handling and storage in 20-bale racks increases plant receiving facility productivity, and gives a reduction in plant cost to supply a continuous steam of material for 24/7 operation.

Identification of Suitable Areas for Biomass Power Plant Construction through Environmental Impact Assessment of Forest Harvesting Residues Transportation

In accordance with European objectives, the Basilicata region intends to promote the use of energy systems and heat generators powered by lignocellulosic biomass, so the present study aimed to investigate the availability of logging residues and most suitable areas for the construction of bioenergy production plants. The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was employed to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the biomass distribution and its transport, and spatial LCA was used to evaluate the impact of regional transport. One cubic meter kilometer (m3 km−1) was used as the functional unit and a small lorry was considered for the transport. The results showed that the available harvesting residues amounted to 36,000 m3 and their loading environmental impact accounted for 349 mPt m−3. The impacts of transport (4.01 mPt m−3) ranged from 3.4 to 144,400 mPt km−1 forest parcel−1, mainly affecting human health (95%) and, second, the ecosystem quality (5%). Three possible sites for bioenergy plant location were identified considering the environmental impact distribution due to feedstock transport. Findings from this research show the importance of considering the LCA of biomass acquisition in site selection and can fill the knowledge gaps in the available literature about spatial LCA.