Prajwal Raj Shakya
Programme Officer
Biomass Energy Sub-Component
AEPC/ NRREP
Biomass Energy Potential Map of Nepal
Map of Nepal showing distribution of forests (1991-92 data)
Source: Gasifier feasibility study report, VERDICT, 2011
Scope of BESC
Extended Scope of BESC
Biomass Densification Biomass Gasification
Traditional animal dung briquettes used as cooking fuel
Pictures of waste biomass that are being used widely in the rural areas
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
Densification is the general process of compressing the loose biomass to obtain
compact solid shape or form using pressure, heat, binder.
These technologies are also known as pelleting, briquetting, or agglomeration.
WHY DENSIFY BIOMASS?
1. Homogenize diverse biomass feedstocks into one form
• Reduce handling difficulties
• Convert multiple biomass materials into single, durable form
2. Increase energy density
• Higher energy density reduces transportation cost
• Reduce unneeded oxygen content in densified product
3. Improve storage stability and logistics of delivery
• Develop robust pelletization methods & reduce dust
• Reduce chemical activity
• Increase weather/ water resistance
• Address seasonality of some feedstocks
4. Seamlessly integrate densified biomass into coal gasification and combustion
• Infrastructure compatibility – “drop-in” replacement for fossil fuel
• Economy for utilisation
• Systematic benefits (e.g. reduce fossil carbon emissions)
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
What is the limit for densifying biomass?
6
But, we don’t have 10 years…
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
What is the limit for densifying biomass?
6
But, we don’t have 10 years…
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
Controlling densification system variables can be important to
achieving the desired density, durability, and quality.
Densification System Variables
Biomass
Process Variables Feedstock Variables Binders Used
Composition
Binding/adhesion
Temperature Moisture content Bentonite
properties
Particle size, shape Lubrication
Pressure Starches
& distribution properties
Retention / Hold
Protein
time
Die Geometry & Lignosulfonate
speed (pulp milll liquor)
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
Biomass Briquetting
Carbonised Non Carbonised
High pressure
compression
Low pressure
compression
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
Biomass Briquetting
Carbonised Process
Biomass collection and preparation
Charring / making charcoal
Cleaning and grinding of char
Preparation of mixture
Briquette making
Drying of briquettes
Packing & storage
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
Biomass Briquetting
Carbonised Process
The Vertical Drum Kiln
Collecting Biomass for charring
Charcoal preparation
Charcoal Grinding
Calorific value verses clay content
Banmara char from pit + red clay
Banmara char from pit + bentonite clay
7000 Pine charcoal + bentonite clay
Banmara char from charring drum + black clay
Banmara char from charring drum + white clay
Calorific value (kcal/kg)
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Clay content in BHB (% by wt)
Mold with 19 holes Mold with 17 holes Larger manual mold
Compression technology
Beehive or Honey Comb briquetting
Improved hand mold Chinese manual mold
Foot peddle press mold
AEPC/ESAP_PRShakya
Making pellets manually Hand pressed charcoal pellets
Compression technology
Metallic mold and hammer Simple metallic mold Charcoal briquettes
Compression technology
Beehive or Honey Comb briquetting
Mechanical
mold
Single mold Four molds
Three molds
Peddle press pelletizer
Pelletizer or pellet press technology
Manual pellet machine Electric pellet machine
Screw extruder machine
Screw extruder briquetting
Charcoal briquettes
Schematic diagram
Roller press technology
Charcoal briquettes
Coal briquettes
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
Biomass Briquetting
Non Carbonised
Process
Raw material sieving
Drying
Preheat High pressure
compression
Densification
Cooling
Packing & storage
Schematic diagram of screw
extruder technology
Screw Extruder Technology
Screw extruder machine
Saw dust briquettes
Schematic diagram
of a piston press
Piston press technology
Piston press briquettor Briquettes from Piston press
Schematic diagram of
roller press briquetting
Roller press briquetting machine
Roller Press Briquetting technology
Pillow
type
briquettes
from
roller
press
Ring matrix pelletizing press Disc matrix pelletizing press
Pelletizers or pellet press
Pelletizer Pellets
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
Biomass Briquetting
Non Carbonised
Process
Raw material sieving
Pulping or paste in water
Compression
Low pressure
compression
Drying
Packing & storage
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
Biomass Briquetting
Non Carbonised
Low pressure
compression
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
Common use of Briquettes
Household / Institutional Sector Industrial Sector
Space heating Boilers /Furnace
Hot air generation/ Drying /
Cooking/ barbeque
processing
Alternative to fuelwood / loose
Blending / coal replacement
biomass
Electricity Generation &
cogeneration
BIOMASS DENSIFICATION
Scope of BESC
• Policy level support for promotion
• Capacity building of producers (Local
community, Companies)
• Market identification / development
• Awareness generation
• Technology piloting
A Variety of Bioenergy Routes & Biomass Gasification
1Partsof each feedstock, e.g., crop residues could be used in other routes;
2Each route also gives co-products;
3Biomass upgrading includes any of the densification processes;
4AD= Anaerobic Digestion
34 Source: E4tech, 2008.
BIOMASS GASIFICATION
What is Biomass Gasification?
• Gasification is essentially the
conversion of biomass to a
combustible gas (CO, H2 and
CH4) called “Producer Gas” or
“Syn Gas”
• This gas can then be burnt
directly for thermal application
or fed in Gas Engine Gensets to
produce electricity
BIOMASS GASIFICATION
Source: Basu, P., 2010
BIOMASS GASIFICATION
Typical Producer Gas Properties
Particulars Rice Husk as biomass Woody Biomass
CO 15-20% 15-20%
H2 10-15% 15-20%
CH4 Upto 4% Upto 3%
N2 45-55% 45-50%
CO2 8-12% 8-12%
Gas C.V. in kcal/Nm3 Above 1050 Above 1100
Gas generated in 2 2.5
Nm3/Kg of biomass
BIOMASS GASIFICATION
Feedstock
Wide range of biomass can be used as fuel for
gasifier including forest and agro-residues
such as:
• Wood Pieces, Chips and Woody Waste
• Rice Husk TREES ARE NOT
• Coconut Shells THE SOURCE OF
• Mustard and Cotton Stalk FEEDSTOCK FOR
GASIFIERS
• Bamboo Pieces BUT
• Tea and Coffee Waste THE WOODY
• Corncob BIOMASS RESIDUE
• Sugarcane baggasse AND
AGRICULTURAL
RESIDUES ARE !!!!!
BIOMASS GASIFICATION
Applications
Power Generation Thermal Applications
• Village Electrification • Hot Air Generators
• IrrigationCommercial
Pumping value for Byproducts
• Dryers
of gasifier
• Captive1. Power
Char – Briquettes, Incense • making
Boilers
(Industries)
2. Ash – Fertilizer, fly ash in cement production
• Thermic Fluid
3. Tar
• Grid-fed – Cosmetic
Power from value, black topping
Heaters
Energy Plantations on • Ovens
Wastelands
• Furnaces & Kilns
• Simultaneous Charcoal
and Power
Production
BIOMASS GASIFICATION
Gasifier
Gasifierfor
ForThermal
Electrification
Energy
A typical configuration of a gasifier system coupled with internal combustion engines
Opportunities for Biomass Based Power
Production in Nepal-1
• Biomass is the primary source of energy
supplying 87.1% of the country’s total energy
consumption
• Agriculture activity is major economic
activity & a lot of biomass is produced in the
from of agro-residue.
• Forest-residue is also abundant; large
quantity available from community forests
• 30% of rural populace have access to
electricity compared to 90% in urban areas
• Power shortage in grid supplied areas
Opportunities for Biomass Based Power
Production in Nepal-2
• Weeds like water hyacinth (Eichhornia spp.), ipomoea
(Ipomoea spp.) & dhaincha (Sesbania spp.) are in
plentiful amount mainly in Terai due to the sub tropical
climate
• Remote Terai with no national grid has a very few
alternatives for power generation; energy from
sustainable biomass resources can be promising
• Biomass gasifier is a viable alternative for electricity
generation in the remote rural areas where biomass
supply based on agricultural and forestry residue as well
as waste biomass vegetation is in abundance
Estimated Potential of Biomass Energy in Nepal
from Various Biomass Sources
Potential
S.N Source of Biomass Capacity Remarks
(in MW)
1 Sustainable fuel wood 800 7.0 million t/year and 1.0 kg/kW
12 million t/year from five main
2 Agro residue 700 crop type and
2 Kg/kW
4.6 million t/year (28 kg/m3 &
3 Collectible dung 23
1.25 kW/m3)
Forest and other agro
4 To be assessed
residue
5 Biofuel To be assessed
Source: Gasifier-prefeasibility report, Winrock International, 2010
Biomass Energy Sub-Component of NRREP,
2012-17
• Output 2.4: New technologies such as enterprise scale
gasifiers and bio-briquetting are ready and field tested
Piloting of biomass gasifier electrification systems for community
electrification & captive electricity generation for SMEs
Dissemination of thermal gasifier units for SMEs
Capacity development of manufacturers on gasifier technology
Information dissemination & promotion
Dissemination strategy for gasifier technology under subsidy
Biomass Gasification in Government Policy
Renewable (Rural) Energy Subsidy Policy (2013):
• The subsidy amount of NPR 150,000 but not more than
50% of the plant cost will be provided to metallic gasifier
plant for thermal application for agro-processing by
small, medium and cottage enterprises.
• If the electricity is generated from the biomass energy
sources, the maximum subsidy amount of NPR. 200,000
per kW installed capacity or 50% of the cost whichever is
less will be provided for the biomass power plant.
Basic requirements for feasibility of project:
•No possibility of national grid extension
•Availability of sustainable biomass sources
•End use possibilities
•Dense clusters
Biomass Gasifier based technologies
piloted under AEPC
• Piloted 4 units of biomass gasifier for thermal
application (agro-processing, tea and herbs drying)
at Ilam, Panchthar & Kathmandu during AEPC/ESAP
Biomass Gasifier based technologies piloted
Gasifier piloted for community electrification under
AEPC/REDP at Madhuban Bazar, Madhubangoth VDC,
SARLAHI
Additional Biomass Gasifier projects under construction
Project conducted under AEPC
Location: Simari, Kanakpur VDC, RAUTAHAT
• System capacity - 20 kW
• No. of beneficiary (HHs)- 220
• System type: 100% producer gas model
Project conducted under AEPC/RERL
Location: Belwajabdi VDC, SARLAHI
• System capacity - 11 kW
• No. of beneficiary (HHs) - 165
• System type: 100% producer gas model
Emerging Involvement of Private Sector
• Pioneer Wires Limited, Biratnagar : 350kW gasifier for
electrification in industry during power cut
• Hulas Steel Industries Limited: Two units of gasifier (550
kW each) of total capacity of 1100kW to generate thermal
energy
• Hulas Wire Industries Limited, Biratnagar (500kW)
• Bhudeo Khadya Udhyog, Lalbandi, (400 kW), full plant
operation during load shedding
• Mahalaxmi Silicate, Biratnagar (500kWth)
• Arihant Wires, Biratnagar (500kWth)
• AIT based gasifier has been developed and tested in
RECAST, NAST and KU.
Thank You
