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00805 An evaluation of biomass yield stability of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars
07 Alternative energy sources (bioconvetsion 04/00805 An evaluation of biomass yield stability switchgrass (Panicurn virgatum L.) cultivars
of
Sharma, N. et al. Energy Conversion and Management, 2003, 44, (18), 2953-2958. The present work deals with evaluation of the adaptation and biomass production of various switchgrass cultivars (upland and lowland type) in Southern Italy. A field trial was established in 1998 with 15 switchgrass varieties in ENEA Trisaia (Matera). The experiment was conducted for four years (1998-2001). During each growing period, a series of measurements were taken. At the end of each growing season, a final harvest was made in order to estimate the fresh and dry matter yields of the different varieties. The mean dry matter yield was recorded at a maximum (12.36 t/ha) in the third year, and it fluctuated from 5.63 (9005439) to 26.08 (SL 93-3) t/ha. The crop yields tend to stabilize from the fourth year of its cultivation. In fact, the yield recorded for this year was reduced to 10.27 t/ha, averaged over all the varieties.
04lOO808 An investigation of alumina-supported for the selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia gasification
catalysts in biomass
Darvell, L. I. et al. Catalysis Today, 2003, 81, (4), 681-692. Alumina-supported catalysts containing different transition metals (Ni, Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe and Co) were prepared and tested for their activity in the selective oxidation of ammonia reaction at high temperatures (between 700 and 900°C) using a synthetic gasification gas mixture. The catalysts were also characterized for their acidic properties by infrared studies of pyridine and ammonia adsorption and reaction/ desorption. The Ni/A1203 and Cr/A1203 catalyst displayed the highest selective catalytic oxidation (SCO) activity in that temperature range with excellent Nl selectivities. FT-IR studies of adsorbed pyridine and NH3 indicate that Lewis acid sites dominate and that NH3 adsorption on these sites is likely to be the first step in the SC0 reaction. FT-IR studies on less active catalysts, particularly on Cu/A120J allowed the detection of oxidation intermediates, amide (NH& and possibly hydrazine and imido and nitroxyl species. The amide and hydrazine intermediate gives credence to a proposed SC0 mechanism involving a hydrazine intermediate, while the proposed imide, =N-H, and/or nitroxyl, HNO species could be intermediates in incomplete oxidation of NH1 to N20.
04iOO807 limitations
Biohydrogen to practical
production: application
prospects
and
Levin, D. B. et al. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2004, 29, (2), 173-185. Hydrogen may be produced by a number of processes, including electrolysis of water, thermocatalytic reformation of hydrogen-rich organic compounds, and biological processes. Currently, hydrogen is produced, almost exclusively, by electrolysis of water or by steam reformation of methane. Biological production of hydrogen (Biohydrogen) technologies provide a wide range of approaches to generate hydrogen, including direct biophotolysis, indirect biophotolysis, photofermentations, and dark-fermentation. The practical application of these technologies to every day energy problems, however, is unclear. In this paper, hydrogen production rates of various biohydrogen systems are compared by first standardizing the units of hydrogen production and then by calculating the size of biohydrogen systems that would be required to power proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells of various sizes.
04lOO808 anaerobic
Biohydrogen production sludge blanket reactor
using an up-flow
Chang, F.Y. and Lin, C.-Y. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2004, 29, (l), 33-39. Sewage sludge was acclimated to establish Hz-producing enrichment cultures for converting sucrose (20 gCOD/l) into H2 in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. The operating hydraulic retention times (HRTs) were 24-4 h. The experimental results indicated that this UASB system could be used for hydrogen production. The hydrogen productivity was HRT dependent and nearly constant at the HRT of 8-20 h. However, it drastically decreased at an HRT of 4 or 24 h. The hydrogen production rate (HPR) and specific HPR peaked at the HRT of 8 h and drastically decreased at all other HRTs. At an HRT of 8 h, the average granular diameter peaked at 0.43 mm and each gram of biomass produced 53.5 mmolH2/day with a hydrogen gas content of 42.4% (v/v). Butyrate and acetate were the main fermentation volatile fatty acids. The anaerobic granule sludge kinetic constants were endogenous decay coefficient (&) 0.1 day-’ and yield coefficient (Y,) 0.1 gVSS/gCOD. The mean cell retention time was 22.2 h and the excess sludge discharge rate was 3.24 l/day.
04/00809 Biomass gasification process, and apparatus their applications to clean fuel gas manufacturing Girard, P. et al. Eur. Pat. Appl. 2003, Appl. 2001/401,176.
EP 1,312,662
(Cl. ClOJ3/66),
and 21 May
energy)
The invention relates to a new and efficient staged gasification process characterized by a close integration of the gas cleaning part. The unit and process use a new device named Total Char Combustion and Tar Cracking Chamber (TCC)’ positioned between a pyrolysis unit (PYR) and a char reduction reaction (CRC), in a stage divided gasifier. The char conversion takes place in two steps. In the first step, the char produced in the PYR is introduced in the CRC whose main purpose is to convert as much as possible carbon of the char. The CRC belongs to the fluidized bed type. The second step takes place in the (TCC)’ whose purpose is to perform both a complete conversion of the remaining carbon still present after reaction in the CRC; and the thermal cracking of the tar contained in the pyrolysis gases, the residual ashes being vitrified simultaneous and eliminated as a slag. Low-grade feedstock with low melting point ashes can be used: straw and bark. A new vibrofluidized pyrolysis unit is incorporated to achieve and appropriate and constant quality of char with a minimum preparation of the biomass, and offers the opportunity to orient the process for gas or solid. The invention leads to the following advantages: higher tolerance toward different quality of feedstocks including low grade feedstocks; recovery of the residual carbon content in ashes; production of a clean gas (low residual tar, ashes and alkali) for a direct injection in an engine/turbine. These results will induce a higher efficiency of the process and consequently bring to maturity the gasification technology.
04/00810
Biomass-liquefied
fuel manufacturing
system
Matsunga, M. et al. Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho JP 2003 147,374 (Cl. ClOLl/OO), 21 May 2003, Appl. 2001/383,771. (In Japanese) The system described in this paper comprises the following. The means for grinding biomass wastes such as sawdust, waste papers or winery residues, etc. The means for carbonizing the pulverized biomass wastes. Finally the means for dispersing and emulsifying the powder with plant oils and water to obtain a fuel emulsion.
04/00811 polymeric simulation
Coaxlal tubular solar collector constructed materials: an experimental and transient study
from
Kudish, A. I. et al. Energy Conversion and Management, 2003, 44, (16), 2549-2566. An experimental study and a simulation model describing a coaxial tubular solar collector fabricated from polymeric materials, consisting of an inner black tube as a solar energy absorber in intimate contact with an outer transparent tube as an insulator, having the potential to provide low grade thermal energy at reasonable costs is reported. The simulation model describes the transient performance of the coaxial tubular polymeric solar collector utilizing non-linear equations solved by a difference splitting technique. The simulation model was first validated utilizing the experimental data and was then used to determine the optimal design parameters, namely the inner, black absorber, and outer, transparent insulator, tube thicknesses. In addition, the effect of an annular air filled gap between the coaxial tubes on system performance was also studied. The results of the experimental and simulations studies are reported together with the optimal design specifications.
04/00812 facilities;
Cofiring of biomass and lignite technological and environmental
blends: resource issues
Surmen, Y. and Demirbas, A. Energy Sources, 2003, 25, (3), 175-187. Biomass and coal blend combustion is a promising combustion technology; however, significant development work is required before large-scale implementation can be realized. Issues related to successful implementation of coal and biomass blend cofiring are identified. Cofiring biomass with coal, in comparison to single coal firing, helps reduce the total composition. Cofiring biomass with coal has the capability to reduce both NO, and SO, levels from existing pulverizedcoal-fired power plants. Cofiring may also reduce fuel costs, minimize waste, and reduce soil and water pollution depending upon the chemical composition of the biomass used.
04/00813 Co-firing of coal and cattle feedlot biomass (FB) fuels. Part I. Feedlot biomass (cattle manure) fuel quality and characteristics Sweeten, J. M. et al. Fuel, 2003, 82, (lo), 1167-1182. The use of cattle manure (referred to as feedlot biomass, FB) as a fuel source has the potential to solve both waste disposal problems and reduce fossil fuel based CO2 emissions. Previous attempts to utilize animal waste as a sole fuel source have met with only limited success due to the higher ash, higher moisture, and inconsistent properties of FB. Thus, a co-firing technology is proposed where FB is ground, mixed with coal, and then fired in existing pulverized coal fired boiler burner facilities. A research program was undertaken in order to determine: (1) FB fuel characteristics, (2) combustion characteristics when fired along with coal in a small scale 30 kW, (100,000 BTU/h) boiler burner facility, and (3) combustion and fouling characteristics when fired along with coal in a large pilot scale 150 kW, (500,000 Fuel
and
Energy
Abstracts
March 2004
105
of
Sharma, N. et al. Energy Conversion and Management, 2003, 44, (18), 2953-2958. The present work deals with evaluation of the adaptation and biomass production of various switchgrass cultivars (upland and lowland type) in Southern Italy. A field trial was established in 1998 with 15 switchgrass varieties in ENEA Trisaia (Matera). The experiment was conducted for four years (1998-2001). During each growing period, a series of measurements were taken. At the end of each growing season, a final harvest was made in order to estimate the fresh and dry matter yields of the different varieties. The mean dry matter yield was recorded at a maximum (12.36 t/ha) in the third year, and it fluctuated from 5.63 (9005439) to 26.08 (SL 93-3) t/ha. The crop yields tend to stabilize from the fourth year of its cultivation. In fact, the yield recorded for this year was reduced to 10.27 t/ha, averaged over all the varieties.
04lOO808 An investigation of alumina-supported for the selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia gasification
catalysts in biomass
Darvell, L. I. et al. Catalysis Today, 2003, 81, (4), 681-692. Alumina-supported catalysts containing different transition metals (Ni, Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe and Co) were prepared and tested for their activity in the selective oxidation of ammonia reaction at high temperatures (between 700 and 900°C) using a synthetic gasification gas mixture. The catalysts were also characterized for their acidic properties by infrared studies of pyridine and ammonia adsorption and reaction/ desorption. The Ni/A1203 and Cr/A1203 catalyst displayed the highest selective catalytic oxidation (SCO) activity in that temperature range with excellent Nl selectivities. FT-IR studies of adsorbed pyridine and NH3 indicate that Lewis acid sites dominate and that NH3 adsorption on these sites is likely to be the first step in the SC0 reaction. FT-IR studies on less active catalysts, particularly on Cu/A120J allowed the detection of oxidation intermediates, amide (NH& and possibly hydrazine and imido and nitroxyl species. The amide and hydrazine intermediate gives credence to a proposed SC0 mechanism involving a hydrazine intermediate, while the proposed imide, =N-H, and/or nitroxyl, HNO species could be intermediates in incomplete oxidation of NH1 to N20.
04iOO807 limitations
Biohydrogen to practical
production: application
prospects
and
Levin, D. B. et al. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2004, 29, (2), 173-185. Hydrogen may be produced by a number of processes, including electrolysis of water, thermocatalytic reformation of hydrogen-rich organic compounds, and biological processes. Currently, hydrogen is produced, almost exclusively, by electrolysis of water or by steam reformation of methane. Biological production of hydrogen (Biohydrogen) technologies provide a wide range of approaches to generate hydrogen, including direct biophotolysis, indirect biophotolysis, photofermentations, and dark-fermentation. The practical application of these technologies to every day energy problems, however, is unclear. In this paper, hydrogen production rates of various biohydrogen systems are compared by first standardizing the units of hydrogen production and then by calculating the size of biohydrogen systems that would be required to power proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells of various sizes.
04lOO808 anaerobic
Biohydrogen production sludge blanket reactor
using an up-flow
Chang, F.Y. and Lin, C.-Y. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2004, 29, (l), 33-39. Sewage sludge was acclimated to establish Hz-producing enrichment cultures for converting sucrose (20 gCOD/l) into H2 in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. The operating hydraulic retention times (HRTs) were 24-4 h. The experimental results indicated that this UASB system could be used for hydrogen production. The hydrogen productivity was HRT dependent and nearly constant at the HRT of 8-20 h. However, it drastically decreased at an HRT of 4 or 24 h. The hydrogen production rate (HPR) and specific HPR peaked at the HRT of 8 h and drastically decreased at all other HRTs. At an HRT of 8 h, the average granular diameter peaked at 0.43 mm and each gram of biomass produced 53.5 mmolH2/day with a hydrogen gas content of 42.4% (v/v). Butyrate and acetate were the main fermentation volatile fatty acids. The anaerobic granule sludge kinetic constants were endogenous decay coefficient (&) 0.1 day-’ and yield coefficient (Y,) 0.1 gVSS/gCOD. The mean cell retention time was 22.2 h and the excess sludge discharge rate was 3.24 l/day.
04/00809 Biomass gasification process, and apparatus their applications to clean fuel gas manufacturing Girard, P. et al. Eur. Pat. Appl. 2003, Appl. 2001/401,176.
EP 1,312,662
(Cl. ClOJ3/66),
and 21 May
energy)
The invention relates to a new and efficient staged gasification process characterized by a close integration of the gas cleaning part. The unit and process use a new device named Total Char Combustion and Tar Cracking Chamber (TCC)’ positioned between a pyrolysis unit (PYR) and a char reduction reaction (CRC), in a stage divided gasifier. The char conversion takes place in two steps. In the first step, the char produced in the PYR is introduced in the CRC whose main purpose is to convert as much as possible carbon of the char. The CRC belongs to the fluidized bed type. The second step takes place in the (TCC)’ whose purpose is to perform both a complete conversion of the remaining carbon still present after reaction in the CRC; and the thermal cracking of the tar contained in the pyrolysis gases, the residual ashes being vitrified simultaneous and eliminated as a slag. Low-grade feedstock with low melting point ashes can be used: straw and bark. A new vibrofluidized pyrolysis unit is incorporated to achieve and appropriate and constant quality of char with a minimum preparation of the biomass, and offers the opportunity to orient the process for gas or solid. The invention leads to the following advantages: higher tolerance toward different quality of feedstocks including low grade feedstocks; recovery of the residual carbon content in ashes; production of a clean gas (low residual tar, ashes and alkali) for a direct injection in an engine/turbine. These results will induce a higher efficiency of the process and consequently bring to maturity the gasification technology.
04/00810
Biomass-liquefied
fuel manufacturing
system
Matsunga, M. et al. Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho JP 2003 147,374 (Cl. ClOLl/OO), 21 May 2003, Appl. 2001/383,771. (In Japanese) The system described in this paper comprises the following. The means for grinding biomass wastes such as sawdust, waste papers or winery residues, etc. The means for carbonizing the pulverized biomass wastes. Finally the means for dispersing and emulsifying the powder with plant oils and water to obtain a fuel emulsion.
04/00811 polymeric simulation
Coaxlal tubular solar collector constructed materials: an experimental and transient study
from
Kudish, A. I. et al. Energy Conversion and Management, 2003, 44, (16), 2549-2566. An experimental study and a simulation model describing a coaxial tubular solar collector fabricated from polymeric materials, consisting of an inner black tube as a solar energy absorber in intimate contact with an outer transparent tube as an insulator, having the potential to provide low grade thermal energy at reasonable costs is reported. The simulation model describes the transient performance of the coaxial tubular polymeric solar collector utilizing non-linear equations solved by a difference splitting technique. The simulation model was first validated utilizing the experimental data and was then used to determine the optimal design parameters, namely the inner, black absorber, and outer, transparent insulator, tube thicknesses. In addition, the effect of an annular air filled gap between the coaxial tubes on system performance was also studied. The results of the experimental and simulations studies are reported together with the optimal design specifications.
04/00812 facilities;
Cofiring of biomass and lignite technological and environmental
blends: resource issues
Surmen, Y. and Demirbas, A. Energy Sources, 2003, 25, (3), 175-187. Biomass and coal blend combustion is a promising combustion technology; however, significant development work is required before large-scale implementation can be realized. Issues related to successful implementation of coal and biomass blend cofiring are identified. Cofiring biomass with coal, in comparison to single coal firing, helps reduce the total composition. Cofiring biomass with coal has the capability to reduce both NO, and SO, levels from existing pulverizedcoal-fired power plants. Cofiring may also reduce fuel costs, minimize waste, and reduce soil and water pollution depending upon the chemical composition of the biomass used.
04/00813 Co-firing of coal and cattle feedlot biomass (FB) fuels. Part I. Feedlot biomass (cattle manure) fuel quality and characteristics Sweeten, J. M. et al. Fuel, 2003, 82, (lo), 1167-1182. The use of cattle manure (referred to as feedlot biomass, FB) as a fuel source has the potential to solve both waste disposal problems and reduce fossil fuel based CO2 emissions. Previous attempts to utilize animal waste as a sole fuel source have met with only limited success due to the higher ash, higher moisture, and inconsistent properties of FB. Thus, a co-firing technology is proposed where FB is ground, mixed with coal, and then fired in existing pulverized coal fired boiler burner facilities. A research program was undertaken in order to determine: (1) FB fuel characteristics, (2) combustion characteristics when fired along with coal in a small scale 30 kW, (100,000 BTU/h) boiler burner facility, and (3) combustion and fouling characteristics when fired along with coal in a large pilot scale 150 kW, (500,000 Fuel
and
Energy
Abstracts
March 2004
105