Agricultural Biomass: Markets, Fuels & Applications · Agricultural Biomass: Markets, Fuels & Applications ... Briquette (2) Pellet ... 1Ontario Federation of Agriculture Assessment

Agricultural Biomass: Markets, Fuels & Applications

Kenny Corscadden Ph.D P.EngIndustry Research Chair

Farm Energy Conservation

Nova Scotia Energy R&D Forum 2012 16th & 17th May

Overview• Impact of fuel design on agricultural energy• Challenges• Opportunities• Markets• Pilot Studies – Fuel design, performance and

emissions(1) Briquette(2) Pellet

• Conclusions

Definitions & ChallengesAgricultural (Herbaceous) biomass

• Waste Streams• Surplus or generic crops• Purpose grown energy crops

ChallengesCombustion IssuesLack of existing marketLack of supply chain

Current ChallengesCombustion properties

• High Ash and Mineral Content• Clinkers / Agglomerations• Frequent Ash removal• Emissions / Corrosion

Opportunities: Land Availability

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture

Opportunities: Residue Availability

Source: Agricultural Biomass Residue Inventories and Conversion systems For Energy Production in Eastern Canada

Opportunities: MarketsPotential Markets

Co Fire Utility Scale X

Commercial Pellet

Residential Stove/Pellet

On Farm Bale/Pellet

Fuel Quality & Cost

Fuel Quality

Established Markets

Fuel: Cost

Processing

Commercial

Residential

On Farm

MARKETS

A B

Cost: Added Value

FarmYield t/acre

$/t

Conversion$/t

Pellet / Briquette

$/km Distribution & Sales

$/lb or $/GJ

$/km

1Ontario Federation of Agriculture Assessment of Business Case For Purpose-Grown Biomass in Ontario

1$104.4/t $148.7/t

100 km$29.17/t Pellet $38.88/t

150,000 t/yr

Yield 3t/acre50,000 acre /yr

Gross Margin= $262/acre/yrNet Margin = $100/acre/yr

- Distribution and sales

Scale of operations in Nova Scotia

Increase Yield

Components

HerbaceousBiomass

Pre Processing

Grinding

LeachingDrying

MixingHybrid Conversion Testing

CombustionPellet / Briquette

EmissionsFlue GasParticulate

Supply Chain Development• Research Objectives: Pilot Scale Study Pre Processing and

Hybrid development of Pellets and Briquettes

– Conversion of commercial briquettes and pellets with grass and hybrid fuels – Feedstocks

– Identify costs as a function of production scale, processing technique and materials – Processing

– Evaluation of properties, combustion, temperatures and emissions

Preliminary Results

Evaluating Potential Use of Agricultural Biomass

• Pilot Scale Study •• Overwintering (leaching)

• Combining with wood

• Removing leaves

• Additives?

Barley Straw

Processing: Hammer Mill

Processed Hay

Weima America Briquette Machine

Briquette Types

Lawson Mills Pellet System

Hay Pellets

Combustion TestsFlue Gas AnalyzerDraft, O2, Temperature (Gas, Room), Excess Air,

C0, C02, N0, N0x, S02

Particulate Analyzer:

Particulate Matter

Results Lab Tests

Results Lab Tests

Conclusions and further work• There are existing markets for agricultural biomass in

Nova Scotia• Potential to serve markets through fuel design

• Further Work:• Need to identify methods of classifying fuel quality• Establishing economic limitations

– Distance (farm – processing – market)– Feedstock Processing.

Acknowledgements• Prabahar Ravichandran NSAC Graduate Student• Dr M Roy Lakehead University • Ryan MacDonell Summer Student• Jonathan Freeden Summer Student• Bill Thomas Agrapoint• Doug Burris Technician