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CSES 6400 Bioenergy and the Environment > Definitions of Terms Used in the Field of Bioenergy > Flashcards

Definitions of Terms Used in the Field of Bioenergy Flashcards

1
Q

Name 5 types of renewable energy

A

Wind, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Solar

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2
Q

Renewable Energy

A

Energy derived from a natural, managed or cultivated resource that can be replaced as it is used.

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3
Q

Bioenergy

A

Energy derived from biomass. This includes biopower, energy from biobased transportation fuels, and energy from biomass that is used for process or space heating.

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4
Q

Fossil fuel

A

Fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal formed in the ground over millions of years by chemical and physical changes in plant and animal residues under high temperature and pressure.

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5
Q

Lignocellulose

A

Plant cell wall biomass composed primarily of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin

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6
Q

Lignocellulosic biomass

A

Biomass from wood, grass, stems etc.. Not from grain such as corn or soybean

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7
Q

Lignocellulosic gas /fuel

A

Comes from the transformation of cellulose to ethanol, gasoline or diesel

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8
Q

Biofuel (or biomass fuel)

A

A fuel derived from biomass. Usually they are liquid, but the biomass feedstock can be also transformed to a gas fuel (like butane)

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9
Q

What are two examples of liquid biofuel

A

Bioethanol and Biodiesel (gasoline or diesel)

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10
Q

Biobased product (biobased industrial product, bioproduct)

A

Fuels, food, feed, chemicals, or industrial materials commercially produced in whole or in-part from biomass materials.

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11
Q

Biorefinery

A

A facility that uses mechanical, thermal, chemical, and/or biochemical processes to convert biomass into value-added biobased products or key intermediates for the production of chemicals and other materials.

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12
Q

Conversion

A

Transformation of biomass into bioenergy or biobased products

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13
Q

Co-product

A

A secondary product with commercial value that is intentionally produced coincidentally to a manufacturing process or chemical reaction, and is not the primary product or service being produced.

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14
Q

Byproduct

A

A secondary or incidental product that is derived from a manufacturing process or chemical reaction, and is not the primary product or service being produced.

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15
Q

Biomass

A

Organic materials that are plant or animal based, including but not limited to dedicated energy crops, agricultural crops and trees, food, feed and fiber crop residues, aquatic plants, forestry and wood residues, agricultural wastes, biobased segments of industrial and municipal wastes, processing by-products and other non-fossil organic materials.

It can be used as a solid fuel, or converted into liquid or gaseous forms for the production of electric power, heat, chemicals, or fuels.

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16
Q

Primary biomass

A

Biomass produced directly by photosynthesis (plant based) and harvested or collected from the field or forest where it is grown. Examples are grains, perennial grasses and wood crops, crop residues and residues from logging and forest operations.

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17
Q

Secondary biomass

A

Byproduct streams from food, feed, fiber, wood and materials processing plants (such as sawdust, black liquor and cheese whey), and manures from concentrated animal feeding operations

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18
Q

Tertiary biomass

A

Post consumer residues and wastes, such as fats, greases, oils, construction and demolition wood debris, other waste wood from urban environments, as well as packaging wastes, municipal solid wastes and landfill gases.

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19
Q

Energy crops

A

Crop grown and harvested to be an energy feedstock.

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20
Q

Dedicated energy crops

A

Annual crops (such as maize) or perennial crops (such as trees and grasses) when grown specifically as feedstock for conversion to bioenergy and biobased products.

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21
Q

Closed-loop biomass

A

Primary biomass grown, in a sustainable manner, for the sole purpose of optimizing its value for bioenergy and bioproduct uses. This includes annual crops such as maize and wheat, and perennial crops such as trees, shrubs, and grasses such as switchgrass.

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22
Q

Open-loop biomass

A

Biomass that can be used to produce energy and bioproducts even though it was not grown specifically for this purpose. Examples of open-loop biomass include agricultural livestock waste and residues from forest harvesting operations and crop harvesting.

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23
Q

Municipal solid waste (MSW)

A

A waste stream made from post-consumer materials. Includes household garbage, yard waste and demolitions debris. Needs to be separated.

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24
Q

Moisture content

A

Amount of water contained in a material expressed either on a wet weight basis (wb) or dry weight basis (db). Statement of moisture content must indicate whether the moisture content value reported wb or db. Is also reported as % of wb or db.

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25
Q

Bulk Density

A

Mass per unit volume occupied by a large quantity of particulate material.

Bulk Density = Kg Biomass / m3 or in small quantities g / cm3

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26
Q

Biopower

A

Electrical energy derived from biomass.

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27
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

The heating effect due to the trapping effect of the sun’s radiant energy in the atmosphere caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases (water vapor, CO2, nitrous oxide, and methane).

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28
Q

Biofuels

A

fuels (usually liquid but also gas) that are created through conversion of biomass

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29
Q

First generation biofuels

A

Biofuels that are already in commercial production, such as bioethanol produced from corn grain or sugarcane, and biodiesel produced from soybean or palm oil. First generation biofuels come from food crops!

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30
Q

Second generation biofuels or Advanced biofuels

A

This term is used to describe biofuels that come from the transformation of cellulosic biomass. They produce fuels that are not adapted to work in regular engines such as Biobutanol. Already in Commercial production

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31
Q

Third generation biofuels or drop in biofuels

A

This term is used to describe cellulosic biofuels that substitute regular fuels such as gasoline, diesel, or aviation fuel. Don´t need transformation of the vehicle engine.

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32
Q

Biodiesel

A

They are Mono-alkyl esters of fatty acids derived from vegetable oils that chemically react with alcohol.

The feedstock for biodiesel is vegetable oil not cellulosic biomass (usually confused). Biodiesel can be produced from cellulosic biomass but due to structure would be more like petroleum diesel.

Most biodiesel in US in produced from soybean, some from recycled cooking oil

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33
Q

Transesterification

A

A chemical reaction of exchanging the alkoxy group of an ester by another alcohol. The products of a transesterification reaction are a new ester and a new alcohol. A catalyst is typically required for transesterification. An example is when an alcohol reacts with the triglycerides contained in vegetable oils and animal fats to produce biodiesel, with glycerin as a co-product.

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34
Q

Bioethanol

A

Ethanol (alcohols in general) produced from biomass (see definition of biomass).

This term is sometimes used incorrectly to refer only to ethanol produced from cellulosic biomass. However, the term is broader than that, and refers to ethanol produced from any biomass, including corn or other grains which are made up primarily of starch, as well as sugar from sugarcane and sweet sorghum.

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35
Q

Hydrocarbon fuels

A

Fuels that are made up of molecules that contain only hydrogen and carbon, commonly known as alkanes – no oxygen like alcohol fuels such as ethanol and butanol. Examples are gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel.

Most hydrocarbon fuels are made from petroleum/oil, but they can also be made from cellulosic biomass.

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36
Q

Cellulosic biofuels

A

Fuels that are made from cellulosic biomass.

alcohols, such as ethanol and butanol

hydrocarbons such as gasoline and aviation fuel. If they are hydrocarbons they are sometimes also referred to as ‘synthetic’ or ‘green’, in addition to ‘cellulosic’, like ‘synthetic diesel’ or ‘green diesel’, in addition to ‘cellulosic diesel’.

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37
Q

Black liquor

A

Is the lignin-rich by-product of fiber extraction from wood in to pulp to make paper. It is form of lignin that needs to be extracted from the pulp to make the paper, and organic molecules.

Black liquor is used as a fuel in the paper mills to fire up the engines etc.

38
Q

Can you define the term bioenergy?

A

Bioenergy: Energy derived from biomass. This includes biopower, energy from biobased transportation fuels, and energy from biomass that is used for process or space heating.

39
Q

Which are the differences between bioenergy and Biopower?

A

Biopower is a type of bioenergy. Biopower is the electric power (energy) obtained from biomass

40
Q

Can you define feedstock?

A

A material that is further processed for conversion to bioenergy and/or biobased products.

41
Q

Can you give me an example of biobased feedstock and an example of an non renewable feedstock?

A

Corn, soybean, biomass from switchgrass….

Natural gas, crude oil……

42
Q

Can you define what is a coproduct and byproduct, and explain the difference?

A

Coproduct is secondary product with commercial value that is intentionally produced coincidentally to a manufacturing process or chemical reaction.

Byproduct: A secondary or incidental product that is derived from a manufacturing process or chemical reaction, and is not the primary product or service being produced. Does not have an economic use.

43
Q

Can you define biomass and give some examples?

A

Biomass is formed of Organic materials that are plant or animal based, including but not limited to dedicated energy crops.

44
Q

Can you explain the differences between primary and secondary biomass?

A

Primary biomass is produced by photosynthesis, so it is always plant biomass. Secondary biomass are coproducts of industrial activity involving biomass such as sawdust, black liquor etc.

45
Q

Can you explain the differences between close loop and open loop biomass?

A

The close loop biomass is intended from the beginning to be used as bioenergy feedstock and is grown under sustainable practices to make more sustainable and profitable the process.

In an open loop biomass, part of the crop might be used for animal or human consumption, but part of the crop, for example the strover, is used for bioenergy production.

46
Q

Can you state the differences between first, second, and third generation biofuels?

A

First generation, are the ones that are already in commercial production, and come usually from row crops (mostly seeds) such as corn, soybean ,and sugar cane

Second generation are in commercial production but not very extended. The come from lignocellulosic biomass and produce fuels not adapted to be used in transporation.

Third generation or drop in, are the ones that come from lignocellulosic biomass but are directly converted in to regular fuels such as gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel.

47
Q

Biochemical or biological conversion

A

A conversion process that involves a biochemical or biological (as opposed to thermochemical) process to convert biomass to biofuels or bioproducts. The process is usually facilitated by enzymes (which are biological catalysts) and/or microorganisms.

48
Q

Sugar platform

A

A conversion approach that involves the breakdown of biomass into sugar components, which are then converted into products such as ethanol and other valuable fuels and chemicals. Its used in the conversion of lignocellulosic fuels in to bioethanol.

The break down of the biomass involves biochemical conversion.

The cellulase is obtained from bacterium and fungi, using transformation technologies and bioreactors.

49
Q

Fermentation:

A

Process involving chemical changes in an organic substrate through the action of enzymes that are produced by microorganisms.

Commonly used to produce alcohols (including transportation fuels like ethanol, as well as beverages such as wine) from sugars.

50
Q

Bioreactor

A

Recipient where the ambient conditions are controlled to ensure a biological reaction, fermentation, production of enzymes, and hydrolysis of organic mater.

Used to transform Cellulose in sugars and later transform to bioethanol. The cellulose is in contact with the fungi Trichoderma reesei.

51
Q

Hydrolysis

A

Chemical process of decomposition involving the splitting of chemical bonds of substances and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxyl anion of water.

Note: This process usually involves breakdown of cellulose and hemicellulose into their component sugars by treatment of the biomass with acid or enzymes.

52
Q

Anaerobic digestion

A

Bacterial decomposition of biomass (usually animal manure) in a digester or lagoon, that results in release of biogas and a residue of biosolids.

53
Q

Biogas

A

A mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by the bacterial decomposition of biomass and used as a fuel, industrial intermediate or feedstock.

54
Q

Biosolids

A

Nutrient-rich organic material resulting from the treatment of waste water and from anaerobic digestion of animal manures.

55
Q

Thermochemical conversion

A

Conversion of biomass to solid, liquid, or gas fuels or bioproducts with the use of heat, and often aided by application of a chemical catalysts.

Combustion
Gasification
Pyrolysis
Liquefaction

56
Q

Combustion

A

Thermal conversion of a carbon rich feedstock with an oxidant (excess air) to produce primarily heat energy, carbon dioxide, water and ash. Occurs at 2500 oF (1370 oC).

Oxidation of Carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) to produce, CO2, H2O, and heat that can be transformed to electricity.

57
Q

Co-firing:

A

The simultaneous use of two or more different fuels (feed-stock) in the same combustion chamber of a power plant.

58
Q

Gasification:

A

Thermochemical conversion, typically occurring at 750 to 850 oC (1382 to 1562 oF) in an oxygen-deficient environment, of carbon rich feedstocks into a gaseous fuel known as producer gas.

59
Q

Pyrolysis

A

Thermochemical conversion process (usually conducted at 400 to 800 oC) in the absence of oxygen.
Depending the temperatures used, the products are different.

High temperatures and quick (800 oC) = Bio-oils.

Low temperatures and long time = vegetable coal

60
Q

Liquefaction

A

Thermochemical conversion process of carbon rich feedstocks in presence of water into a liquid oil or crude. Liquefaction is usually conducted in an environment of moderate temperatures (300 to 400 oC or 572 to 752 oF) and high pressures.

61
Q

Ash

A

The inorganic, non-combustible residue left after complete combustion of a material (at minimum temperature of 700oC or 1292oF).

62
Q

Slag

A

Ash that is or has been in a molten (or liquid) state.

63
Q

Char

A

A organic residue resulting from pyrolysis, carbonization, and gasification of biomass, found in the combustion chamber.

64
Q

Tar

A

Dark brown or black bituminous (usually odorous) viscous liquid obtained by destructive distillation of carbon rich feedstock. It is a product not a residue.

65
Q

Soot:

A

The fine black particles, mainly composed of carbon, produced by incomplete combustion of carbon rich feedstock. It is a residue, cause problems in furnace

66
Q

Creosote

A

Liquid, tar like product of hydrolysis of wood or charcoal. It is toxic and with bactericide action. Used in history to preserve wood.

67
Q

Volatiles:

A

Materials (such as vapors and gases) that vaporize from heated (e.g. pyrolysis) and non-heated (e.g. anaerobic digestion) biomass. For example gas products from gasification, and methane.

68
Q

Producer Gas

A

It’s a mix of gasses, product of biomass gasification consisting of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen which can be burned for heat or power or converted to liquid fuels and chemicals.

69
Q

Elemental (or Ultimate) analysis

A

Quantification of the chemical and other physical components.

70
Q

Proximate Analysis:

A

Determination of moisture, volatile matter, ash content, fixed carbon in a material, and heating value.

71
Q

Heating/Calorific Value

A

Heat produced by a complete combustion of fuel and it is measured as aunit of energy per unit mass or volume of substance (e.g., kcal/kg, kJ/kg, J/mol and Btu/m³)

72
Q

Higher Heating Value (HHV) or Gross Value

A

It is the amount of heat produced when a fuel is fully combusted, all of the products of combustion are cooled to 25 oC (77 oF) and the energy contained in water vapor is recovered (because we obtained the liquid water).

73
Q

Lower Heating Value (LHV) or Net Value:

A

It is the amount of heat produced when a fuel is fully combusted, all of the products of combustion are cooled to 25 oC (77 oF), but the energy of the vapor water is not recovered. Researchers use this to compare between different feedstock.

74
Q

Calorie (Cal)

A

the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of one gram of water by one degree C.

This is an extremely small amount of energy, so the Calorie referred to on food labels is actually a Kilo Calorie (Kcal), or 1,000 ca “small calories”.

1 calorie = 4.1900 Joules (J)
1 kcal = 4,190.0 J or 4.19 KJ

75
Q

Joule (J)

A

equal to the energy expended (or work done) in applying a force of one Newton through a distance of one meter (1 Newton meter or N·m-1), or in passing an electric current of one ampere (A) through a resistance of one ohm for one second.

It is named after the English physicist James Prescott Joule (1818–1889).

The Joule is the ISU unit of energy.

76
Q

British thermal unit (Btu)

A

the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree F.

1 Btu = 252 calories.

1 Btu = 1,055.87 J, or 1.055 kilo Joules (kJ).

1 MMBtu or 1 MBtu, is the same, one million Btu.

Usually referred to heating energy contained by fuels. Is used to compare energetic capacity of fuels.

77
Q

watt (W)

A

a unit of power of the International Systems of Units (ISU) equivalent to Jules (J) per second. The unit measures the rate of energy conversion, in which a current of one ampere (A) flows across a potential difference of one volt.

1 kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 W
1 megawatt (MW) = 1,000,000 W or 1,000 kW
The capacity/size of power plants is usually expressed in MW

78
Q

kilowatt hour (KWh)

A

the quantity of energy produced by the delivery of 1kW for one hour. It is use to measure the amount of electricity consumed by a household.

1 kWh = 3,412 BTU
1 Tera Wh = 1012 Wh

Large scale energy units

1 Quad = 109 MBtu = 109 x 106 = 1015 Btu

Exajule (EJ) = 1018 J

79
Q

How has global consumption of energy evolved? And which are the main drivers?

A

India and middle east have increased their light intensity (equivalent to energy use), with the exception of Syria. Europe, USA and China have maintained intensities or even decreased in some regions as a result of population movement, and economical turmoil.

80
Q

Energy consumption has increased since the industrial revolution, driven by two factors.

A
  1. Increase of world population have driven in part energy consumption in the world.
  2. Increase of per capita energy consumption have driven in part global energy consumption. Steady increase of world per-capita energy consumption driven by developing countries such us China, Brazil and India .
81
Q

Which is the primary source of energy?

A

The Sun

82
Q

The energy of sun is transformed to chemical energy through….

A

Photosynthesis

83
Q

How do we trap the energy in a sugar molecule?

A

With chemical bonds!

84
Q

How do we trap the energy in a sugar molecule?

A

Trapping chemical energy involves the chemistry of the carbon

85
Q

How do we trap the energy in a molecule of fuel?

A

Methane (gas) is more energetic because has more C-H bonds. Petroleum still has a lot of C-H bonds but also have C-C. That reduce the amount of energy that they liberate at burning. Coal has a lot of C-C bonds and less C-H ones that’s why is less energetic. In addition the proportion of C and H is also going to matter in the amount of CO2 that is going to be realeased to the atmosphere. That is why coal and petroleum are more contaminants than natural has, because thei have a lower H/C ratio.

86
Q

Why do we have so big of a percentage as biomass?

A

Oil consumption has decreased over the years due to lower prices of coal, and natural gas, and better technologies in nuclear energy and renewables energies such as Hydro electric, solar etc…
Biomass has not change over the time.

However, biomass consumption has not change with the time due to increase in bioenergy. However the biomass produced for bioenergy or from bioenergy crops is only and 3-4 % of that 10%.

87
Q

The Carbon Cycle

A

Plants fix atmospheric CO2 (C) in to biomass and animals and microorganisms use it as chemical energy source.

Animals and plants respire and emit CO2, but the amount of C that is fixed through photosynthesis is higher than the amount that is respired. There is a net sequestration of Co2 (C) in the system.

88
Q

Neutral Carbon Cycle

A

When we burn that biomass we return that C to the atmosphere as CO2. If we use the biomass that has been grown we can obtain a neutral C cycle. The same amount of C fixed and emitted.

The neutral C cycle works if you replant what you have burnt, if not you just burn all the wood until you don’t have any wood to burn. In addition you are misbalancing the system because there is not plants to capture the CO2 that you are emitting. That’s why in the example of using wood for energy in case of Africa we said that it can be as bad as fossil fuels. However if you have it balanced is a system that is completely renewable and stable. Then why the fossil fuels are that bad for the C cycle? What are fossil fuels? Were are they coming from?

89
Q

Fossil Fuels

A

Oil, Natural gas, and Coal

Fossil fuels are ancient organic matter (contains C) coming from animal, plant, and microorganisms that lived thousands of years ago.

Fossil fuels are stored C that is used as fuel

Still fossil fuels were organic matter formed by the capture of CO2 by plants.

Excessive burning of fossil fuels can missbalance the C cycle

90
Q

Impacts of Burning Fossil Fuels

A

1) Increase in atmospheric [CO2] - By Burning fossil fuels we emit more CO2 than is fixed

2) Increase in atmospheric [CO2] - In 60 years [CO2] has increased 100 ppm - 400 ppm maybe is not that much if we compare it with a further past

CSES 6400 Bioenergy and the Environment (1 decks)

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