Schatz Energy Research Center will evaluate the potential to recover waste heat in a usable format to provide energy input needs for biomass conversion technologies. This will include generation of electrical power from available waste heat. Energy sources to be considered include waste heat from the biomass conversion technologies and other onsite sources such as waste heat from diesel powered grinders used for biomass comminution. Once potential heat sources have been measured, the team will assess several heat-to-electricity generation technologies, including organic Rankine cycle generators. Schatz Energy Research Center will also assess the ability of respective biomass conversion devices to utilize power generated from the heat-to-power devices, in particular load-following performance and the need for thermal or electrical energy storage. As part of this assessment, Schatz Energy Research Center will identify, procure, and test under laboratory conditions a heat-to-electricity generation technology such as an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) generator. The objective of this testing will be to assess the potential for using ORC or a similar technology to produce electrical energy for the biomass conversion technologies using the biomass conversion technologies’ own waste heat. Schatz Energy Research Center will also perform detailed measurements or estimations of electricity requirements for the three biomass conversion technologies.
Organizations completing task
- Schatz Energy Research Center, HSU
Milestones
- Analysis of waste heat recovery and use
Deliverables
- Summary of waste heat sources
- Performance data summary for heat-to-electricity generation technology
Reports
- Severy, M., D. Carter, C. Chamberlin, and A. Jacobson. 2016. Remote power selection memo, part 1: Technology selection. Retrieved from http://box2343.temp.domains/~wastetow//////wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Remote-Power-Generation-Part1.pdf
- Palmer, K., M. Severy, C. Chamberlin, A. Eggink, and A. Jacobson. 2018. Performance analysis of biomass gasifier genset at varying operating conditions. ASABE Applied Engineering in Agriculture. ASABE special collection publication. 34(1): 135-143.
