Experimental Investigations of Innovative Biomass Energy Harnessing Solutions

Gheorghe Lazaroiu, Lucian Mihaescu, Gabriel Negreanu, Constantin Pana, Ionel Pisa, Alexandru Cernat and Dana-Alexandra Ciupageanu
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Gheorghe Lazaroiu: Energy Generation and Use Department, Power Engineering Faculty, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Lucian Mihaescu: Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Faculty, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Gabriel Negreanu: Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Faculty, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Constantin Pana: Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Faculty, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Ionel Pisa: Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Faculty, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Alexandru Cernat: Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Faculty, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Dana-Alexandra Ciupageanu: Energy Generation and Use Department, Power Engineering Faculty, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: Leather processing for commercial purposes involves going through a set of complex and laborious operations, resulting in over 70% waste relative to the initial feedstock; a quarter of this waste is produced in Europe. Worldwide there are about 36,000 companies active in this sector, generating a turnover of almost 48 billion euros. As in any industrial sector, waste recovery is a highly researched topic, with alternatives for its use being constantly considered. One of the most interesting solutions to this problem consists of using part of the waste for power applications. For instance, the 10% fats from total animal waste could well be employed to power diesel engines, both in raw state or as biodiesel. The remainder, which contains mostly proteins, can be exploited to obtain biogas through anaerobic digestion. This paper presents the results of experimental determinations on the combustion of animal fats and compares it to other biofuels, such as vegetable oils and solid biomass. The advantages of co-firing hydrogen-rich gas (HRG) and vegetable biomass are also analyzed. According to the presented results, combustion of the investigated fuels has a lower impact on the environment, with the concentration of pollutants in the flue gases being low. Thus, the paper proves that all the proposed solutions are ecological alternatives for biomass exploitation for energy recovery purposes, based on comparing the results in terms of pollutant emissions. This paper provides qualitative and quantitative perspectives on multiple alternatives of energy recovery from biomass resources, while also briefly describing the methods and equipment used to this end.

Keywords: green energy; biomass; leather industry waste; co-combustion; biofuel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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