Efficiency of Biomass Energy

Preface xv
 
Acknowledgments xix
 
About the Author xxi
 
PART I | Background and Outline
 
Chapter 1 | Bioenergy Systems: An Overview 3
 
1.1 Energy and the Environment 3
 
1.2 Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source 13
 
1.3 Biomass Conversion Processes 22
 
1.4 Utilization of Biomass 27
 
1.5 Closing Remarks 34
 
References 34
 
Chapter 2 | Exergy Analysis 37
 
2.1 Sustainability and Efficiency 37
 
2.2 Thermodynamic Analysis of Processes 42
 
2.3 Exergy Concept 52
 
2.4 Exergetic Evaluation of Processes and Technologies 67
 
2.5 Renewability of Biofuels 81
 
2.6 Closing Remarks 86
 
References 86
 
PART II | Biomass Production and Conversion
 
Chapter 3 | Photosynthesis 93
 
3.1 Photosynthesis: An Overview 93
 
3.2 Exergy of Thermal Radiation 99
 
3.3 Exergy Analysis of Photosynthesis 106
 
3.4 Global Photosynthesis 116
 
3.5 Closing Remarks 120
 
References 120
 
Chapter 4 | Biomass Production 123
 
4.1 Overview 123
 
4.2 Efficiency of Solar Energy Capture 133
 
4.3 Fossil Inputs for Biomass Cultivation and Harvesting 140
 
4.4 Fossil Inputs for Biomass Logistics 146
 
4.5 Closing Remarks 150
 
References 150
 
Chapter 5 | Thermochemical Conversion: Gasification 153
 
5.1 Gasification: An Overview 153
 
5.2 Gasification of Carbon 171
 
5.3 Gasification of Biomass 183
 
5.4 Gasification of Typical Fuels 191
 
5.5 Closing Remarks 198
 
References 198
 
Chapter 6 | Gasification: Parametric Studies and Gasification Systems 203
 
6.1 Effect of Fuel Chemical Composition on Gasification Performance 203
 
6.2 Effect of Biomass Moisture Content, Gasification Pressure, and Heat Addition on Gasification Performance 211
 
6.3 Improvement of Gasification Exergetic Efficiency

Krzysztof J. Ptasinski, Ph.D., D.Sc., has over 40 years of experience in academic teaching and research in chemical engineering and energy technology. He has held appointments at the Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of Twente (the Netherlands) as well as the Warsaw University of Technology and as visiting professor at the Silesian University of Technology (Poland). His pioneering research on application of exergy analysis to biomass and bioenergy is internationally acclaimed. He is the author and co-author of more than 200 publications, including 19 book chapters and 75 research papers. Currently he serves as an Executive Editor Biomass and Bioenergy - Energy, The International Journal.