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Grass and Wood Biomass Pellets for Home and Small Business
Grass and Wood Biomass Pellets for Home and Small Business Heating Paul Cerosaletti Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County “Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunity” Outline for Presentation • Why Biomass? • Why Pellet Fuels? • Available technologies for Biomass Pellet Heating • Experience with grass biomass pellets in the Delaware County Grass Bio-Energy project. • Resources for consumers Studies deem biofuels a greenhouse threat. Biofuels: Is the cure worse than the disease? Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Most articles admit that grasses and wood are not that bad. Why Biomass? The Carbon Cycle: Biomass vs. Fossil Fuels Image from Biomass Energy Resource Center Slides Courtesy of C. Miller and the Watershed Agricultural Council Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Life Cycle Analysis • A type of analysis that looks at all of the GHG emissions in a comprehensive manner including emissions from: – – – – – Production Processing Transport Consumption (burning) Everything in between! Greenhouse Gases Emissions (Canada) Source: Samson and Stamler, 2009; Going Green for Less: Cost Effective Alternative Energy Sources Life Cycle GHG emissions Samson et al., 2008 Residential heating requires 2x the energy consumption of residential transport. Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Greenhouse Gas Offset Efficiency Biomass averages well over 80% efficiency at offsetting GHG from fossil fuels! Source: Samson and Stamler, 2009; Going Green for Less: Cost Effective Alternative Energy Sources Potential NYS Biomass Land New Energy Net GHG Area out:in Benefit Fuel – Crop million ratio lbs C02 e/a 12 acres times the benefit Ethanol-corn Biodiesel-soybean Ethanol-grass Heat-corn Heat-reed canary Heat-switchgrass Heat-meadow 1.3 1.0 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.7 4.0 4.0 7.7 14 14 14 Data from: Peter Woodbury, Cornell Univ. 600 1000 1200 5000 7400 6800 4200 Combustion is a straightforward relatively efficient energy conversion process. The more efficient energy conversion is, the more environmental benefit. Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Benefits of Woody Biomass • Sustainable renewable fuel • Cost-effective waste management • Healthier forests • Local economic development • Keeping fuel $ local/regional • Price stability • Wide range of technology adapted for wood • Low carbon fuel = lessened GHG Slides Courtesy of C. Miller and the Watershed Agricultural Council Benefits of Grass Biomass • • • • • • Closed local energy loop High Energy efficiency Low net GHG production Annual carbon cycle Uses solar energy for drying biomass Benefits and fits with local farms – Infrastructure in place already to make hay • Keeps land in Agriculture and Open Space Why Biomass? Cost. Fuel Type Cost per unit Cost per million BTU Wood Pellets $250/ton $19.05 Grass Pellets $225/ton $17.59 Cord Wood $180/cord $13.85 Fuel Oil $2.70/gal $24.46 Natural Gas $1.48/therm $18.05 LP/Propane $2.19/gal $29.97 Coal $250/ton $10.90 12¢/kw $35.17 Electricity Fuel calculator available at www.pelletheat.org Why Pellet Fuels? Transportation More efficient combustion Densification – Pelleting, etc. Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University 15 9 Bulk volume (m3/ton) 1.7 Densification decreases: Densification increases: Transportation costs Storage problems Technical effort for conversion Technical effort to produce fuel Marketable area Feasibility of large scale combustion Combustion efficiency Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Why Pelleted Biomass? • Convenience for consumer: – Can be handled easily – and in bulk – Is not as messy as cord wood – Higher Efficiency of combustion and fewer emissions that cord wood stoves/furnaces in general. Bulk Pellet Delivery Why Pelleted Biomass? Stove Efficiency: Indoor Stove/furnace type # tested Emissions Efficiency Grams/hr Non Catalytic 513 63 4.47 Catalytic 266 72 3.05 Pellet 56 78 1.96 Source: US EPA Certified Wood Stoves May 22, 2009; Available at http://www.epa.gov/oecaerth/resources/publications/monitoring/caa/woodstoves/certifiedwood.pdf Biomass Pellet Furnaces: Low Emissions and Efficient too Outdoor Hydronic Furnace Manufacturer Model Efficiency Maxim 88-96% Central Boiler M250 KBP 270 72-78% Hardy WoodMaster AFS 900 NA Source: http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/owhhlist.html Emissions Grams/hr Annual avg. (Grms/hr/10,000 BTU output) 1.6 (0.07) 2.96 (0.23) 2.49 (0.27) Source: Air Emissions from Modern Wood Energy Systems. Available at: www.biomasscenter.org Another Advantage of Biomass Pellets: “…pellet storage poses no soil or water contamination risks. A spill requires a shovel….not a hazardous waste crew.” - Pellet Fuels Institute “Pellet Fuel: Future of American Energy” Biomass Pellet Combustion Technology Residential and Small Business Combustion technology No endorsement of one brand over another is implied. We will try however to share from our experiences as to what works and what does not, especially for grass biomass. Combustion Technology: • Indoor pellet stoves • Indoor pellet furnaces (hot air) • Indoor/Outdoor pellet hydronic “Boilers” • Not really boilers but water heaters Combustion technology • Most combustion units on the market have been developed for, and work well with wood pellets. • Some units are marketed for corn • A few are now developed for “biomass” What’s the difference? – What are the issues? 11 Lawn grass clippings Alfalfa hay or silage for cattle 10 Ash Content of the biomass and its “Function” 9 Grass silage for cattle 8 7 Straw (range of 5-11%) Grass hay for cattle 6 Perennial grass with fertility management 5 4 Perennial grass with fertility management and/or in-field leaching 3 Overwintered switchgrass 2 1 % Corn grain Short rotation willow Hardwoods Softwoods Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Biomass Pellet Combustion Issues • Combustion “Ease” – Wood Pellets < Corn < Grass pellets Gelatinization of Starch Melting of Ash Potential issues with grass combustion 1.Clinkering (melting of ash) 2.Corrosion potential 3.Convenience 4.Emissions Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Biomass Combustion Issues Nitrogen Possibility of NOx emissions. Potassium Contributes to corrosion and buildup. Contributes to particulate emissions. Chlorine Catalyzes corrosion and buildup. Contributes to particulate emissions. Possibility of dioxins and other toxics. For Grass: Minimize through fertilization & leaching. Sulfur Contributes to particulate emissions. Contributes to sulfate deposits. Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Basic Pellet Combustion Unit Principles Most all can feed pellets without difficulty. The melting point of biomass ash is exceeded, unless combustion is very closely controlled. The stove/Furnace must have an active mechanism to manage ash. Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Grass Pellet Combustion • Not all grass pellets are burning the same • We are learning that grass composition has an effect on combustion characteristics. • Some grass pellets have proven relatively trouble free; other more problematic • This is the “state of the science” that we are at Pellet Combustion Units • Will work well with wood pellets. • A few will work with grass pellets. • Some can handle a blend of wood and grass pellets. Pellet/Biomass Stoves Examples Harman PC 45 Corn/Pellet Stove Has worked with grass pellets Breckwell P2000FS Wood Pellet Stove and Standard burn pot that relies on air to remove ash. Will not work with high ash biomass. Pellet/Biomass Stoves Examples. Bixby Biomass Corn Stove Harman P68 Has worked with grass Inside of Bixby with burn pot removed Pellet Stove Example Paromax Europa 75 Burn pot creates “gasification” burn – more efficient and very low emissions. New design reported to work with grass – will be testing soon Quadrafire Mt. Vernon AE Pellet Stove Fireplace Insert and stand alone stoves Have been successfully burning grass pellets at Cornell Slide Courtesy of Dr. Jerry Cherney Cornell University Indoor Pellet Furnaces Harman PF100 Forced hot air pellet furnace Fahrenheit Technologies Endurance Pellet Furnace Outdoor Hydronic Pellet “Boilers” Hardy Boiler – 100,000 BTU Central Boiler Maxim M250 with Auxiliary Bin 250,000 BTU Prototype automated ash removal Outdoor Hydronic Pellet “Boilers” Woodmaster AFS 1100 (175,000 BTU) with 1.5 ton hopper and automated ash removal Woodmaster AFS 900 (100,000 BTU) in residential use Afton NY Successfully burned grass pellets Indoor Pellet Hydronic “Boilers” Harman PB 105 105,000 BTU Kunzel Pellet-One 35,000 and 70,000 BTU Germany Woodpecker – Ireland – 51,000 – 153,000 BTU Automated heat exchanger cleaning Indoor Hydronic Pellet Boilers Thermorossi from Italy Over 90% efficiency Self cleaning Brandelle boiler 92% efficiency Up to 10% ash Automatic cleaning and de‐ashing Local Experience – Indoor Hydronic Biomass Boiler Dave and Mary Dolan – Otego NY AquaTherm CB Boiler (by Verner - Czech) Burning wheat and grass pellets Pellet Stove/Furnace/Boiler Considerations • Stoves – Do you want to handle 40 lb bags? – Are they big enough to meet your heating expectations? – Least expensive route to get into using pellets – Consider stoves that have active mechanisms to manage ash and larger ash bin or are listed as “biomass” stoves. • See www.grassbioenergy.org Pellet Stove/Furnace/Boiler Considerations • Furnaces/Boilers – Outdoor boilers have high installation cost • $4,000 – 6,000+ not uncommon – Look for high efficiency. • Hydronic units usually have highest efficiency – Consider systems that can manage high ash fuels. – Consider systems that have easy manual or automated ash removal. Pellet Stove/Furnace/Boiler Considerations • Furnaces/Boilers – Consider location for bulk pellet storage. – Look for safety features that control burn back into pellet storage. – Look for Dealers that are interested and service oriented. Pellet furnaces are not as common as cord wood furnaces/boilers. The Catskill Grass Bio-Energy Project A joint project of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County and the Catskill Watershed Corporation Grass Bioenergy Project Objectives • Objectives – Help facilitate a local grass bioenergy loop; • Production to consumption – Assist local pelleter (EnviroEnergy LLC) in developing a consistent high quality grass pellet. – Work with farmers to produce desired feedstock; Grass Bioenergy Project Objectives • Objectives con’t – Create public awareness of grass bioenergy – Demonstrate, research, and gain experience using grass pellets in a variety of stoves and outdoor hydronic furnaces; – Examine potential economic and environmental impact; – Collaborate with Cornell University to advance this concept. Local Grass Pellets can be as good as Wood Pellets BTU content of selected grass and wood pellet samples 8000 7800 7600 7400 BTU/lb 7200 7000 6800 Selected Wood Pellet Brands 6600 1 EE Grass Pellets 2 3 4 Samples run at Twin Ports Testing, Superior WI EE Grass Pellets Selected Wood Pellet Brands Demonstration Sites • • • • • • • • Town of Franklin – Highway garage Town of Andes – Highway garage Town of Hunter – Town office and highway garage Town of Jewett – Highway garage (outdoor unit only) Margaretville - Brookside Hardware (outdoor boiler only) Olive Bridge - Ashokan Center (pellet stove only) Pine Hill – Pine Hill Community Center (pellet stove only) Delhi – 4-H Camp Shankitunk (pellet stove only) Demonstration Sites Franklin Jewett Hunter Brookside Andes Demonstration Sites Hunter Ashokan Center Delhi 4-H Camp Resources for Consumers Resources for Consumers • US EPA Burn Wise site – http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/ • Pellet Fuels Institute – http://www.pelletheat.org/ • A Consumer Guide to Pellet Stoves – http://www.woodpelletstoves.net/ • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning for Beginners (they rate appliances) – http://www.hvac-for-beginners.com/hvac-ratings.html • Biomass Energy Resource Center – http://www.biomasscenter.org/ Resources for Consumers: http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/ Resources for Consumers: Grass Bioenergy • Cornell grass bioenergy site – http://www.grassbioenergy.org/ • Resource Efficient Agricultural Production Canada – http://www.reap-canada.com/ • Biomass Energy Resource Center – grass biomass – http://www.biomasscenter.org/resources/factsheets/grass-energy.html Resources for Consumers: Grass Bioenergy The Delaware County Grass Bio-Energy Project Website: www.ccedelaware.org http://www.enviroenergyny.com/ Grass and Wood Biomass Pellets for Home and Small Business Heating Paul Cerosaletti Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County “Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunity”
