Unit-5 (RER)

Bio-mass: Availability of bio-mass and its conversion theory. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
(OTEC): Availability, theory and working principle, performance and limitations.Wave and Tidal
Wave: Principle of working, performance and limitations. Waste Recycling Plants.

Biomass: Biomass Plant is a kind of renewable, eco-friendly, abundant, and clean energy.
The utilization of plant biomass can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve the problem
of environmental pollution. Most agriculture, forestry, and food wastes contain ligno-
cellulosic resources.

Most electricity generated from biomass is produced by direct combustion. Biomass is

burned in a boiler to produce high-pressure steam. This steam flows over a series of turbine
blades, causing them to rotate. The rotation of the turbine drives a generator, producing
electricity.

Biomass heating systems burn wood pellets, chips or logs to provide warmth in a single room
or to power central heating and hot water boilers. A stove burns logs or pellets to heat a
single room – and may be fitted with a back boiler to provide water heating as well.

Types of Biomass:

 Biomass Feedstocks
 Dedicated Energy Crops
 Agricultural Crop Residue
 Forestry Residues
 Algae
 Wood Processing Residues
 Sorted Municipal Waste
 Wet Waste

The operation of a biomass plant

A biomass power plant produces electricity from the steam that is released during the
combustion of plant or animal matter in a combustion chamber. This process is done in
several steps:

1. Combustion: The biomass is burned in a combustion chamber.

2. Steam production: The biomass releases heat that heats water in a boiler. The water is
transformed into steam, which is sent under pressure to turbines.

3. Electricity production: The steam turns a turbine which in turn drives an alternator.
Thanks to the energy supplied by the turbine, the alternator produces an alternating electric
current. A transformer raises the voltage of the electric current produced by the alternator so
that it can be more easily transported in medium and high voltage lines.

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4. Recycling: At the exit of the turbine, part of the steam is recovered to be used for heating.
This is called cogeneration.

Different mechanisms allow creating energy with biomass:

1. Combustion of raw material:

This is the most frequently adopted method. It relies on the combustion of raw material,
such as wood, in order to create steam, which is necessary for the turbine to function.

One detail is particularly pointed out by environmental associations: deforestation.

Wood being the main material consumed by biomass power plants, the increasing presence of
this mode of energy production will potentially cause a need in trees more and more
important. It will be necessary to be careful that the exploitation of the resources is not too
intensive.
Example of use: from residue of sugar cane production: bagasse. This form of biomass is
used instead of coal to fuel thermal power plants. This practice allows to use the natural
resources of the islands in the DROM-COM (Reunion, Guadeloupe, ...).

2. Gasification:
This is an innovative alternative that consists, through a thermochemical process, of
transforming solid biomass into combustible gas that can be used in multiple ways. With this
process, the raw material is transformed into a gas, which will then be used as fuel.

Example of use: Gasification can create a biogas, for example thanks to hemp. Gasification is
a high-temperature thermo-chemical process (between 800°C and 1400°C) that can be used
for various inputs such as dry biomass, solid recovered fuels or wood waste. Hemp can
therefore be used in this process.

Similarly, there is an association in Japan called HySTRA, which aims to develop a reliable
and economical hydrogen supply network. Thanks to this association, a terminal for
unloading this fuel is being built in Japan, and a lignite gasification plant is also being built in
Australia.

3. Methanization:
The methanization process is sometimes used by biomass power plants. In this case, the
organic materials used, such as household waste, paper, cardboard or manure, are not burned,
but fermented.

Example of use: Methanization will create a biogas used for the operation of cars and trucks.
It is a technique in full expansion! The number of methanization sites injecting biogas into
the gas networks has largely increased in 2020. As of December 31, 2020, France had 214
biogas plants.

A national information portal for the general public dedicated to methanization has recently
been created. Called MéthaFrance, its objective is to provide educational answers to
questions that French people may have about the development of methanization in our
territories.

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 Schematic layout of a typical biomass pelleting plant
In a direct combustion system, biomass is burned in a combustor or furnace to generate hot
gas, which is fed into a boiler to generate steam, which is expanded through a steam turbine
or steam engine to produce mechanical or electrical energy.

Direct combustion systems feed a biomass feedstock into a combustor or furnace, where the
biomass is burned with excess air to heat water in a boiler to create steam. Instead of direct
combustion, some developing technologies gasify the biomass to produce a combustible gas,
and others produce pyrolysis oils that can be used to replace liquid fuels. Boiler fuel can
include wood chips, pellets, sawdust, or bio-oil. Steam from the boiler is then expanded
through a steam turbine, which spins to run a generator and produce electricity.

In general, all biomass systems require fuel storage space and some type of fuel handling
equipment and controls. A system using wood chips, sawdust, or pellets typically use a
bunker or silo for short-term storage and an outside fuel yard for larger storage. An
automated control system conveys the fuel from the outside storage area using some
combination of cranes, stackers, reclaimers, front-end loaders, belts, augers, and pneumatic
transport. Manual equipment, like front loaders, can be used to transfer biomass from the
piles to the bunkers, but this method will incur significant cost in labor and equipment
operations and maintenance (O&M). A less labor-intensive option is to use automated

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stackers to build the piles and reclaimers to move chips from the piles to the chip bunker or
silo.

Availability of Biomass:

Biomasses resources that are available on a renewable basis and are used either directly as a
fuel or converted to another form or energy product are commonly referred to as
“feedstocks.”

The global domestic supply of biomass was 56.9 EJ. Eighty-five percent of the domestic supply
was from solid biomass sources, including conventional biomass sources, wood chips, and wood
pellets. Liquid biofuels accounted for 8%, while the municipal and industrial waste sector
accounted for 5% and biogas for 2%.

As of March 2022, India's potential for renewable energy generation was estimated at around
1,490,727 MW, including contributions from solar (748,990 MW), wind (695,509 MW),
hydro (21,134 MW), biomass (17,538 MW), bagasse (5,000 MW), and waste-to-energy
(2,556 MW).

Environmental Benefits:

Forest health Reduce wildfire riskReduced mortality due to insect and diseaseRecovery of
degraded landA primary reason for the recent high incidence of wildfires is the over
abundance of available fuel wood. At the forest level, the use of biomass for bio-based
products may help decrease the risk of wildfires. Creating a healthier forest by removing
brush, small diameter trees, damaged trees, and other fuel sources can lessen the possibility
of large, high intensity wildfires as well as mortality caused by insect and disease (see the
Healthy Forests Initiative). A healthier forest can also support a larger diversity of wildlife.
The use of sustainable forest biomass for bioenergy and bio-based products will benefit
forests, wildlife, and humanity.

Reduced greenhouse gas emissionsThe global climate change agenda is a promising new
platform whereby renewable technologies can receive support to gain new markets. Images
of the Arctic Sea show that the ice boundary has shrunk significantly since In this context,
bioenergy is an attractive alternative to help reduce fossil fuel use. The need for renewable
energy alternatives to mitigate climate change, the possibility to produce biomass resources
on a sustainable basis, the opportunity to address rural socio-economic problems by
promoting bioenergy, and the restructuring of energy markets favoring small-scale
decentralized generation are some of the factors that make bioenergy options particularly
interesting in many countries. Besides being renewable, bioenergy can bring about other
environmental benefits including the recovery of degraded land, reduction of soil erosion, and
protection of watersheds.

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 Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
systems use a temperature difference (of at least 20° Celsius or 36° Fahrenheit) to power a
turbine to produce electricity. Warm surface water is pumped through an evaporator
containing a working fluid. The vaporized fluid drives a turbine/generator.

An expert appraisal committee of the Union environment ministry has given nod for
Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) to build world's first Ocean
Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)-powered desalination plant at Kavaratti Island in
Lakshadweep.

Benefits and Opportunities of OTEC

 Security. OTEC offers the opportunity of tapping an immense energy resource that is not
controlled by other nations.
 Renewable. Believed to be sustainable at four or more times current total global electrical
energy production.
 Low Risk. Conventional Closed Cycle OTEC is a low-risk.

OTEC plants can be either land-based, shelf-based, or floating, and they come in three main
types: closed-cycle, open-cycle, and hybrid. OTEC has several potential benefits, including
zero emissions, and is a scalable, versatile, and stable energy source.

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is a process or technology for producing energy by
harnessing the temperature differences (thermal gradients) between ocean surface waters and
deep ocean waters.

Energy from the sun heats the surface water of the ocean. In tropical regions, surface water
can be much warmer than deep water. This temperature difference can be used to produce
electricity and to desalinate ocean water. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
systems use a temperature difference (of at least 20° Celsius or 36° Fahrenheit) to power a
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turbine to produce electricity. Warm surface water is pumped through an evaporator
containing a working fluid. The vaporized fluid drives a turbine/generator. The vaporized
fluid is turned back to a liquid in a condenser cooled with cold ocean water pumped from
deeper in the ocean. OTEC systems using seawater as the working fluid can use the
condensed water to produce desalinated water.

The United States became involved in OTEC research in 1974 with the establishment of
the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. The laboratory is one of the world's
leading test facilities for OTEC technology. The laboratory operated a 250 kilowatt (kW)
demonstration OTEC plant for six years in the 1990s. The United States Navy supported the
development of a 105 kW demonstration OTEC plant at the laboratory site. This facility
became operational in 2015 and supplies electricity to the local electricity grid.

Other larger OTEC systems are in development or planned in several countries, mostly to
supply electricity and desalinated water for island communities.

It is a unique form of clean energy generation that has the potential to provide a consistent
and sustainable source of power. Although it has challenges to overcome, OTEC has the
potential to provide a consistent and sustainable source of clean energy, particularly in
tropical regions with access to deep ocean water.

The tropics between the latitude lines of the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
The tropics include the Equator and parts of North America, South America, Africa, Asia,
and Australia. The tropics account for 36 percent of Earth's landmass and are home to about a
third of the world's people.

Performance and limitations of OTEC Plant:

Since the temperature differential between the warm and cold ocean regions is only about
40°F, or 20°K, the theoretical maximum efficiency for OTEC is between 7 and 10 percent.
Once we factor in the inefficiencies of other system elements like pumps, piping systems,
turbines, etc.

The limiting (i.e., maximum) theoretical Carnot energy conversion efficiency of a cyclic heat
engine scales with the difference between the temperatures at which these heat transfers
occur. For OTEC, this difference is determined by Δ T and is very small; hence, OTEC
efficiency is low.

Low energy conversion efficiency is the biggest problem in the development of OTEC
technology. This is because the energy conversion efficiency of the OTEC technology is
limited by the small temperature difference between cold seawater and warm seawater.

Advantages:

The advantages of OTEC include being able to provide electricity on a continuous (non-
intermittent) basis, while also providing cooling without electricity consumption. The
technological challenge is that the small temperature difference requires very large volumes
of water at minimum pressure losses.

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Wave and Tidal Wave:
Energy is required for the evolution of life forms on earth. However, a significant portion of
the energy which we use today is obtained from non-renewable sources. This implies that
once they are used up, they cannot be replenished. The most important source of non-
renewable energy used extensively is fossil fuels which have taken millions of years to be
formed. Thus, it is important to use them judiciously. This requires us to look for alternate
sources. We know that energy exists in different forms in nature and that it cannot be created
or destroyed. But it can be transferred from one form to another. The energy from nature- the
sun, the wind, waves, tides, etc. can be converted into a usable form. One of these renewable
sources of energy is tidal energy.

The gravitational forces of the sun and the moon combined with the rotation of the earth
result in an alternate rise and fall of the sea levels. In one particular place, it usually occurs
twice on a lunar day. The rise of the sea level is called the high tide, whereas the fall is called
the low tide. When the earth and moon’s gravitational field is in a straight line, the influences
of these two fields become very strong and cause millions of gallons of water to flow towards
the shore resulting in the high tide condition. Likewise, when the moon and earth’s
gravitational fields are perpendicular to each other, the influences of these fields become
weak, causing the water to flow away from the shore resulting in a low tide condition.
When the moon is perfectly aligned with the earth and the sun, the gravitational pull of the
sun and the moon on the earth becomes much stronger and the high tides much higher and the
low tides much lower during each tidal cycle. This condition occurs during the full or new
moon phase. Such tides are known as spring tides. Similarly, another tidal situation emerges
when the gravitational pull of the moon and sun are against each other cancelling their
effects. This results in a smaller difference between the low and high tides due to the smaller

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pulling action on the seawater, thereby resulting in weak tides. These weak tides are known
as neap tides. Neap tides occur during the quarter moon phase.

What Is Tidal Energy?

Tides are a regular phenomenon. They can be predicted over months and years in advance.
This is why the energy from this massive movement of water can be harnessed and converted
into a usable form of energy.

Tidal Energy Generator:

The energy obtained from the rise and fall of tides is called tidal energy.
Tidal barrages or dams are constructed across a narrow opening to the sea. Water rushes into
the dam when the sea level rises. This moves the blades of the turbines which are attached at
the opening of the dam. This results in the generation of electricity.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Tidal Energy:

Some advantages of tidal energy are:

 Environment-friendly
 A highly predictable energy source
 High energy density
 Operational and maintenance costs are low
 An inexhaustible source of energy
Some of the disadvantages of tidal energy are:

 High tidal power plant construction costs

 Negative influence on marine life forms
 Location limits
 The variable intensity of sea waves

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 Although not widely used, tidal energy has the potential for future electricity generation.
Among other sources of renewable energy, tidal energy has suffered due to the relatively high
cost and limited availability of sites for construction. However, due to the recent
technological developments indicating that the economic and environmental costs can be
brought down to competitive levels, there seems to be a bright future for tidal energy
generation.
Waste Recycling:
Waste recycling refers to the process of reusing materials to create new products in order to
reduce the consumption of raw materials, and it has become a priority in modern waste
management.
Not only can it help reduce your carbon footprint, but it also helps reduce the need for
harvesting raw materials, saves energy, reduces greenhouse gases, prevents pollution, and
more. By improving our recycling habits, we can help keep the environment clean and
preserve our natural resources.
By adopting the five methods of recycling - paper, plastic, glass, metal, and organic waste
recycling - we can collectively make a significant positive impact on the environment and
preserve natural resources for future generations.
Ways to reuse:
1. Donate items that are still in a good, usable condition to charities or charity shops.
2. Repurpose glass, plastic and cardboard containers to give them another life.
3. Carry a re-usable shopping bag.
4. Re-use wrapping paper or gift bags.
5. Convert old clothing, towels or sheets into cleaning rags/cloths.
The basic phases in recycling are the collection of waste materials, their processing or
manufacture into new products, and the purchase of those products, which may then
themselves be recycled. Typical materials that are recycled include iron and steel scrap,
aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper, wood, and plastics.

Fig: Waste recycling Plants

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Recycling is simply the process of transforming discarded waste materials into useful or
usable products. It entails taking the core parts of an old product that would otherwise be
thrown away as trash, and turning them into raw materials for making new products.
The essence of recycling products is to protect the environment, save energy, and conserve
natural resources. It prevents wasting of useful materials and reduces the consumption of raw
materials further safeguarding the planet’s resources for future generations.
Recycling is a key component of waste reduction and it comes third in the
waste management hierarchy after “reducing” and “reusing”.

From saving more money to conserving energy, recycling comes with so many
environmental and economic benefits – it is not surprising that many businesses are now
jumping onto this bandwagon.

If you want to build a more sustainable business in 2021 and beyond, then you will have no
choice but to start recycling your commercial waste right away! You can start by consulting
with experienced waste control experts to learn how to go about it.

WHY IS RECYCLING IMPORTANT TO THE PLANET AND TO YOUR

BUSINESS?
Whether you are a business owner or a property manager, we are all ideally meant to act as
protectors of the environment everywhere.

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Our moral responsibility is not limited only to facilitate and grow our Businesses but also to
preserving and protecting the environment for future generations. Keeping up with this idea,
one of the most efficient ways to preserve our Planet is through Recycling.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF RECYCLING

Recycling waste materials offers numerous benefits to our health, wealth, and to the
environment. Embracing recycling as part of your Business culture will go a long way to
improve the overall performance of your Business and raise the reputation of your Brand.

Here are some of the top economic and environmental benefits of recycling:

1. AIDS IN THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Did you know recycling aids in the conservation of natural resources?

A report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that recycling one ton of
office paper can save up to 17 mature trees. Better, recycling the same amount of paper can
save up to 17,000 gallons of water.
Whether it is on a local or national scale, recycling helps conserve natural resources. We no
longer have to rely on cutting trees and extracting minerals to produce virgin raw materials.
Recycling allows you to reuse what you already have thus reducing the burden on natural
resources.

2. INCREASES ECONOMIC SECURITY THUS CREATING CONDUCIVE BUSINESS

ENVIRONMENT
Recycling not only serves to increase the economic security of the country but also creates a
stable and conducive environment for doing business. This is because businesses are able to
access a domestic source of raw materials instead of relying on imported supplies.

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Instead of disposing of your commercial waste materials, you should strongly consider
recycling to enjoy the financial gains that come with this waste management approach.

3. PREVENTS POLLUTION AT THE WORKPLACE SUBSEQUENTLY IMPROVING

PRODUCTIVITY
According to research, pollution coupled with poor air quality generally will affect the
productivity of the workforce. Labor is an essential part of any Business, but to make the
most out of your workforce, you must ensure that the environment in which they work is as
healthy as possible.

Recycling prevents pollution by reducing the need to process raw materials. It also reduces
carbon emissions and as a result, improves air quality. This goes a long way to improve
productivity.

4. SAVES ENERGY AND HELPS YOUR BUSINESS BECOME

MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
Producing goods using recycled materials saves energy compared to manufacturing products
using virgin raw materials. The same report by the EPA shows that recycling steel saves up to
74% of the energy used to produce steel from virgin ore while recycling paper can save up to
60% of the energy used to produce paper from virgin pulp.

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Many businesses out there are struggling to become environmentally sustainable by 2021 and
beyond. Fortunately, this does not have to be you. By joining the recycling bandwagon, you
can start your journey toward environmental sustainability.

5. REDUCES INCINERATION AND THE AMOUNT OF WASTE SENT TO LANDFILLS

Gone are the days when incineration was the main method of waste management. Burning
your trash not only harms the environment but also leads to wastage of resources.
Incineration also affects ecosystems and destroys natural habitats.

By adopting recycling as your main waste management solution, you will preserve the
environment and reduce the amount of garbage contributing to fill up landfills.

6. CREATES JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND GENERATES MORE REVENUE FOR YOUR

BUSINESS
Did you know that recycling creates job opportunities?

According to the Institute of Local Self Reliance, recycling 10,000 tons of waste can create
jobs for up to 36 people as compared to sending waste to landfills, which only creates 6 jobs.

If you look at the bigger picture, recycling opens up more opportunities in the manufacturing
industry given that it is a labor-intensive process. You will have to hire people to collect, sort,
and process the different recyclable items.

Recycling, as a waste management solution, can also create more revenue for your business.
You can recycle some of your old, but reusable products and sell them for a profit which
would otherwise end up being scraps.

7. RECYCLING GUARANTEES CHEAPER AND MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF

MATERIALS
You should have already noticed by now that using Recycled materials will save money.
Recycled materials are very low in cost, and it is cheaper to manufacture products using
recycled materials. Besides, it guarantees a more effective and efficient use of the raw
materials if everyone believes that whichever product they are using at present can be
recycled in the future.

What is even more intriguing, is that you can recycle almost everything, from glass to plastic
to wood. This calls for more prudent use of materials to maintain the core supply stream of
these recyclables.

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8. REDUCES GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS AND LOWERS YOUR CARBON
FOOTPRINT
With all the talk about climate change and global warming quickly gaining traction, recycling
is increasingly becoming the focal point in all these discussions.

“When you put the whole picture together, recycling is the right thing to do.” – Pam
Shoemaker

Recycling can greatly minimize carbon emissions or greenhouse gases since lesser waste
ends up in landfills or incinerators. Moreover, lowering your carbon footprint is an important
step toward building a more environmentally sustainable business.

9. RECYCLING REDUCES THE NEED TO EXTRACT RAW MATERIALS

Why should you go through all the trouble of mining and extracting raw materials when you
can use what you already have?

Recycling means we need fewer resources from nature. You no longer have to cut down a
tree or mine aluminum ore to manufacture the products you want. Conserving the planet’s
resources makes the world a better place to live in and keep doing business.

10. RECYCLING REDUCES CONTAMINATION OF WATER

Whoever said, “water is life” was probably a genius. Unfortunately, how we handle our waste
product determines the quality of water we consume. If you dispose of waste in landfills and
garbage sites, there is a high chance that it might find its way to our water wells and water
supplies.

Recycling reduces the likelihood of contaminating our drinking water since in this process
none or very little waste goes to landfills and garbage sites.

11. RECYCLING ACCELERATES INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENTS AND

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
Many businesses are feeling the pressure of going green and embracing more ec0-
friendly Business practices. However, this has turned out to be a good development since it
means businesses have to search for innovative ways to keep up with modern times and
incorporate recycling patterns.

12. KEEPS WASTE COLLECTION DOWN THUS SAVING MORE MONEY

One of the probable reasons why you are searching for a waste management solution in the
first place is because of the outrageous bills you have to pay every month to address this
matter. Well, by recycling your waste, you no longer have to worry about garbage collection
costs and other related charges.

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13. IMPROVES THE REPUTATION OF YOUR BUSINESS
Brand awareness is not just about digital marketing campaigns and advertising. You can
promote your brand and improve your reputation by engaging in eco-friendly practices like
recycling waste.

Besides, as mentioned earlier, consumers prefer buying products from sustainable brands that
support eco-friendly activities.

14. RECYCLING CREATES NEW DEMAND FOR PRODUCTS

You might not know this, but recycling indirectly creates new demand for recycled products.
By developing a routine or culture of recycling your waste, you will always want to buy
recycled products.

Many businesses rely on recycled materials since they are cheaper and readily available
domestically.

15. GUARANTEES AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Recycling waste is all about safeguarding the future for those who will come after us. It
reduces all the waste accumulating in landfills, preserves the environment, and protects our
health. By embracing this approach early, we shall be able to guarantee an
environmentally sustainable future for generations to come.

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” –
Native American Proverb

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