Electric power generation biomass-fueled

McGowin C. R., and Wiltsee G. A. (1996) Stratc c analysis of biomass and waste fuels for electric power generation. Biomass and Bioenergy, 10, pp. 167-175. 

X MW in 1986, of the power produced in the same year. Biomass-fueled electric capacity and generation was 19.2% (4.9 x 10 MW) and 21.2% (23.7 X 10 MWh) respectively, of total nonutiUty capacity and generation. Biomass-fueled capacity experienced a 16% increase in 1986 over 1985, the same as natural gas, but it was not possible to determine the percentage of the total power production that was sold to the electric utiUties and used on-site. Total production should be substantially more than the excess sold to the electric utiUties. Overall, the chemical, paper, and lumber industries accounted for over one-half of the total nonutiUty capacity in 1986, and three states accounted for 45% of total nonutiUty generation, ie, Texas, 26% of total California, 12% of total and Louisiana, 7% of total. There were 2449 nonutiUty producers with operating faciUties in 1986, a 15.8% increase over 1985 75% capacity was intercoimected to electric utiUty systems. 

There are four principal ways ia which biomass is used as a reaewable eaergy resource. The first, and most common, is as a fuel used directiy for space and process heat and for cooking. The second is as a fuel for electric power generation. The third is by gasification iato a fuel used oa the site. The fourth is by coaversioa iato a Hquid fuel that provides the portabiUty aeeded for transportatioa and other mobile appHcations of energy. Figure 7 shows the varied pathways which can be followed to convert biomass feedstocks to useful fuels or electricity. 

Electric power generation using biomass as a fuel is economic in situations where the cost of the fuel is competitive with that of fossil fuels. The cost of a commercially available biomass steam—electric power plant is about 1500/kW for a wood-fired facility. If wood can be obtained at a cost of 2.00/GJ ( 2.10 X 10 /Btu), the total cost of power for base-load operation would be about 0.05/kWh. If wood or agricultural wastes are available at... 

Before discussion of advanced, biomass combustion systems, it is in order to consider electric power generation with biomass fuels because several advanced technologies are being used or are planned for this application. A typical utility... 

Appel Consultants, Inc. (1993). Strategic Analysis of Biomass and Waste Fuels for Electric Power Generation, Final Report, EPRl TR-102773, Project 3295-02. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, December. 

Low BTU gasification technology is commercially available for most types of biomass feedstocks and can be expected to have an impact on energy supplies by 1985. Many of these commercial processes are based on low BTU coal gasification technologies and the gas produced can best be used as fuel for supplying process heat, process steam or for electrical power generation. 

A power plant can generate electric power using biomass from the trees. A gasifier is capable of converting tons of wood chips per day into a gaseous fuel that is fed iuto a fuel cell. The composition of gas depend on biomass gasification technology. 

Biomass can generate energy in many different forms. Refuse derived fuels (MSW) can produce steam or electric power. They can also be converted to other fuels using chemical or biological processes producing ethanol or methanol. The wood and pulp industries use their wastes to provide a significant part of their heat, steam, and electricity needs. 

Recently, a novel microbial fuel cell harvesting energy from the marine sediment—seawater interface has been reported. Also, a novel photosynthetic biofuel cell that is a hybrid between a microbial and enzymatic biofuel cell has been reported for the very first time. More recently, reports of an unconventional biomass-fueled ceramic fuel cell can also be found in the literature. A new concept of Gastrobots —hybrid robots that utilize operational power derived from microbial fuel cells—has been introduced. Finally, the generation of electrical power by direct oxidation of glucose was demonstrated in mediatorless microbial fuel cells, which produced currents up to 3 fiA/cm at unknown cell voltage. ... 

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