University of Montana BioEnergy Project

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University of Montana Bio-Energy Project
Energy Tech Practicum 8/4/2008
Brian Kerns University of Montana Alternative
Energy Research and Development brian.kerns_at_umonta
na.edu
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Biomass Project

• Sponsored by USDA
• 3 year project, begun 10/2006
• Utilizes Community Power Corp.s BioMax
  technology
• Custom-built portable trailer
• 500,000 for BioMax trailer
• Convert wood residue to
• Electricity
• Thermal (heat) energy

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Project Concept

• Is it economically viable to transport portable
  distributed energy generators into locations that
  are producing biomass residues?

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Downdraft Gasification

• 1st explored in late 1600s
• Used in WWII by Swedes Germans
• Updated technology
• Computerized
• Advanced process control
• Combined heat power
• Modular portable
• Scalable 5 50 kW

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Gasifier Schematic
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Gasifier Chemistry
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21st Century Gasification
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BioMax Fabrication
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BioMax Computer Control
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Versatile Process

• Feedstock
• ½ ton per day
• Density, size, H2O
• Wood Ag residues
• Producer Gas Output
• H2 20
• CO 20
• CH4 2
• CO2 7
• N2 balance
• Heating value 135 Btu/cf

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BioMax 25

• 25 kilowatts electrical
• 200,000 Btu/h heat
• Elec. heat energy for 15 avg. MT homes
• 50 lbs/hr wood chips
• 1,750 scf/h prod. gas
• Char/ash production 0.75 lbs/hr
• Soil amendment
• 70 overall efficiency

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Fuel Equivalents

• 1 hr operation 50 lb wood 400,000 Btu
• 3.3 gal gasoline
• 8 gal diesel
• 4.5 gal propane
• 2.9 gal crude oil
• 33.3 lbs coal
• 387.9 cubic feet natural gas

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BioMax Emissions

• Complies w/ CA air stds
• Lbs/kWh
• NOX 0.00065
• CO 0.0000295
• VOC 0.000031
• PM2-5 0.0003
• PM10 0.0000
• CO2 7.7260
• Hg 0.0000
• Pb 0.0000
• SO2 lt0.0030

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Rethinking Energy

• Energy conversion of local biomass residues
• Distributed energy system
• Renewable process/CO2 neutral
• Strategic planting of fuel substances
• Emergency/disaster mobilization
• Combined Heat Power better efficiency
• Next step Fischer-Tropsch liquid fuel