Biomass and Biofuels Energy Processes - Report Example

BIOMASS AND BIOFUELS Name Course Institution Instructor Date Biomass Biomass is the entire living thing in the ecosystem. Plant material is also a renewable energy source. It can capture the heat power from the sun through the process of photosynthesis. Within the process, the plants release the energy capture from the sun. Plant material are also regarded as natural biomass which can save solar energy and totally sustainable. Biomass Energy Processes There are two major approaches for the biomass technologies development. The first and the third generation of biomass is produce the energy by growing the plants while the second generation biomass is produce the energy by burn the residues from the plants. Some of the application include: Production of biogas Biogas is a mixture of gases that are produced during breakdown of biomass matter in absence of oxygen. Biogas production in the biogas production standard, bioorganic materials before feeding the biogas plant is processed. The plant consists of gas storage, a mixer and two digesters. Fermentation tanks called digesters are also vital components of the plant because they anaerobes situation in which bacteria provides biogas production. Layers have to constantly heated and stirred to ensure a homogeneous and continuous discharge of gas. Gas holder container steel airproof situation that, like a ball floating in the fermentation mixture, cut the digester air (anaerobiosis) and collect the gas generated normally. Production of biodiesel Crops can be used for biodiesel production and for blending with commercial diesel fuels to enhance the engine warranties and performance. Crops such as sunflower, corns and soybeans have higher flash point temperature which is higher than the standard value means having higher energy in form of calorific value. Moreover these three feedstock material can be used for creating genetically modified varieties of high oil yields. NaOH can be used as catalyst in production of biodiesel from biomass. Biomass has lowest Sulphur content as compared to commercial diesel therefore proves to be the best for replacing the existing fuel system working on diesel emitting Sulphur residues. Also along it has lesser water content which can cause corrosion to the engine components. These Biomass materials can be further used to blend with ethanol and diesel to give out best combination to yield more calorific value and combustion power. It possesses an unmatched expertise in offering highly advanced and innovative trans-esterification units for developing a sustainable environment. These biomass units find diverse applications in the agro industries related to the processing and extraction of bio-diesel. Advantages of biomass Wasteland restoration: a wasteland may be defined as a ground where waste matter is dumped, biomass turns these waste materials into useful resources through burning hence in turn produces energy. Biomass produces a clean energy: Most of the biomass materials are used to produce energy, since biomass itself is clean the energy that is produced is also clean energy. Using more biomass energy sources is a good and healthy way to solve many of problems. Biofuels from biomass are the best options to invest world economy. Not only the government, but society as well should embrace the cause of alternative energy because it is an excellent way to produce energy without polluting the planet, provide economic advantages, and it has many benefits for the future. Use of biomass energy reduces the use of fossil energy: Environmental degradation is majorly caused by fossil fuel burning, this has led to acidic rain, global warming and greenhouse effect. Increased use of biomass related fuel will reduce production of harmful gases related to fossil fuel burning (Chuah & Azni, 2003). Disadvantages On the other hand, there are some disadvantages for using biomass, according to a research conducted by US federal government; some of the plants will polluted the river and the environment. The cost of biomass technology is expensive compare to the natural gas. Biofuel Biofuel is related to the biomass, the fuels are made from a wide variety of fuels which included solid biomass, liquid fuels and different types of biogases. Bio alcohols like bioethanol and oil like biodiesel are typical examples of the liquid fuel; landfill gas and synthetic gas are the types of biogases. Uses of biofuel Biofuels have a wide range of usage such as transportation, generation of power and heat generation. Development and application of biofuel First, the bioethanol is a kind of alcohol taken from the sugar elements of the plant materials. With the development of the technology, more and more types of plants can be used as a source of biofuel, for instance, trees and grasses are used in ethanol production (Dermibas, 2004). The ethanol are very common in using as a vehicles fuel, it is seldom used in facilitate the vehicle emission. This application is popular in America and Brazil. With the reference from European Environment Agency, there are no any greenhouse gases generated from the plants. Advantages of biofuels Due to an unstable scenario of fossil energy production, biofuel energy is the best solution to solve the problems caused by power plants because it does not pollute the environment, is convenient to the economy, and has great advantages for the future. Biofuels are friendly to the environment Many countries, nowadays, are becoming industrialized and problems as pollution start to appear. Thus, acid rain, carbon effects, and quality of the air are getting attention and discussions about these are increasingly common. Sulfur burning, for example, results in sulfur dioxide, a gas whose presence in the atmosphere is mainly responsible for the formation of acid rain. When there are pollutants, originating mainly from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, petroleum), they form clouds and then rain. When rain falls, these acids degrade the plants, soil, statues, and monuments. Acid rain can disrupt of ecosystems, pollute rivers and water sources, and harm the health of humans and animals as well. Thus, industrial power generation processes are the major causes of the introduction of pollutants into the atmosphere. Air pollution is defined as a form of matter or energy intensity, concentration, time or characteristics that may make inappropriate, harmful or offensive air health, and inconvenience to the people welfare. According to Choo & Ma (2000) combustion of each atom of carbon removes two atoms of oxygen from the air, forming a molecule of carbon dioxide. Therefore, three tonnes of oxygen from the atmosphere are removed by each tonne of coal burned, so 1.5 million tonnes of coal burned each year by each thousand megawatt coal-burning power plant subsequently removes 4.5 million tonnes of oxygen. In summary, the oxygen lost is forever removed from its role in supporting life. Therefore using biofuels will reduce production of harmful gases (Morimoto et al, 2004). Biofuels do not have greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse effect should be natural and normal; however, it changed and became strong and harmful. It is important to know what greenhouse effect is, which gases contribute, and what are strategies possible strategies for reducing concentration of these gases. Greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when a portion of the infrared radiation emitted by Earth's surface is absorbed by certain gases in the atmosphere, so part of the heat is irradiated to the surface and is not released into the space. Greenhouse effect is essential since it serves to keep the planet warm and existence of life on the Earth. Unfortunately, “The danger lies in the rapid increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that intensify this natural greenhouse effect” (Suzuki, n.d., para. 2). There are six gases considered to be greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), that, also, are responsible for contributing to global warming and global climate change. Thus, in accordance with Choo & Ma, (2000), the main harmful gas is carbon dioxide, and is unacceptable if industries still ejecting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. On the other hand, it is possible to create strategies for reducing concentration of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere with improved energy efficiency through the use of renewable energy. Using biofuel energy will avoid greenhouse pollution gases emission since energy exploration as biofuels comes from natural resources which are inexhaustible. Biofuels are the solution to global warming Environmental impacts caused by burning of fossil fuels are visible in the 21st century. High temperatures because of global warming changing ecosystems and soil degradation are some of the most noted indicators that the planet needs help. Diminished oceanic ice and increased sea level are a result of the rising temperatures. Oceanic ice “extent has diminished from about 7 million square km in the 1990s to less than 5 million square km in five of the past seven years, with a record minimum of 3.6 million square km being set in 2012” (Andries & Buhre, 2000). Impacts on ecosystems begins with water because it could change its temperature on river and oceans, then fishes may not adapt; also, the oxygen level may not be enough, so life underwater will be threatened. Moreover, the plants do not adapt easily, compromising all of fauna and flora, so the effects on ecosystems could be devastating. In addition, soil degradation due to fossil fuel exploration is another existent problem because the toxic organic compounds such as hydrocarbons (petroleum), for example, also contribute to soil contamination. These compounds are hardly degraded, and they stay in the environment for a long time, and the issue of soil likely related to other natural resources such as water, waste, and biodiversity. Creation of jobs Biofuel energy will be responsible for creating many high quality jobs, and to increase the economy. Countries should act now to try to get part of these investments. In addition, many jobs would be created with the new biofuel energy farms. There will be a need to create more than two million jobs for wind power industry in the world by 2030. Biofuel energy production bring benefits to rural areas and small communities too. For example, remote communities that are isolated from electricity grids could use biofuel and biogas instead of diesel generators to produce energy. Disadvantages There is a slow progress in the technology of biofuel production. There is generally no improved technology to simplify the production of biofuels. Biofuels also contain impurities: despite the fact that biofuels come from biomass and is considered a clean energy, it produces methane gas which deprives the ozone layer, in addition this fuel is corrosive. References Andries, J., Buhre, B.J.P. (2000). Small-scale, distributed generation of electricity and heat using integrated biomass gasification-gas turbine-fuel cell systems. Tagungsber 1L: 115–125. Choo, Y.M., Ma, A.N. (2000). Plant Power. Chemistry & Industry 16: 530–534. Chuah, T.G. Azni, I. (2003). Biomass as the renewable energy sources in Malaysia. Buletin Ingenieur 20: 50–52. Dermibas, A. (2004). Combustion characteristics of different biomass fuel. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 30: 219–230. Morimoto, M., Atsuko, M., Atif, A.A.Y. Atif, Ngah, M.A., Fakhru’l-Razi, A., Iyuke, S.E. Bakir, A.M. (2004). Biological production of hydrogen from glucose by natural anaerobic microflora. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 29: 709–713. Read More