2011 International Conference on Alternative Energy in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies
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Fig. 2. Biomass conversion process network.
E. Energy Potential
Energy potential from unused agro residue can be
determined by multiplying the net supply potential of
agricultural residue with lower heating value. Every
type of biomass is having different lower heating
value and same is used herewith for estimation of
energy potential as Equation 1. [6]
¦
u
u
n
i
c
i
i
ep
n
LHV MA
Q
1
(1)
Where Q
ep
= Energy Potential (MJ/Year)
MA
i
= Amount of Agricultural residue for category A
i
(kg/year)
LHV
i
= Lower Heating value in (MJ /kg) of air-dry
biomass.
n
c
= Conversion efficiency
III. R
ESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A. Potential of Agro Residue
The geographical area of Punjab is 5.36 million
hectare (ha) having 17 districts and 137 blocks.
Unused Agricultural Biomass (Net Available
Potential) can be calculated by subtracting current
utilization of biomass from net supply potential. It is
well known that some quantity of biomass has
already been used for bedding & fodder for animals,
heating, cooking and domestic purposes in the
villages. The farmers burned the remaining part of
the biomass in the field itself. The quantity of burned
biomass will be considered as net available potential
of biomass or unused biomass for energy generation.
The availability of agro residue in 32 taluks is
presented as Table 2. The data about the available
quantities were obtained by the opinions of the local
farmers, mill owners, Punjab statistical office and
study conducted by Punjab energy Development
Agency.
B. Approximate and Ultimate Analysis of Samples
Twelve samples of agro residue have collected and
its ultimate and proximate analysis has been
conducted to generate vital data for the future
standardization of biomass conversion technology
.The results of proximate and ultimate analysis has
shown as per Table 3 and 4 respectively. It is
observed that calorific value and carbon content of all
agro residues is in the range of 4000 kcal/kg and 40%
by weight respectively. Moisture contents are within
limits of 10% and sulphur contents are very low.
From the proximate and ultimate data analysis the
agro residue appears to be quite promising for the
production of electricity and at the same time open
burning menace of residue can be stopped which
produces lot of pollution in state.
D. Energy Potential
The total theoretical energy potential of biomass
was estimated for all the seventeen districts and
presented in Figure 4. The maximum energy potential
covers Sangrur and Ferozpur district. Minimum
energy potential is observed in Nawan Shahar, Ropar,
Faridkot & Mansa district. The maximum energy
potential in the prominent districts of state indicates
that the availability of Agro residues in the respective
districts is rich. Main crops sowing in the respective
districts are Paddy, Sunflower, Sugarcane etc, which
are having maximum calorific value. The data
evaluated and presented in Table 3 and 4 is very
important in order to standardize the performance of
technology for biomass conversion into useful energy
by thermo chemical conversion process.
IV. C
ONCLUSION
By burning the agro residue in fields, wealth is being
wasted and pollution is being increased which is
causing severe human and animal diseases. Total
22.65 million tones agro residue and agro industrial/
processing waste is produced annually in Punjab
state; some part of this is used locally for fuel,
fodder, thatching and for agro industrial uses, some
part is kept as surplus for long term use and the rest is
burned in the fields . Estimated power generating
potential from biomass data collected across 36
SOLID LIQUID
GASEOUS FUEL
PRODUCER GAS
HEAT
ENERGY
PYROLYSIS
GASIFICATION
COMBUSTION
BIOGAS
ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION
ETHYL ALCOHAL
FERMENTATION
BIOCHEMICAL
CONVERSION PROCESS
THERMOCHEMICAL
CONVERSION PROCESS
BIODIESEL
TRANSESTERIFICATION
CHEMICAL CONVERSION
PLANT OILS
OIL SEEDS
LINGOCELLULOSIC MATERIALS
BIOMASS (COMPOUNDS OF CARBON, HYDROGEN & OXYGEN)
