UNIVERSITY of CALGARY Biomass Energy for Rural Electrification
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UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Biomass Energy for Rural Electrification: An Analysis of Small Scale Implementations by Ganesh H D Doluweerawatta Gamage A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING CALGARY, ALBERTA September, 2006 © Ganesh H D Doluweerawatta Gamage 2006 UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES The undersigned certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for acceptance, a thesis entitled " Biomass Energy for Rural Electrification: An Analysis of Small Scale Implementations" submitted by Ganesh H D Doluweerawatta Gamage in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science. Supervisor, Dr. Dave Irvine-Halliday Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Ed P. Nowicki Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. William D. Rosehart Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Owen R. Fauvel Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering _________________________ Date ii Abstract Lack of access to electrical energy sources is a barrier for development in the rural sector in developing countries. Escalating costs of fossil energy resources and increasing concerned on environmental pollution caused by fossil energy burning make rural electrification a challenge. Biomass energy is an alternative source for electrical power generation for rural electrification in developing countries. With short rotation forestry techniques and energy conversion technologies such as modern gasification and pyrolysis techniques, biomass energy is a sustainable electrical power source for rural communities in developing countries. An analysis of village scale biomass energy system implementations is presented in this thesis. System economics, greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits and barriers to implement biomass energy systems were analysed in this research work. iii Acknowledgements Firstly, I convey my sincere thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Dave Irvine-Halliday for the guidance, advice, encouragement and support given not only in the preparation of this thesis, but also in all the endeavours in the course of my studies at the University of Calgary. I wish to thank Dr. Ray Wijewardene for his inspiration and guidance and I am grateful for his mentorship and friendship. I would like to thank Mr. Lalith Seneviratne and Dr. Priyantha Wijayatunga for all the support given for this study. I would like to thank Mr. Ajith Sandanayake and the executives of the Endagalayaya United Solar Energy Preservation Society for their valuable support in my field surveys. I also thank Rodolfo Peon and Rashaad Sader for their support for this work. Special thank goes to Dr. Ed Nowicki for his support particularly in fulfilling my teaching assistantship duties. I also want to thank the technical staff of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for their help in many ways. I wish to thank my friends, Arjuna, Achala, Thushara, Sidantha, Chamika, Kasun and others for all the help throughout my stay in Calgary. Finally, I am deeply grateful to my parents, to my wife Yamuni and my sister Anjana who supported and encouraged me throughout the years. This thesis was made possible due to a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada and a Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantship at the University of Calgary. iv Dedication To, Dr. Ray Wijewardene, Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka v Table of Contents Approval Page..................................................................................................................... ii Abstract.............................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgements............................................................................................................ iv Dedication............................................................................................................................v Table of Contents...............................................................................................................vi List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures......................................................................................................................x List of Equations............................................................................................................... xii List of Symbols and Abbreviations.................................................................................. xiii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION..................................................................................1 1.1 Electricity and human development ..........................................................................1 1.2 Status of rural electrification in developing countries...............................................2 1.3 Attempts for rural electrification ...............................................................................4 1.4 Biomass energy for rural electrification ....................................................................5 1.5 Contribution in this thesis..........................................................................................6 1.5.1 Methodology used .............................................................................................7 1.5.2 Layout of this thesis...........................................................................................8 CHAPTER TWO: ASSESSMENT OF BIOMASS RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION.........................................10 2.1 Biomass resources....................................................................................................10 2.1.1 Residues...........................................................................................................11 2.1.2 Biomass from existing forests .........................................................................13 2.1.3 Dedicated energy plantations ..........................................................................13 2.2 Technology for electricity production from biomass ..............................................18 2.2.1 Biomass gasification........................................................................................18 2.2.1.1 Gasification process...............................................................................19 2.2.1.2 Gasifier types .........................................................................................22 2.2.1.3 Prime movers to generate electricity using producer gas ......................28 2.2.2 Electricity generation through combustion and steam turbines ......................31 2.3 Summary..................................................................................................................32 CHAPTER THREE: CASE STUDIES..............................................................................33 3.1 Case study I - Endagalayaya village biomass power system...................................33 3.1.1 The power system............................................................................................34 3.1.2 Biomass supply................................................................................................36 3.1.3 Capital and operating costs of the system .......................................................39 3.1.4 System ownership and management ...............................................................41 3.1.5 Observations made at Endagalayaya...............................................................41 3.1.6 Problems and challenges faced by the power system......................................42 3.1.7 Present status of biomass energy usage in Endagalayaya and nearby area.....43 3.2 Case study II – Biomass power plant in “Kohombe” coconut plantation ...............44 vi 3.2.1 The power system and the energy usage .........................................................45 3.2.2 Biomass energy crops in Kohombe estate.......................................................47 3.2.3 Byproducts from the Gliricidia energy crop....................................................47 3.3 Summary and discussion .........................................................................................50 CHAPTER FOUR: ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF VILLAGE SCALE BIOMASS ENERGY SYSTEMS ...............................................................................................51 4.1 Methods and models ................................................................................................52 4.1.1 Component models..........................................................................................54 4.1.1.1 Wood gasifier.........................................................................................54 4.1.1.2 Internal combustion engine and generator system.................................55 4.1.2 Load profiles....................................................................................................56 4.1.3 Generator operating capacity calculation ........................................................58 4.1.4 Total energy and fuel calculation ....................................................................59 4.1.5 Economic analysis...........................................................................................61