WELL TO WHEEL - A CASE STUDY OF USAGE OF BEEMA BAMBOO AS A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCE

摘要

The paper attempts to use a fuel species with focus on the Well to Wheel to connect fuel production to power generation. Bamboo is a member of the grass family Graminae and one of the fastest growing woody plant on the earth. Beema Bamboo a perennial non-flowering species ensures average sustained biomass yields 40 tons / acre/year from third year, for over a 50 year period cycle with 2000 mm irrigated condition with adequate nutrients. The paper presents the details on the bamboo cultivation with typical economics with the focus on power generation using bamboo as a fuel. Details about the plantation, support system and the yields are discussed. With the presence of ash in the form of silica, issues related to the thermos-chemical conversion process through gasification is addressed. Apart from easy to harvest and further preparation as a fuel for gasification in a fixed bed being simple the poly-generation aspect with the major focus on activated char as a byproduct is presented. Apart from the generation of fuel, the paper addresses the use of the fuel for power generation. Results from the tests carried at Indian Institute of Science for power generation using biomass gasification. With a gasification efficiency of 75 % at 250 kWth capacity gasification system, about 8 % char is extracted with the surface area in the range of 950 m~2/g is obtained. The reason for this high surface area is also addressed. The gas quality to address engine application is evaluated and the performance of a gas engine is reported.