International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 10 | Oct 2024
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
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Process Simulation and Performance Analysis of Combustion-Based Small-Scale Biomass Power Plant for Sustainable Energy Generation Limat Teklay Gebremariam1, Tesfaldet Gebregerges Gebreegziabher2, Fentahun Abebaw Belete3* 1Department of Chemical Engineering, African Youth for Peace and Sustainable Development, PO Box 1313, Mekelle,
Ethiopia
2Department of Chemical Engineering, Sustainable Process Developer at INDEA ENERGY, Hong Kong University
Science and Technology, Spain.
3Department of Chemical Engineering, Ethiopian Institute of Technology-Mekelle, Mekelle University, PO Box
231, Mekelle, Ethiopia ---------------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------------2016). Biomass can be converted into useful energy forms ABSTRACT
through three main routes: thermochemical extraction, biochemical/biological extraction, and mechanical extraction (Do et al. 2014) and it is considered a suitable precursor technology for the production of commercial biobased fuels and chemicals (Menin et al.,2020). Although biochemical conversion processes have been established on a commercial scale, they are economically unsustainable and exert market pressures on food crops and biodiversity (Shemfe, Gu, and Ranganathan 2015). The chemical composition of biomass fuels includes combustible elements such as carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and Sulphur (S). Of these elements, sulfur is undesirable because it reacts with moisture in the flue gas to form sulfuric acid, which is highly corrosive to metal elements in the incinerator. Other elements involved in the combustion process are: Oxygen (O) is present in the fuel because it is bound, and nitrogen (N) is considered an inert element in the development of biomass power plants and therefore does not react with other elements in the fuel. In the combustion chamber, nitrogen oxides, nitrogen dioxide, and other nitrogen oxides (NOx) are produced during the combustion process when fuel is burned at high temperatures (Paraschiv, Serban, and Paraschiv 2020).
Due to increasing environmental concerns especially related to the use of fossil fuels, new solutions to limit the greenhouse gas effect and energy scarcity are continuously sought. Biomass has emerged in the renewable energy area with a high potential to contribute to the energy needs of both industrialized and developing countries. This study aims at the process simulation and performance analysis of combustion-based small-scale biomass power plants. The adiabatic flame temperature of the biomass waste in the combustion chamber was modeled and estimated in stoichiometric air and with excess air in a Microsoft Excel 2016 (GRG) Non-linear add-in solver. The achievable flame temperature under such conditions was estimated as 1706.3oC. The effect of increasing excess air in the achievable maximum temperature, for the combustion chamber, is also studied by considering different air-to-biomass fuel ratios. A comprehensive model of biomass Rankine cycle power plant feed with white eucalyptus biomass waste is modeled and simulated using Aspen plus chemical engineering software. A high enthalpy flow of 13293 KW enters the turbine and 910 KW power was produced. Keywords: Adiabatic, Biomass, Flame temperature, Power plant, White eucalyptus
In the process industry, there are various simulation packages used to simulate, analyze, and optimize different processes to achieve efficient operations and maximize profits. In the field of biomass conversion, many researchers modeled the process of thermochemical, biochemical, and mechanical conversion pathways by using the Aspen Plus process design program (Lan et al. 2018). An alternative source of energy that is promised to drive the future becomes more common in the energy mix (REEEP, 2014). Therefore, this study aims to determine the adiabatic flame temperature (Tf) of the waste biomass (white Eucalyptus) combustion as well as to simulate and analyze the performance of a small-scale biomass power plant using Aspen plus chemical engineering software.
1. INTRODUCTION Biomass is a type of renewable energy among various energy sources and has various advantages as it is estimated to have low cost and no CO2 emissions (Gebreegziabher et al. 2014). According to a 2016 World Energy Council report, biomass as a flexible renewable energy resource can play an important role in meeting the global demand profile in energy sectors such as heat, power, buildings, and transport. Among different types of renewable energy, biomass is one of the largest energy sources, accounting for 14% of the 18% of renewable energy in the global energy mix (World Energy Council
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