Comparison of thermal energy production from wood biomass

The use of renewable energies, such as biomass, is becoming increasingly important as countries realize that bioenergy present an approach to their international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Biomass with higher thermal energy value and optimal composition is more desirable for the thermal conversion systems. In present investigation, properties of ten type's wood biomass relevant to combustion were evaluated. Important characteristics requiring analysis for the biomass were moisture and ash content, volatile matter, elemental composition (C, H, N, S, and O), and high and low heating values (HHV and LHV). The heating value has been determined based on experimental and computational methods by colorimeter bomb and elemental content, respectively. The results showed that eldarica pine biomass had the highest content of biomass sulfur, which is undesirable environmental factor in the bioenergy system. Regarding to the fixed carbon to volatile matter ratio, Citrus sinensis var. thomson has the lowest ratio, so it is the best biomass for the gasification process. The highest and lowest heating values were determined for the poplar pruning residues (group a) and apple (group b and c), respectively. The highest and lowest of HHV and LHV were measured for P. deltoides and Malus spp., respectively.