Net energy ratio for the production of steam pretreated biomass-based pellets. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shahrukh, Hassan; Oyedun, Adetoyese Olajire; Kumar, Amit; Ghiasi, Bahman; Kumar, Linoj; Sokhansanj, Shahab
• Is Part Of: Biomass and bioenergy. Volume 80(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 286
• Page End: 297
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Biomass -- Pellets -- Process model -- Energy balance -- Steam pretreatment -- NER; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Biomass -- Periodicals; Energy-Generating Resources -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; 333.9539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.06.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-9534

Abstract

Abstract: A process model was developed to determine the net energy ratio (NER) for both regular and steam-pretreated pellet production from ligno-cellulosic biomass. NER is a ratio of the net energy output to the total net energy input from non-renewable energy source into the system. Scenarios were developed to measure the effect of temperature and level of steam pretreatment on the NER of both production processes. The NER for the base case at 6 kg h −1 is 1.29 and 5.0 for steam-pretreated and regular pellet production respectively. However, at the large scale NER would improve. The major factor for NER is energy for steam and drying unit. The sensitivity analysis for the model shows that the optimum temperature for steam pretreatment is 200 °C with 50% pretreatment (Steam pretreating 50% feed stock, while the rest is undergoing regular pelletization). Uncertainty result for steam pretreated and regular pellet is 1.35 ± 0.09 and 4.52 ± 0.34 respectively. Highlights: Research focused on changes in NER by adding steam pretreatment to pellet production. Steam pretreatment increases the produced pellet HHV, but reduces NER. NER can be improved by reducing treatment temperature and level of pretreatment. NER for steam pretreatment improves in case of large scale production.