• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.243-253
• /
• 2009

This research expands investigations into the biomass resource potential associated with California's food processing industry by surveying industries within a two county region in the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA. A previous survey conducted in 2005 for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) quantified residue and waste generation from food processors and food preparation businesses in the Sacramento region. The present survey investigates residue and waste streams from food processors located in Merced and Stanislaus Counties. Sixty food processors were identified to participate in the survey, of which 49 responded (82%) and data were acquired for 38 (63%) (6 facilities closed or moved, 8 decided not to participate). Within the two counties, total annual waste among survey respondents amounted to 24,044 dry tons of high moisture (${\geq}$60%) food residuals, 5,358 dry tons of low moisture (<60%) food residuals; and 23.7 million $m^3$ of wastewater containing 38,814 tons of biochemical oxygen demand ($BOD_5$). The total potential electric power generation from these food residues was estimated at approximately $7\;MW_e$. Total solid waste resource included in the survey response was estimated at about 10% of statewide residue generation for processors falling within the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) System Major Group 20 (Food and Kindred Products) categories.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2016

The demand for energy in Thailand has been continually increasing as the economic and social country grows. Approximately 60% of Thailand's primary energy is imported, mostly petroleum products. In 2008 Thailand's total energy consumption was 80,971 ktoe and the net price of energy imported was up to 1,161 billion Baht which is equivalent to 12.8% of GDP at the current price. The energy consumption or energy demand has been growing at an annual compounded growth rate of 6.42% and the peak electric power demand and electricity consumption was recorded at 22,568 MW and 148,264 GWh and grew at a rate of 7.0% and 7.5% per annum during the period from 1989 to 2008. The gross agriculture production in 2008 was recorded at 135.4 Mt which represents agriculture residue for energy at 65.73 Mt, which is equivalent to energy potential of about 561.64 PJ or 13,292 ktoe an increase in average of 5.59% and 5.44% per year respectively. The agricultural residues can converted to 15,600 GWh/year or 1,780 MW of power capacity. So, if government sector plan to install small biomass gasification for electricity generation 200 kW for Community. The residue agricultural is available for 8,900 plants nationwide. The small biomass power generation for electricity generation not only to reduce the energy imports, it also makes the job and income for people in rural areas as well. This paper's aim is to report the energy situation in Thailand and has studied 5 main agricultural products with high residue energy potential namely sugarcane, paddy, oil palm, cassava, and maize appropriate for small electricity production. These agricultural products can be found planted in many rural areas throughout Thailand. Finally, discuss the situation, methods and policies which the government uses to promote small private power producers supplying electricity into the grid.

• Advances in Energy Research
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.127-146
• /
• 2013

Torrefaction technologies convert assorted biomass feedstocks into energy-concentrated, carbon neutral fuel that is economically transported and easily ground for blending with fossil coals at numerous power plants around the world without needs to retrofit. Utilization of torrefied biomass in conventional electric generating units may be an increasingly attractive alternative for electricity generation as aging power plants in the world need to be upgraded or improved. This paper examines the economic feasibility of torrefaction in different scenarios by modeling torrefaction plants producing 136,078 t/year (150,000 ton/year) biocoal from wood and corn stover. The utilization of biocoal blends in existing coal-fired power plants is modeled to determine the demand for this fuel in the context of emerging policies regulating emissions from coal in the U.S. setting. Opportunities to co-locate torrefaction facilities adjacent to corn ethanol plants and coal-fired power plants are explored as means to improve economics for collaborating businesses. Life cycle analysis was conducted in parallel to this economic study and was used to determine environmental impacts of converting biomass to biocoal for blending in coal-fired power plants as well as the use of substantial flows of off-gasses produced in the torrefaction process. Sensitivity analysis of the financial rates of return of the different businesses has been performed to measure impacts of different factors, whether input prices, output prices, or policy measures that render costs or rewards for the businesses.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.238-242
• /
• 2020

Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) illustrated great potential for powering environmental sensors and bioremediation of sediments. In the present study, array anodes for SMFCs were fabricated with graphite rods as anode material and stainless steel plate as electric current collector to make it inconvenient to in situ settle down and not feasible for large-scale application. The results demonstrated that maximum power of 89.4 ㎼ was obtained from three graphite rods, twice of 43.3 ㎼ for two graphite rods. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that three graphite rods resulted in anodic resistance of 61.2 Ω, relative to 76.0 Ω of two graphite rods. It was probably caused by the parallel connection of the graphite rods, as well as more biomass which could reduce the charge transfer resistance of the biofilm anode. The presently designed array configuration possesses the advantages of easy to enlarge the surface area, decrease in anodic resistance because of the parallel connection of each graphite rod, and convenience to berry into sediment by gravity. Therefore, the as prepared array node would be an effective method to fabricate large-scale SMFC and make it easy to in situ applicate in natural sediments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Combustion
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.44-54
• /
• 2018

Heat and mass balance process modeling has been conducted for a coal-firing power plant to be used as a testbed facility for development of various plant systems and equipment. As the material and design of the boiler tube bundle and fuel conversion to the biomass have become major concerns, the process modeling is required to incorporate those features in its calculation. The simulation cases for two different generation load show the satisfying results compared to the operational data from the actual system. Based on the established process conditions, the hypothetical case using wood pellet has also been simulated. Additional calculations for the tube bundle has been conducted regarding the changes in the tube material and design.

• New & Renewable Energy
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.61-71
• /
• 2023

The necessity of energy utilization using livestock manure has been proposed with the decrease in domestic agricultural land. Livestock manure solid fuel has been investigated as a promising energy resource owing to its convenient storage and use in agricultural and livestock fields. Additional electricity production is possible through the integration of a biomass combustion boiler with the organic Rankine cycle (ORC). In this study, a mathematical system model of the cattle manure solid fuel boiler integrated with the ORC was developed to analyze the components' performance under variable operating conditions. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to confirm the electrical efficiency of the ORC turbine and the applicability of this system. The minimum required waste heat recovery rate was derived considering the system marginal price and levelized cost of electricity of the ORC. The simulation results showed that, in Korea, more than 77.98% of waste heat recovery and utilization in ORC turbines is required to achieve economic feasibility through ORC application.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.455-460
• /
• 2020

In order to identify the characteristics of fine particle emissions from thermal power plants, this study conducted measurement of the primary emission concentration of TPM, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 according to Korea standard test method (ES 01301.1) and ISO 23210 method (KS I ISO 23210). Particulate matters were sampled in total 74 units of power plants such as 59 units of coal-fired power plants, 7 units of heavy oil power plants, 2 units of biomass power plant, and 6 units of liquid natural gas power plants. The average concentration of TPM, PM₁₀, PM_2.5 by fuel are 3.33 mg/m³, 3.01 mg/m³, 2.70 mg/m³ in coal-fired plant, 3.02 mg/m³, 2.99 mg/m³, 2.93 mg/m³ in heavy oil plant, 0.114 mg/m³, 0.046 mg/m³, 0.036 mg/m³ in LNG plant, respectively. These results of TPM, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were satisfied with the standards of fine dust emission allowance in all units of power plants, respectively. Also, this study evaluated the characteristics of fine particle emissions by conditions of power plants including generation sources, boiler types and operation years and calculated emission factors and then evaluated fine particle emissions by sources of electricity generation.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.30-36
• /
• 2012

A scroll expander has been designed to produce a shaft power from a R134a Rankine cycle for electricity generation. Heat was supplied to the Rankine cycle through a heat exchanger, which received heat from another cycle of water. In the water cycle, water was heated up in a boiler using biogenic solid fuel. The designed scroll expander was a horizontal type, and a trochoidal oil pump was employed for oil supply to bearings and Oldham-ring keys. For axial compliance, a back pressure chamber was created on the backside of the orbiting scroll base plate. Numerical study has been carried out to estimate the performance of the designed scroll expander. The expander was estimated to produce the shaft power of about 2.9 kW from a heat supply of 36 kW, when the temperature of R134a was $80^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$ at the evaporator and condenser of the Rankine cycle, respectively. The expander efficiency was about 70.5%. When the amount of heat supply varied in the ranges of 7.5~55 kW, the expander efficiency changed in the range of 45.6~70.5%, showing a peak efficiency of 70.5% at the design shaft speed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.25 no.2_1
• /
• pp.149-159
• /
• 2022

Biomass is material that is comprehensive of carbonaceous materials from plants, crops, animals, and algae. It has been used as one of heating fuel since the beginning the emergence of human beings. Since biomass is regarded as carbon-neutral energy source, it has recently been attracting attention as an energy source that can replace fossil fuels. The most widely applied field is distributed power generation, and a method of generating electric power by driving an internal combustion engine with syngas produced by gasifier is chosen. While the composition of the syngas produced in gasifiers changes depending on the air flowing into the reactor, commercialized gasifiers so far do not control the air flowing into the reactor. When the inner pressure in reactor increases, the air sucked into the reactor is reduced. That change of amount of air makes the composition of syngas varied. Those variations of composition of syngas cause the incomplete combustion hence the power output of engine drops, which is a critical weakness of the gasification technology. In this paper, to produce the uniformly composed syngas, PID control is applied. The result was shown when the amount of air into the reactor is supplied with the constant amount using PID control, the standard deviation of caloric values of syngas is around 2[%] of its average value. Meanwhile the gasifier without PID control has the standard deviation of caloric values is around 7[%]. Therefore, Adopting PID control to supply constant air to the gasifier is highly desirable.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.29-42
• /
• 2022

The government promotes the 2050 carbon-neutral policy. Therefore, the concern to convert livestock manure into energy is increasing for the reduction of greenhouse gases generated in the livestock industry sector. In this study, the economic feasibility of the livestock manure solid fuel power generation facility, which is a major consumer of livestock manure solid fuel, was assessed to expand the demand for livestock manure solid fuel. The production cost of livestock manure solid fuel showed the lowest production cost of 97.4 thousand won/ton when dried using solid fuel at a 200 ton/day scale bio-drying facility. The livestock manure solid fuel power generation facility showed economic feasibility at a REC weight of 1.5 in the case of the bio-drying facility, so it was necessary to set a REC weight of 1.5 or more to expand the demand for livestock manure solid fuel. The conversion of livestock manure into solid fuel has various environmental benefits, such as the reduction of greenhouse gases and the effect of reducing non-point pollutants in the water system. Therefore, in order to expand livestock manure solid fuel production facility, it was required to review the feasibility including various environmental benefits.