A functional discussion of the crop selection process for
biomass energy

The Selection Process of Biomass Materials for the Production
of Bio-fuels and Co-firing provides a detailed examination and
analysis for a number of energy crops and their use as a source for
generating electricity and for the production of bio-fuels.
Renowned renewable energy expert and consultant Dr. Najib Altawell
begins with the fundamentals of bio-fuels and co-firing and moves
on to the main feature, which is the methodology that assists
energy scientists and engineers to arrive at the most suitable
biomass materials tailored to each company's business and
economic environments and objectives.

This methodology provides a framework whereby power-generating
companies can insert their own values for each factor, whether
business factor (BF) or scientific & technical factors
(S&T) or both simultaneously. The methodology provides a list
of factors related to the biomass energy business. The average
values have been obtained from the survey method and laboratory
tests. These values are the standard values power companies can use
if they need or wish to use them.

The Selection Process of Biomass Materials for the Production
of Bio-fuels and Co-firing has been designed and compiled for
the widest possible range of readers, researchers, businesspeople,
and economists who are connected to the renewable energy field in
general, and biomass energy in particular. Because of its focus on
practical data and applications, the book is also accessible for
general readers who may or may not have a technical or scientific
background.

NAJIB ALTAWELL, PhD, is a researcher, consultant, and
lecturer in renewable energy, specializing in commercial and
technical aspects of biomass. He earned his PhD in Environmental
Engineering from the University of Nottingham (2010), MRes in
Nanotechnology and Nano-electronics from Surrey University (2004),
BSc (Hon) in Computer Science from Westminster University and
Kingston University (2001), and PGC/PGD in Teaching from Kingston
College (2002).

A functional discussion of the crop selection process for biomass energy

The Selection Process of Biomass Materials for the Production of Bio-fuels and Co-firing provides a detailed examination and analysis for a number of energy crops and their use as a source for generating electricity and for the production of bio-fuels. Renowned renewable energy expert and consultant Dr. Najib Altawell begins with the fundamentals of bio-fuels and co-firing and moves on to the main feature, which is the methodology that assists energy scientists and engineers to arrive at the most suitable biomass materials tailored to each company's business and economic environments and objectives.

This methodology provides a framework whereby power-generating companies can insert their own values for each factor, whether business factor (BF) or scientific & technical factors (S&T) or both simultaneously. The methodology provides a list of factors related to the biomass energy business. The average values have been obtained from the survey method and laboratory tests. These values are the standard values power companies can use if they need or wish to use them.

The Selection Process of Biomass Materials for the Production of Bio-fuels and Co-firing has been designed and compiled for the widest possible range of readers, researchers, businesspeople, and economists who are connected to the renewable energy field in general, and biomass energy in particular. Because of its focus on practical data and applications, the book is also accessible for general readers who may or may not have a technical or scientific background.

Preface xv

Acknowledgments xvii

Abbreviations xix

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Why This Book? 1

1.2 The Book Structure 2

1.2.1 Introduction 2

1.2.2 Structure 3

1.3 Energy Utilization 5

1.4 The Need for Effective Biomass Utilization 7

1.5 Renewable Energy Impact on Biomass Economy 7

1.6 Summary 9

References 10

2 Background 13

2.1 Renewable Energy: A Brief Outlook 13

2.1.1 Introduction 13

2.1.2 Old Graphs 15

2.2 Wind 16

2.3 Water 17

2.4 Geothermal 17

2.5 Solar 19

2.5.1 Solar Cells 20

2.5.2 Solar Water Heating 20

2.5.3 Solar Furnaces 20

2.6 Biomass 21

2.7 Biomass as a Source of Energy 24

2.7.1 Energy Crops 27

2.7.2 Examples of Energy Crops 29

2.7.3 Biomass Utilization 30

2.7.4 Biomass and Coal Components 31

2.7.5 Types of Energy Crop Needed 32

2.7.6 Biomass Energy Infl uencing Factors 33

2.7.7 CharacteristicsCo-fi ring Properties and Testing Method 35

2.8 Biomass Applications 36

2.8.1 Bio-fuels 36

2.8.2 Electricity Generation 37

2.8.3 Heat, Steam, and CHP 37

2.8.4 Combustible Gas 38

2.8.5 Additional Bio-energy Technologies 41

2.9 Co-fi ring 42

2.9.1 Barriers for Biomass Co-firing 43

2.9.2 Additional Challenges for Co-firing 44

2.9.3 Further Advancement in Co-firing Engineering 44

2.9.4 Promoting Co-firing 45

2.10 System Engineering 46

2.11 Biomass Conversion Systems 48

2.12 Energy Crops Scheme (U.K.) 49

2.13 Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) (U.K.) 52

2.14 Climate Change Levy Exemption Certificate (LEC) (U.K.) 52

2.15 Conclusion 53

References 56

3 Co-firing Issues 61

3.1 Technical and Engineering Issues 61

3.1.1 Introduction 61

3.1.2 Hardware and Biomass Materials 62

3.2 Technical and Hardware Issues 62

3.3 Milling 65

3.4 Fuel Mixing 66

3.5 The Combustion System 71

3.5.1 Boilers 71

3.6 By-products 75

3.6.1 Ash Formation and Deposition 75

3.7 Degradation 76

3.8 Conclusion 77

References 80

4 Samples 83

4.1 Selected Samples 83

4.1.1 Introduction 83

4.2 Samples General Descriptions 84

4.2.1 The Reference Samples 84

4.3 Main Samples 91

4.3.1 Introduction 91

4.3.2 Crops Basic Composition 92

4.3.3 Crops and Oil Sources 93

4.3.4 Oil Quality and Standard 94

4.3.5 Crops Photosynthesis 94

4.3.6 Energy Crops Environmental Effect 95

4.3.7 Corn (Zea mays L.) 96

4.3.8 Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) 103

4.3.9 Miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis) 108

4.3.10 Rice (Oryza sativa) 115

4.3.11 Barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp.) 121

4.3.12 Sunfl ower (Helianthus annuus) 126

4.3.13 Niger Seed (Guizotia abyssinica) 134

4.3.14 Rapeseed (Brassica napus) 141

4.4 Conclusion 147

4.4.1 Samples Selection 148

4.4.2 The Next Step 150

References 151

5 Methodology: Part 1 161

5.1 Methodology Approach 161

5.1.1 Introduction 161

5.2 The Pyramid 162

5.3 The Decision Tree 164

5.3.1 Steps for the Biomass Fuel 164

5.3.2 Three Numbers 165

5.4 Methodology Terms and Defi nition for BF and S&T 166

5.4.1 BF 166

5.4.2 S&T 166

5.5 BF and S&T Data 166

5.5.1 Why Are Data for the BF and S&T Needed? 166

5.5.2 How...