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Sustainable Biomass Energy: Recent Technologies and Applications
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Sustainable Biomass Energy: Recent Technologies and Applications

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2024) | Viewed by 12711

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Filippo Marchelli

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
Interests: biomass; thermochemical conversion; modeling; fluidization
Dr. Roberta Ferrentino

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
Interests: anaerobic digestion; sewage sludge; wastewater treatment; solid waste disposal
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cristina Moliner

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genova, Via all’Opera Pia 15a, 16145 Genova, GE, Italy
Interests: biomass thermochemical conversion; combustion; bioplastics; circular economy; process simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lucas Massaro Sousa

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich, Medway Campus, Central Ave, Gillingham, Chatham Maritime ME4 4TB, UK
Interests: biomass handling and trasport; fluidization; waste valorization; CFD simulation; combustion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomass has been used as an energy source since the early days of humankind. The emergence of urgent problems, such as global warming and the depletion of resources, has fostered research on its valorization for energy purposes in the recent decades. today, the large number of existing technologies permits converting various types of biomass in a flexible and efficient way. Nonetheless, several of these technologies are not mature yet, and more studies are necessary to make them fully reliable and convenient and ensure that the largest variety of biomass can be successfully employed to generate energy.

This Special Issue is dedicated to recent advances in the field of biomass energy, either based on new processes or making the existing ones more flexible, efficient, and sustainable. Both experimental and theoretical studies are encouraged, including scale-up and feasibility analyses that demonstrate how innovative processes can be applied to real-life scenarios. The coupling of different techniques or their application to underexploited feedstocks are also of interest.

Dr. Filippo Marchelli
Dr. Roberta Ferrentino
Dr. Cristina Moliner
Dr. Lucas Massaro Sousa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomass pretreatment
  • biomass thermochemical conversion
  • hydrothermal conversion
  • fermentation
  • biofuels post-processing
  • process scale-up and intensification
  • biorefineries

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1487 KiB  
Article
Thermal Decomposition of Methane in Capillary Tubes of Different Materials: Corundum, Titanium, Nickel, and Stainless Steel
by Mikhail S. Vlaskin, Anatoly V. Grigorenko, Aleksandr O. Dudoladov, Matvey S. Galtsov-Tsientsiala, Vinod Kumar and George E. Valyano
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(23), 12663; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312663 - 25 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1174
Abstract
The effect of capillary tube material on the process of thermal decomposition of methane at 1100 °C and methane supply at a rate of 2 L/h without the use of catalysts was studied. The materials used were corundum, titanium, nickel, and stainless steel. [...] Read more.
The effect of capillary tube material on the process of thermal decomposition of methane at 1100 °C and methane supply at a rate of 2 L/h without the use of catalysts was studied. The materials used were corundum, titanium, nickel, and stainless steel. The reactor was a capillary tube, which was heated from the outside with a propane burner; the length of the heating zone was about 8 cm. It was found that the efficiency of methane decomposition decreases in a number of materials: Al2O3 > Ni > Ti > stainless steel. The highest hydrogen yield (73.35 vol. %) was achieved in the experiment with a corundum tube with an inner diameter of 4 mm, and the lowest (27.75 vol. %) was achieved in the experiment with a stainless steel tube with a diameter of 6 mm. Nickel and titanium showed worse hydrogen yield results than corundum: for nickel, the volume content of hydrogen after pyrolysis was 71.27%, and for titanium, 41.51%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy: Recent Technologies and Applications)
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19 pages, 2526 KiB  
Article
From the Cultivation of Arthrospira platensis at an Increased CO2 Concentration to the Bio-Oil Production by Hydrothermal Liquefaction
by Kirill G. Ryndin, Aleksey V. Butyrin, Anatoly V. Grigorenko, Elizaveta A. Chunzhuk, Nadezhda I. Chernova, Sofya V. Kiseleva, Sergey Y. Malaniy, Ekaterina A. Bakumenko, Olga V. Slavkina, Konstantin Ossipov, Tatiana A. Maryutina, Vinod Kumar and Mikhail S. Vlaskin
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9950; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179950 - 3 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1789
Abstract
In this work, the path from the cultivation of Arthrospira platensis at an increased concentration of CO2 to the production of bio-oil by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of the grown biomass is realized. The cultivation was carried out in a 90 L photobioreactor [...] Read more.
In this work, the path from the cultivation of Arthrospira platensis at an increased concentration of CO2 to the production of bio-oil by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of the grown biomass is realized. The cultivation was carried out in a 90 L photobioreactor at an initial CO2 concentration of 8 vol.% for 15 days. During the cultivation stage, the optical density for microalgae suspension, pH and chemical composition of nutrient medium were monitored. The grown biomass was separated from the nutrient medium with a 100 µm mesh and then subjected to HTL at 330 °C for 1 h. The biomass growth rate was 82 ± 4.1 mg × L−1day−1 and the pH was in the range from 9.08 ± 0.22 to 8.9 ± 0.24. Biochemical and CHNS analyses were applied for the obtained biomass. The contents of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids in the grown biomass were 38.7 ± 0.4 wt.%, 37.4 ± 0.5 wt.% and 3.8 ± 0.4 wt.%, respectively. Bio-oil yield after the HTL procedure was 13.8 wt.%. The bio-oil composition and properties were determined by GH-MS, TLC-PID and ICP-MS techniques. ICP-MS revealed the contents of 51 metals in bio-oil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy: Recent Technologies and Applications)
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16 pages, 4539 KiB  
Article
Techno-Economic Assessment of an Innovative Small-Scale Solar-Biomass Hybrid Power Plant
by José Antonio Vélez Godiño and Miguel Torres García
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(14), 8179; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13148179 - 13 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1302
Abstract
The current context of the climate emergency highlights the need for the decarbonization of the energy sector by replacing current fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. In this regard, concentrating solar power (CSP) technology represents a commercially proven alternative. However, these types of [...] Read more.
The current context of the climate emergency highlights the need for the decarbonization of the energy sector by replacing current fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. In this regard, concentrating solar power (CSP) technology represents a commercially proven alternative. However, these types of plants are associated with high production costs and difficulties in controlling production during temporary variations in solar resource availability. In order to minimize these drawbacks, this study proposes the hybridization of CSP technology with direct biomass combustion, with the particularity of an innovative process scheme that does not correspond to traditional series or parallel configurations. This paper focuses on the techno-economic evaluation of this novel configuration in a small-scale power plant. To achieve this, both solar resource and biomass production, which are dependent on the selected location, were analyzed. Additionally, the plant was characterized from both technical and economic perspectives. The obtained results allowed for the characterization of the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) based on various parameters such as the size of the solar field and biomass boilers, as well as limitations on biomass consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy: Recent Technologies and Applications)
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12 pages, 2256 KiB  
Article
Novel Design for Rotary Burner for Low-Quality Pellets
by Michal Holubcik, Peter Durcansky, Jozef Jandacka, Jan Najser and Andrej Klacko
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 3053; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13053053 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1630
Abstract
The burning of low-quality fuels causes several problems in the operation of combustion equipment, which can negatively affect the equipment’s efficiency. The possibilities for the burning of pellets made from low-quality raw materials are limited mainly by the fusibility of the ash, which [...] Read more.
The burning of low-quality fuels causes several problems in the operation of combustion equipment, which can negatively affect the equipment’s efficiency. The possibilities for the burning of pellets made from low-quality raw materials are limited mainly by the fusibility of the ash, which settles and melts on the surfaces of the burner, gradually causing it to clog. Smelted ash also causes a decrease in heat transfer efficiency, which negatively affects the overall efficiency of the heat source. A possible solution is provided by burners with a rotating combustion chamber, where the contact time of the molten ash with the walls of the burner is shortened, and thus there is no significant melting of the ash in the burner. This manuscript is dedicated to summarizing the current state of development of burners with a rotary chamber, presenting a novel design for such a burner, and providing an analysis of that design. To conclude, the results of experimental measurements on a classic burner and a burner with a rotary chamber are presented, including a comparison and evaluation mainly in terms of emissions. The novel-designed rotary burner achieved a higher heat output than the retort burner, but a similar thermal efficiency. The rotary burner produced 32.5% lower CO emissions, 12.5% higher NOx emissions, 23% lower OGC emissions, and 44.7% higher PM emissions in comparison with a retort burner under the same conditions. This novel rotary burner concept could, after optimization, be a suitable option for efficient combustion of alternative biofuels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy: Recent Technologies and Applications)
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13 pages, 2534 KiB  
Article
Advanced Assessment of Biomass Materials Degradation in Pneumatic Conveying Systems: Challenges and Applications
by Gulab Singh, Tong Deng, Michael S. A. Bradley and Richard Ellis
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1960; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031960 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1778
Abstract
In this study, the degradation of wood pellets and dry roasted coffee beans in a pneumatic conveyor was evaluated for high-speed impacts. The change in particle size and generation of fine particles were used as an indicating parameter for the degradation. A four-bends [...] Read more.
In this study, the degradation of wood pellets and dry roasted coffee beans in a pneumatic conveyor was evaluated for high-speed impacts. The change in particle size and generation of fine particles were used as an indicating parameter for the degradation. A four-bends industrial scale conveying system was used for the degradation study in lean phase pneumatic conveying. The effects of operating parameters on the degradation were investigated, including the conveying velocity of particles and particle concentration. The experimental results showed that the degradation and the fines generation increased with an increase in particle velocity. An opposite trend was observed with an increased solid concentration in the pipeline. It was found that the two types of wood pellets traveled at different particle velocities with the same operating conditions, which resulted in significant differences in the degradation. Compared to the wood pellets, roasted coffee beans were found to travel at air velocity. In conclusion, the degradation in a pneumatic conveying system is complex and challenging to evaluate because there are many influential factors, such as the type of materials, equipment, and operation conditions. Early assessments in a laboratory will be beneficial to evaluate the degradation at all controlled operative conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy: Recent Technologies and Applications)
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23 pages, 6670 KiB  
Article
Energy-Exergy Analysis of Diesel Engine Fueled with Microalgae Biodiesel-Diesel Blend
by Chandrabhushan Tiwari, Tikendra Nath Verma, Gaurav Dwivedi and Puneet Verma
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1857; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031857 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2490
Abstract
Renewable energy is getting more attention in recent times due to the rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserves. Production and consumption of biofuels derived from biomass has significantly increased. In the present work, Spirulina microalgae have been chosen as feedstock for biodiesel production. [...] Read more.
Renewable energy is getting more attention in recent times due to the rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserves. Production and consumption of biofuels derived from biomass has significantly increased. In the present work, Spirulina microalgae have been chosen as feedstock for biodiesel production. Diesel and biodiesel were mixed in different volumetric ratios to prepare fuel blends (SBF0, SBF20, SBF40, SBF60, SBF80, and SBF100). Energy and exergy analysis has been performed on a four-stroke, single-cylinder diesel engine. Experimentation was done under varying loads at 1500 RPM. The effect of multiple loads and blends was investigated for brake power (BP), cooling water losses (Qw), exhaust gas losses (Qexh), and unaccounted losses (Qun). Pure diesel SBF100 has the highest and lowest exergy efficiencies, respectively equaling roughly 31.65% and 29.75%. It has been observed that BP and Qw increase with the increase in load whereas Qexh and Qun show a decreasing trend. It was also observed that with an increase in blending, Qw increases while Qexh decreases. In the exergy analysis, it was observed that the exergy destruction rate has a maximum fraction of input exergy values of 46.01% and 46.29% for Diesel and SBF20 respectively. The system engine sustainability index was in the range of 1.27 to 1.46, which is directly related to exergy efficiencies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy: Recent Technologies and Applications)
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Review

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27 pages, 1440 KiB  
Review
Research Trends and Future Direction for Utilization of Woody Biomass in Japan
by Junnan Zhou and Tomohiro Tabata
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 2205; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14052205 - 6 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1484
Abstract
After nearly a decade of rapid development, woody biomass has been widely used in Japan for power generation and heating. However, it has faced bottlenecks in recent years, leading to a decline in its popularity. This study aimed to elucidate the current status [...] Read more.
After nearly a decade of rapid development, woody biomass has been widely used in Japan for power generation and heating. However, it has faced bottlenecks in recent years, leading to a decline in its popularity. This study aimed to elucidate the current status of woody biomass utilization in Japan by reviewing relevant research papers on upstream resource supply and downstream case studies in the supply chain. The supply potential of woody biomass estimated by reviewed articles ranges from 1.2 to 5.5 m3/year/ha, yet a significant portion of this potential cannot be exploited. The utilization of government subsidies, mechanization, and aggregated forests can substantially enhance the availability. The utilization of woody biomass has garnered widespread attention from the Japanese government and private enterprises, presenting an economic impact ranging from 66 to 249 million JPY/t, along with a GHG emission reduction spanning from −17.29 to 202.44 kg-CO2eq/GJ. However, balancing cost and scale remains the primary challenge facing woody biomass utilization in Japan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy: Recent Technologies and Applications)
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