| Author | Nhuchhen, Daya Ram |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ET-11-03 |
| Subject(s) | Biomass gasification--Thailand--Pathum Thani
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Energy |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Global energy based CO2 emission is increasing due to the increased use of fossil fuels. Low carbon or zero carbon fuels can be the good option to reduce current emissions level as well as to achieve low carbon society and economy. In this context, the fossil fuels can be replaced by available biomass energy sources. This study presents the potential and its thermal & electrical applications of woody biomass in AIT. It also analyzes the CO2 emissions reduction opportunities to promote woody biomass as an option towards low carbon campus. The woody biomass at AIT has been classified into five different categories such as fresh tree leaves, fresh tree branches, dry tree leaves, dry tree branches, and grasses. Proximate and heating value analyses of classified woody biomass have carried out to characterize and quantify the biomass energy source. Theoretical biomass potential, technical biomass potential and technical energy potential are found to be 1,596 kg/day, 238 kg/day and 4.07 GJ/day respectively. Proximate analysis based correlations for estimating higher heating value of biomass are also developed by using the principle of least sum square error method. Two stage air supply gasifier and the gasifier engine systems are fabricated and tested by using eucalyptus wood to find the performance of the systems. The optimum gasification operation is found at primary and secondary air supply of 100 LPM and 80 LPM respectively with the producer gas LHV of 4.72MJ/Nm3. Gasifier engine is operated from 0 – 10.54 kWe electrical loads in dual fuel mode. The share of producer gas is found from 40.55% - 69.21% with diesel saving opportunity of 0.18 – 0.42 ml/s. The overall gasifier engine efficiency is found 13.86% at 10.54 kWe with specific energy consumption of 16.22 MJ/kWh. A heat recovery system is designed and installed to recover heat from producer gas. The effects of heat exchanger on cold gas efficiency of gasifier are also analyzed. Experimental studies are also carried out using woody biomass to find thermal and electrical energy potential of available woody biomass at AIT. Annual thermal energy potential is found 634 GJ in the form of producer gas from the gasification system. Both thermal (30 GJ/year) and electrical (45,490 kWh/year) energy potential are produced from the gasifier engine with heat recovery system. Analyses of the fossil fuels consumption and its CO2 emissions have carried out in three sectors (residential area, cafeteria and AITCC) at AIT. The thermal application of producer gas is found suitable at AITCC in which the maximum CO2 emissions reduction of 41,944 kg/year and financial benefits of 428, 406 Baht per year can be achieved. Electrical application on dual fuel operation mode is found unfeasible in terms of emissions; due to the fact that about 70% of electricity generation in Thailand is based on natural gas hence lower emission, though primary energy sources are saved. A study carried to design gasifier engine system to fulfill the electrical load demand (approx. 12 kWe) at different field of studies with the new efficient engine and gasifier system has concluded that the required electrical load demand cannot be fulfilled by available biomass energy sources at AIT. Pre – feasibility studies on the achievable energy systems are also carried out for the available producer gas by using RETScreen software. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Energy Technology (ET) |
| Chairperson(s) | Salam, Abdul P.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Kumar, Sivanappan;Marpaung, Charles O. P.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2011 |