3 CHAPTER THREE
BIOMASS
3.1 Introduction
Definition
-Biomass fuel is a combustible and/or fermentable material of vegetable origin. For
example wood, charcoal, corn cobs, cotton stalks, rice husks etc.
-According to the methods of their production, biomass can be classified in the following groups.
1. Forestry and Agro-forestry
2. Energy crops
3. Agricultural Residues
3. Food Crop Wastes
4. Household and Municipal Wastes
5. Others e.g. peat.
3.2 Properties of biomass fuel
The main contents of a biomass fuel are water, minerals ((Ashes), hydrogen, carbon, oxygen.
Proximate analysis: Ash, Volatile matter, Moisture, Fixed carbon
Ultimate analysis:
Raw basis: C+H+O+W+A+S+N=100%
Dry basis: C+H+O+A+S+N=100%
Waf basis: C+H+O+S+N=100%
3.3 Forestry and agro-forestry
3.3.1. Introduction
There are two aspects of the scheme which can allow for earlier impact on the wood resource
base.
1. Clearing of natural forests, biomass can serve as a source of wood fuel from the
inception of the replanting process. Typically for every 1 hectare cleared for
replanting, 100 tonnes of woody biomass will become available to service demand.
2. Thinning during the course of rotation cycle can be practised.
3.3.2. Peri-urban plantation
This means rededication of lands surrounding towns and cities from current usage patterns to
wood production
3.3.3. Industrial Forests
24
,Agricultural land that is not used for growing crops can be dedicated to fuel wood production to
service the requirements of large industrial concerns. The sugar, tea, coffee, and tobacco
industries, especially use substantial amounts of wood for their processing requirements.
3.3.4. Natural Forest Management
Natural forests near centres of population can be managed and thinned for firewood to help meet
the requirements of the local population. Even in remote forest areas the wood resources could
be transported as charcoal or wood to centres of population.
3.4 Agricultural residues
3.4.1. Crop and food wastes as sources of energy
The use of Agricultural residues as fuel is not new. As many as 800 million people now rely on
residues as their principal cooking fuel. The most widespread use of Agricultural residues being
in the densely populated plains of Northern India and Bangladesh. Here dung and crop residues
are the major domestic fuel, providing as much as 90% of household energy in many villages
and considerable production in urban areas too.
3.4.2. The availability of agricultural residues
In most farming systems, the amount of agricultural waste produced each year is surprisingly
large (Table 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3).
Table 3.1: Cereal residues production in developing countries
Average yield Relative residue product per
Crop Tonnes/ha/year unit Crop yield
Rice 2.5 2
Wheat 1.5 1.8
Maize 1.7 2.5
Sorghum 1 2.5
Barley 2 1.8
Millet 0.6 2
Table 3.2: Estimates of food processing wastes In developing countries
Approximate Energy
Present level
Product Content million
of energy use
GJ/year
Sugar bagasse 1060 High
Rice husks 790 Low
Coconut husk 185 Low
Cotton husk 110 High
Groundnut shells 100 High
25
, Coffee husk 35 Low
Table 3.3. Manure production by domesticated animals
Animals Manure productions tonnes/head/year
Cattle, buffalo, 1
Camel, 0.75
Horses, donkey, asses, 0.15
Pigs, sheep, goats,
poultry 0.005
Healthy animals, for example, produce four to five times their own weight in dry dung each year.
Though rarely considered, dung and crop residues are a major resource, often constituting the
largest single component in biomass production at the village level.
Viewed purely as a fuel source, there is a substantial amount. If all of it were available for energy
purposes, and could be effectively used, a green humus residue production would be more than
enough to satisfy all rural domestic needs in most countries.
3.4.3. The properties of Agricultural Residues
The five major categories of Agricultural Residue are:
1. Woody crop residues -coconut stalks, jute sticks etc.
2. Cereal residues -rice and wheat straw, maize stalks
3. Green crop residues -groundnut straw, Soya bean tops etc.
4. Crop Processing residues -rice husks, groundnut shells etc. bagasse and coffee husks.
5. Animal dung
Woody crop residues make the best cooking fuels since they burn well. Most other crop residues
make much poorer fuels. Cereal straws and lightweight crop stalks burn too quickly, they are
difficult and bulky to store thus though they are produced in large quantities they are rarely used
for fuel unless firewood is very scarce. However when specially treated, e.g., briquetting, they
can produce big portion of rural Energy.
Dung is a relatively good cooking fuel. When dried, it losses its smell, is easy to store and burns
with a steady flame. Its major problem is that it produces a lot of smoke, that can be irritating for
eyes and lungs, and if breathed in large quantities, probably very unhealthy.
3.4.4. Problems associated with agricultural residues as source of energy
26
BIOMASS
3.1 Introduction
Definition
-Biomass fuel is a combustible and/or fermentable material of vegetable origin. For
example wood, charcoal, corn cobs, cotton stalks, rice husks etc.
-According to the methods of their production, biomass can be classified in the following groups.
1. Forestry and Agro-forestry
2. Energy crops
3. Agricultural Residues
3. Food Crop Wastes
4. Household and Municipal Wastes
5. Others e.g. peat.
3.2 Properties of biomass fuel
The main contents of a biomass fuel are water, minerals ((Ashes), hydrogen, carbon, oxygen.
Proximate analysis: Ash, Volatile matter, Moisture, Fixed carbon
Ultimate analysis:
Raw basis: C+H+O+W+A+S+N=100%
Dry basis: C+H+O+A+S+N=100%
Waf basis: C+H+O+S+N=100%
3.3 Forestry and agro-forestry
3.3.1. Introduction
There are two aspects of the scheme which can allow for earlier impact on the wood resource
base.
1. Clearing of natural forests, biomass can serve as a source of wood fuel from the
inception of the replanting process. Typically for every 1 hectare cleared for
replanting, 100 tonnes of woody biomass will become available to service demand.
2. Thinning during the course of rotation cycle can be practised.
3.3.2. Peri-urban plantation
This means rededication of lands surrounding towns and cities from current usage patterns to
wood production
3.3.3. Industrial Forests
24
,Agricultural land that is not used for growing crops can be dedicated to fuel wood production to
service the requirements of large industrial concerns. The sugar, tea, coffee, and tobacco
industries, especially use substantial amounts of wood for their processing requirements.
3.3.4. Natural Forest Management
Natural forests near centres of population can be managed and thinned for firewood to help meet
the requirements of the local population. Even in remote forest areas the wood resources could
be transported as charcoal or wood to centres of population.
3.4 Agricultural residues
3.4.1. Crop and food wastes as sources of energy
The use of Agricultural residues as fuel is not new. As many as 800 million people now rely on
residues as their principal cooking fuel. The most widespread use of Agricultural residues being
in the densely populated plains of Northern India and Bangladesh. Here dung and crop residues
are the major domestic fuel, providing as much as 90% of household energy in many villages
and considerable production in urban areas too.
3.4.2. The availability of agricultural residues
In most farming systems, the amount of agricultural waste produced each year is surprisingly
large (Table 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3).
Table 3.1: Cereal residues production in developing countries
Average yield Relative residue product per
Crop Tonnes/ha/year unit Crop yield
Rice 2.5 2
Wheat 1.5 1.8
Maize 1.7 2.5
Sorghum 1 2.5
Barley 2 1.8
Millet 0.6 2
Table 3.2: Estimates of food processing wastes In developing countries
Approximate Energy
Present level
Product Content million
of energy use
GJ/year
Sugar bagasse 1060 High
Rice husks 790 Low
Coconut husk 185 Low
Cotton husk 110 High
Groundnut shells 100 High
25
, Coffee husk 35 Low
Table 3.3. Manure production by domesticated animals
Animals Manure productions tonnes/head/year
Cattle, buffalo, 1
Camel, 0.75
Horses, donkey, asses, 0.15
Pigs, sheep, goats,
poultry 0.005
Healthy animals, for example, produce four to five times their own weight in dry dung each year.
Though rarely considered, dung and crop residues are a major resource, often constituting the
largest single component in biomass production at the village level.
Viewed purely as a fuel source, there is a substantial amount. If all of it were available for energy
purposes, and could be effectively used, a green humus residue production would be more than
enough to satisfy all rural domestic needs in most countries.
3.4.3. The properties of Agricultural Residues
The five major categories of Agricultural Residue are:
1. Woody crop residues -coconut stalks, jute sticks etc.
2. Cereal residues -rice and wheat straw, maize stalks
3. Green crop residues -groundnut straw, Soya bean tops etc.
4. Crop Processing residues -rice husks, groundnut shells etc. bagasse and coffee husks.
5. Animal dung
Woody crop residues make the best cooking fuels since they burn well. Most other crop residues
make much poorer fuels. Cereal straws and lightweight crop stalks burn too quickly, they are
difficult and bulky to store thus though they are produced in large quantities they are rarely used
for fuel unless firewood is very scarce. However when specially treated, e.g., briquetting, they
can produce big portion of rural Energy.
Dung is a relatively good cooking fuel. When dried, it losses its smell, is easy to store and burns
with a steady flame. Its major problem is that it produces a lot of smoke, that can be irritating for
eyes and lungs, and if breathed in large quantities, probably very unhealthy.
3.4.4. Problems associated with agricultural residues as source of energy
26
