Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

A new approach to renewable energy: New mixed biomass pellets 

Author(s):

Mečys Palšauskas *, Sigitas Petkevičius

Recieved Date: 2012-10-16, Accepted Date: 2013-04-24

Abstract:

The majority of district heating systems in the Baltic countries use fossil fuels; mainly coal, oil and gas. Prices of fossil fuels are constantly increasing and the earth’s supply of  them is running out, therefore there has been a rising demand for research on various new and alternative energy sources that could replace coal or petroleum products and reduce energy costs and harmful gas emissions into the environment. One of the most important types of renewable energy in the Baltic region is biofuel (plant-derived fossil fuel) which has been valued because of the availability, stable prices and reliability of biomass - plant-derived material from which biofuel is made. In general, combustion of biofuels is more efficient and less harmful to the environment than the traditional fuels, such as wood shavings or coal. The CO₂ emissions are smaller by up to 50% and the amount of ash formed during combustion is only about 1%, what is approximately 15-20 times less than the amount of ash formed when burning coal. Moreover, ash generated by burning biofuels can be used for fertilization. Wood is one of the most popular types of biomass; and Baltic countries have a big potential to exploit this source of biofuel since the region has an abundant resource of forests. To ensure that fuel from biomass satisfies not only the region’s district heating needs, but also some of the other areas in demand of energy, new and unexploited or little exploited types of biomass, such as municipal solid waste, straw, forest residues (dead trees, branches), plants from energy plantations, peat, and various biogases should be used. The main reason why these biofuels have not been exploited fully is the lack of an adequate infrastructure.  This paper discusses one of the newest types of biofuel - pellets. Despite several disadvantages of biofuel production from pellets, such as higher fuel prices because of additional costs involved in the processes of drying and compressing the wood, using this type of biofuel has even more advantages. Pellets have less moisture, much higher density, up to five times higher calorific value, better pourability, better transportability, and easier maintenance than unprocessed wood fuel. The process of pellet combustion is mechanised and automated; therefore the production becomes easier and more time-efficient. In addition to that, such biofuel can be stored for longer without any risk of decay. As part of the research at Aleksandras Stulginskis University and as outlined in this paper, using combinations of biomass for fuel can be even more efficient than homogenous (one-material) biomass for fuel. The main aim of this paper is to compare homogenous biomass pellets, such as wood sawdust, straw, and peat with mixed biomass pellets (MBP), and introduce two new MBP blends of wood sawdust-straw and wood sawdust-peat. As part of our research, physical-mechanical and chemical properties of these pellets were tested; the results are intended to provide a background for the planning and production of new technology lines for new-composition pellets and thus open a window to a new era of much wider and more efficient use of different materials for biofuel. 

Keywords:

Biofuel, biomass, a pellet, mixed biomass pellet, renewable energy, calorific value

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 2
Category: Environment
Pages: 798-802

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