Solid Biomass: How Does it Generate Energy?

Solid biomass is material of recent biological origin. The list of solid biomass sources includes plant matter and other biodegradable wastes. It is used primarily as a combustible fuel. Solid biomass generates approximately 10-20 MJ/kg heat.

[br] Biomass may be used as a substitute for standard fossil fuels. It is an environment friendly. Solid biomass is a sustainable resource.

The most common form of solid biomass is wood fuel. Unused crops from fields are also used to generate energy. Municipal solid waste is also used as a feed source. Some crops are planted and grown expressly for the purpose. Cow dung is also included in the solid biomass list. The energies contained in the substrate are released through various processes like simple combustion and bioreactors.

Solid biomass is used to generate power and heat. A common example is the burning of wood. The wood burning process existed from ancient times. Human beings have employed wood fires to cook their food.

[br]The internal dwelling environment is also heated by burning wood in colder countries. Other organic materials suitable for burning include wheat chaff, corn cobs, and sugar cane residue.

Trees like willow and poplar are also popular as solid biomass fuel. Forest biomass includes mill residues, logging residues, commercial thinning of forestland, pre-commercial thinning of a forested area, and even urban food waste.

A typical generator using solid biomass as a fuel source employs direct combustion boilers complemented by steam turbines. A chamber for biomass combustion is present in the machine. The equipment within the chamber distributes biomass in a standard manner over a grate that separates the burning biomass from the ash that is formed after burning. Heat thus produced creates steam in a high pressure water tube boiler within the machine. The steam is passed through a multistage steam turbine.