Estimation of power generation potential of agricultural based biomass species

Abstract

In view of high energy potential in agricultural residues species and an increasing interest in their utilization for power generation an attempt has been made in this study to asses the proximate analysis and energy content of different components of four selected agricultural residues such as maize, coconut, paddy and arhar, and their impact on power generation and land requirement for energy plantations. The net energy content in coconut plant was found to be higher than other studied agricultural residues. The result shows that approximately 717 hectares, 1123 hectares, 1511 hectares and 4319 hectares of land are required to generate 20,000 kWh/day electricity from, coconut, maize, paddy and arhar pulse residues respectively. Coal samples, obtained from six different local mines were also examined for their qualities and the results were compared with those of studied biomass materials. This comparison reveals much higher power output with negligible emission of suspended particulate matter (spm) from biomass materials. It has been observed that coconut, paddy and arhar agricultural residue can be carried out safely (without clinker formation) up to the temperature of 950 o C.in case of use of maize agricultural residue, it may be more safe to operate the boiler at temperature below 800 o C. Since it has been observed that maize has lowest IDT (Initial deformation temperature) and lowest FT (Flow temperature), while coconut and paddy have highest IDT and FT.