Module -5

Unit- 9 Biomass Power Plant

• The energy obtained from organic matter, derived from biological organisms like Plants and
animals is known as Biomass energy.
• Animals feed on plants, and plants grow through the photosynthesis process using solar
energy Thus, photosynthesis process is primarily responsible for the generation of biomass
energy.
• A small portion of the solar radiation is captured and stored in the plants during
photosynthesis process. Therefore, it is an indirect form of solar energy.

• The average efficiency of photosynthetic conversion of solar energy into biomass energy is
estimated to be 0.5–1.0 percent.
• To use biomass energy, the initial biomass maybe transformed by chemical or biological
processes to produce intermediate bio-fuels such as methane, producer gas, ethanol &
charcoal, etc.
• On combustion it reacts with oxygen to release energy in the form of heat.
• Coal, oil, and natural gas, which take millions of years to form, biomass can be considered a
renewable energy source because plant life renews and adds to itself every year.
• It is estimated that the biomass, which is 90% in trees, is equivalent to the current

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 extractable fossil fuels reserves in the world.
• The dry matter mass of biological material cycling in the biosphere is about 250 × 109 tons/Y
and the associated energy bound in the photosynthesis process is 2 x 1021 J/y (0.7 x 1014 W
of power).

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• Photosynthesis in the plant is an example of the biological conversion of solar energy into
sugars and starches which are energy-rich compounds.
• Radiant energy from the sun is absorbed by the green pigment chlorophyll in the plant and
stored within the plant in the form of chemical bond energy.

The process of photosynthesis has two main steps:

1. Splitting of H2O molecule into H2 and O2 under the influence of chlorophyll and sun light this
phase of reaction called light-dependent reaction.
• In this phase of reaction light (having wave length of 400-700nm) absorbed by chlorophyll.
2. Photolysis of H2O
• In the second phase, oxygen molecule escapes to atmosphere, hydrogen transferred into
some unknown compound H2CO is the basic molecule forming carbohydrate and stable at
lower temperature, it breaks at high temperature, releasing an amount of heat equal to
112,000 cal/mole. i.e., hydrogen transferred from this unknown compound H2CO to CO2 to
form sugar or starch. Formation of starch or sugar are dark reaction not requiring sunlight.
• This reaction doesn’t require sunlight hence called dark reaction.
• Photosynthesis is a complex process. It involves several successive stages, but the overall basic
reaction is the formation of (glucose, fructose, etc.) as represented by:

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 • The products of this reaction are about 5 eV per 0C, higher in energy than the initial material.

The conditions necessary for photosynthesis are:

1. Light – one of the important inputs for Biomass production is the intensity of solar radiation
only a part of energy 40-45% in the wave length range of 400-700nm is sufficient to produce
photosynthesis.

2. Carbon dioxide Concentration – is the primary raw material for photosynthesis. It constitutes
about 0.03% of the atmosphere. The main sources of CO2 are animal respiration and combustion
of fuel.
3. Temperature – photosynthesis is restricted to the temperature range which can be tolerated by
proteins i.e., 0 - 600 C.
Note: - Maximum Efficiency of photosynthesis is 5%.

PHOTOSYNTHETIC OXYGEN PRODUCTION

The reverse of the photosynthesis process is called respiration, in which CO2, H2O, and
energy are produced using carbohydrates and oxygen.
• In green plants, both photosynthesis and respiration occur during the day and only
respiration at night.
• The energy produced in the plants by respiration is used in several processes such as to

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 draw moisture and nutrients through its roots.
• The process of photosynthesis and respiration can be represented in the following diagram.

• The uptake of CO2 by a plant leaf is a function of many factors, especially temperature, CO2
concentration and the intensity of solar light.
• Solar radiation incident on a leaf is reflected, transmitted and absorbed. Part of the absorbed
radiation (< 5 per cent) provides the energy, it’s stored during the photosynthesis and produces
oxygen and carbohydrate;

• Net overall gain of energy in the process, is much high as compared to rate of energy loss
during respiration process. Therefore, this process also results in net gain of oxygen and
fixation of carbon in the form of biomass.
• ΔQ change in enthalpy of the combustion process is equal to the energy absorbed from
photons of solar radiation and energy of respiration during growth.
• The value of ΔQ is 4.8 eV per carbon atom, 470 kJ per mole of carbon or 16 MJ/kg of dry
carbohydrate material.

ENERGY FARMING / ENERGY PLANTATION

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 Production of plant /Energy crops for their fuel value by capturing solar radiation is known
as Energy farming. In other words, if plants are cultivated especially for the purpose of it’s energy
is known as Energy plantation.
• Plants are convenient solar energy storage devices, from which the accumulated energy can
be released.
• Energy crops are low-cost and low-maintenance crops grown solely for energy production by
combustion (not for food).
• These energy crops are also processed into solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, such as pellets,
bioethanol and biogas. The fuels are burned to generate electrical power or heat.
a) Pellet fuels - are biofuels made from compressed organic matter, industrial waste
and co-products, food waste, agricultural residues, energy crops.
b) Bioethanol is an alternative fuel of petrol It is produced from sugarcane and starch.
c) Biogas can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, municipal
waste, plant material, sewage, green waste or food waste.
An example of Energy Farming: is the sugarcane industry.

• Sugarcane crops are used for food (sugar) and energy (in the form of ethanol and bagasse).
Other examples of Energy Farming:
• Fast-growing hybrid poplar and eucalyptus trees
✓ They grow very quickly (as much as 4 meters per year),
✓ require little water,
✓ Use less land and are quite hardy.

The plants are generally divided into:

a) Wood energy crops - are harvested on a rotation of 5–7 years, Hardwoods are more promising
than softwood because of their higher productivity potential, lower cost, and the ability to
resprout from stumps.
Example: hybrid poplar, willow, and black locust
b) Herbaceous - include both annual crops and perennial crops.
• The examples of annual crops are corn, sweet sorghum, etc.

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 • Perennial crops are switch grass, Indian grass, etc.

The potential of production of bio-diesel through plantation of certain plants is attracting the
attention, the world over. For example, Jojoba - is a shrub, about 1–2 m tall. It is well suited to
semiarid desert regions and can live between 100 to 200 years.

Sources for biomass energy

BIOMASS FEEDSTOCKS

Biomass feedstocks include dedicated energy crops, agricultural crop residues, forestry residues,
algae, wood processing residues, municipal waste, and wet waste (crop wastes, forest residues,
purpose-grown grasses, woody energy crops, algae, industrial wastes, sorted municipal solid waste
[MSW], urban wood waste, and food waste).

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Dedicated energy crops are non-food crops that can be grown on marginal land (land not suitable
for traditional crops like corn and soybeans) specifically to provide biomass. These break down into
two general categories: herbaceous and woody. Herbaceous energy crops are perennial (plants that
live for more than 2 years) grasses that are harvested annually after taking 2 to 3 years to reach full
productivity. These include switchgrass, miscanthus, bamboo, sweet sorghum, tall fescue, kochia,
wheatgrass, and others.

Agricultural Residues are the non-edible stalk type materials that remain after the harvest of the
edible portions of the crops, such as corn, wheat, grain and sugar cane. Agricultural residues also
include plant leaves, husks, some roots and stems. The residues of dedicated bioenergy non-food
crops are grown for their starches, sugars, or oils for the conversion into bioethanol and lubricants.
The advantage of agricultural residues is that they do not require the use of additional land space
because they are grown together with food crops.

Food Processing Waste (Industrial Residue) is the effluent wastes from a wide variety of industrial
processes ranging from breakfast and cereal bar manufacturers to fresh and frozen vegetable
manufacturers to alcohol breweries. These residues and wastes can be in the form of either dry solids
or watery liquids. Fermentation of liquid wastes and oils from food processing can produce Ethanol.

Municipal Solid Waste this is the items that are thrown away in the garbage and trash and is
collected by the dustbin men or sent to the recycling centre. Municipal solid waste such as
particularly paper, cardboard, and discarded food products, is an attractive source of endless biomass
feedstock. However, not all municipal waste is suitable as a biomass resource, especially metallic and
plastic waste.

Animal Waste from farms, ranches, slaughterhouses, fisheries and dairies or any concentration of
animals into giant livestock farming facilities produces large amounts of manure and sewage sludge.
Liquid sewage, animal wastes, and also human waste from urban areas, provides a constant source
of chemical energy and gases which can be converted into electrical power at these wastewater
treatment plants. The treatment of animal waste produces combustible methane and biogas which
can then be used for heating and transportation.
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Biomass Conversion Technologies

Biomass conversion techniques refer to the processes that transform biomass into energy or other
valuable products. These technologies can be broadly categorized into physicochemical,
thermochemical, and biochemical conversion processes.

Physicochemical conversion combines physical and chemical techniques to transform biomass,

including torrefaction, hydrothermal conversion, Hydrothermal Carbonization, and supercritical fluid
extraction.

Thermochemical conversion involves utilizing heat and chemical reactions to convert biomass into
energy-rich products, such as combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification. Conversely, biochemical
conversion employs biological processes and microorganisms to break down biomass and produce
valuable products, such as biofuels, through fermentation and anaerobic digestion. These biomass
conversion technologies provide avenues for sustainable and renewable energy generation, reducing
dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating environmental impact.

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BIO GAS PRODUCTION FROM ORGANIC WASTES BY ANAEROBIC
FERMENTATION
Anaerobic Digestion is a biochemical degradation process that converts complex organic material,
such as biomass & animal manure, into methane and other by products.

There are four key biological and chemical stages of anaerobic digestion
1. Hydrolysis (Enzymatic Hydrolysis)
• Biomass is normally comprised of very large organic polymers, which are unusable.
• Through hydrolysis, these large polymers, namely proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, are
broken down into smaller molecules such as amino acids, fatty acids, and simple sugar.
• While some of the products of hydrolysis, including hydrogen and acetate, may be used by
methanogens later in the anaerobic digestion process, this occurs in a day at 250c in the
active digester.
2. Acidogenesis
• Acidogenesis is the next step of the anaerobic digestion process in which acid-forming bacteria
further break down the Biomass products and produce an acidic environment in the digestive tank
while creating ammonia, H2, CO2, H2S, shorter volatile fatty acids, carbonic acids, alcohols, as
well as trace amounts of other by-products.
• While organic product, it is still too large and unusable so the biomass must next undergo the

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process of acetogenesis for the ultimate goal of methane production.

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3. Acetogenesis
• Acetogens break down the Biomass further to a point to which Methanogens can utilize much
of the remaining material to create Methane as a Biofuel.
4. Methanogenesis
• Methanogenesis constitutes the final stage of anaerobic digestion process in which
methanogens create methane from the final products of acetogenesis as well as from some
of the intermediate products from hydrolysis and acidogenesis.
• There are two general pathways involving the use of acetic acid and carbon dioxide.
a. While CO2 can be converted into methane and water through the reaction
CO2 + 4 H2 → CH4 + 2H2O
b. the main mechanism to create methane in methanogenesis is the path involving acetic acid
CH3COOH → CH4 + CO2

Classification of the biogas plants

1. Continuous and Batch type (as per the process)
a) Single stage process
b) Double stage process
2. Dome and drum type
3. Different variation in the drum type

Batch type biogas plants: are appropriate where daily supplies of raw waste materials are difficult
to arranged/obtained.
• Batch type plant is charged at 50–60 days interval.

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 • Once charged, it starts supplying the gas after 8-10 days and continuous to do so for about
40- 50 days till the process of digestion is completed, afterwards it is emptied and
recharged.

• In this type a large number of digesters are called battery digesters are charged and emptied
one by one in a synchronous manner to maintain regular supply of gas through common
gasholder.

Main features of Batch plant:

• Gas production in batch type is uneven.
• Several digesters occupy more space.
• This type of plants requires large volume of digester, hence initial cost becomes high.
• Such plants are installed in European countries.

Continuous Plant: there is a single digester in which raw material are charged regularly and the
process goes on without interruption except for repair and cleaning etc,

• Main features of continuous type plant are shown in Fig The plant is fed daily (and not
intermittently) with certain quantity of biomass.

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• The biomass while slowly passing through the digester is completely digested and the digested
slurry is rejected through an outlet.

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 • The period during which the biomass remains in the digester is known as retention period,
which depends mainly on the type of biomass and operating temperature.
• A thin dry layer often formed at the top of slurry is known as scum. The scum tends to
prevent the escape of gas from slurry. The scum layer is broken by slowly stirring the slurry.
• The gas produced is stored in the plant or in a separate gasholder.
Main features of continuous plant
• It will produce gas continuously;
• It requires small digestion chambers
• It needs lesser period for digestion
• It has lesser problems compared to batch type and easier in operation.
• These types of plants are very popular in India and China.

THE DOME AND THE DRUM TYPES – mainly two types are usually used:

1. Floating gas holder digester: which is used in India is known as KVIC plant - This mainly
consists of a digester or pit for fermentation and a floating drum for the collection of gas.
Construction

• The digester is a deep circular pit or a well, built of bricks of 3.5-6.5 m in depth and 1.2 to 1.6
m in diameter and there is a partition wall in the center, which divides the digester vertically

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and submerges in the slurry when it is full.

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 • In the inlet slurry mixing tank dung mixed with water (4:5) and loaded into the
digester through inlet pipe.
• The digester is connected to the outlet tank through outlet pipe for removal of spent slurry.
• Gas holder dome is an inverted steel drum resting above the digester, the drum can move
• up and down i.e., float over the digester and it has an outlet at the top which could be
connected to the storage tank.
Working
• Initially slurry is prepared in the mixing tank and it’s fed into the inlet chamber of the digester
through the inlet pipe.
• The plant is left unused for about two months and introduction of more slurry is also stopped.
• During this period, anaerobic fermentation of biomass takes place in the presence of water
and produces biogas in the digester.
• Biogas being lighter rises up and starts collecting in the gas holder dome and this dome
now starts moving up and starts floats freely on the surface of the slurry.
• Gas holder dome after reaching a certain level it cannot rises up as more & more gas starts
collecting, more pressure begins to be exerted on the slurry.

a) Fixed dome digester is called Chinese plant.

Construction

• Figure represents the schematic diagram of a fixed dome type biogas plant called as Janta
model or Chinese model of biogas plant.
• It is similar to KVIC model except that both the digester and gas holder are constructed in a fixed

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dome usually below the ground surface.

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 • In the slurry mixing tank dung mixed with water (4:5) and loaded into the digester through
inlet pipe.
• Digester is a huge tank with a dome like ceiling which has an outlet with a valve for the supply
of biogas.
• The digester is connected to the outlet tank through outlet pipe for removal of spent slurry.
Working

• Initially slurry is prepared in the mixing tank and it’s fed into the inlet chamber of the digester
through the inlet pipe.
• When digester is partially filled with the slurry, the introduction of slurry stopped and plant is
left unused for about two months.
• During this period, anaerobic fermentation of biomass takes place in the presence of water
and produces biogas which starts collecting in the dome of the digester.
• As more and more biogas start collecting, the pressure exerted by the biogas forces the spent
slurry into the outlet chamber.
• From the outlet chamber, the spent slurry overflows into the overflow tank which is manually
removed and used as manure for plants.
• The gas valve connected to a system of pipelines is opened when a supply of gas is required.

FACTORS AFFECTING BIOGAS PRODUCTION

The rate of production of biogas depends on the following factors:

1. Pressure
• A minimum pressure of 6–10 cm of water column, i.e. 1.2 bar (abs) is considered ideal
for proper functioning of plant.
• It should never be allowed to exceed 40–50 cm of water column and Excess pressure
inhibits release of gas from slurry and Also there is no advantage in maintaining
negative pressure.
2. Temperature
• Methane forming bacteria work best in temperature ranges 20–55 °C.
• It is to be noted that raising the temperature accelerates the gas production; however,
its methane content gets relatively reduced.

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3. pH value – In the initial acid forming stage of the digestion process pH value may be around
6 or less.
• However, during methane formation stage, pH value of 6.5 to 7.5 is maintained, as
methane-forming bacteria are very sensitive to acidity.
4. Solid concentration - Water is essential for survival and activity of microorganisms, in
hydrolysis process, this helps in
(a) better mixing of various constituents of the biomass,
(b) movement of bacteria and
(c) faster digestion rate.
• For best results, raw cow dung contains about 80–82 per cent moisture (by weight). It is
usually mixed with equal amount of water to reduce solid content to 9–10 %.
5. Retention period - is the time duration for which the slurry remains in the plant or the time
that is available for bio digestion.
• It is determined by the volume of digester divided by the volume of slurry added per day.
• In India biogas plants are designed for retention period of 30, 40, and 50 days depending
on the region.
6. Feeding rate
• If the digester is fed with too much raw material at a time, acids will accumulate and
digestion process may stop.
• Therefore, uniform feeding rate should be maintained.
• For example, for desired retention period of 50 days, an amount equal to 1/50 of the
volume of the digester should be fed daily.
7. Nutrient’s
• The nutrients required by the bacteria for food digestion are hydrogen, nitrogen,
oxygen, carbon, phosphorous and Sulphur.
• Of these nitrogen’s and phosphorous have to be provided externally while the others
are contained in the raw material itself.
8. Toxic substances - High concentration of ammonia, antibiotics, pesticides, detergents, heavy
metals like chromium, copper, nickel, zinc etc. are toxic to bacteria responsible for bio-

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digestion.

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RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

9. Stirring and mixing - Since bacteria in the digester have very

limited reach to their food, it is necessary that the slurry is
properly mixed and the bacteria get their food supply.
• It is found that the slight mixing improves the digestion and
a violent mixing retards the digestion.

Problem associated with biogas plant

1 handling of effluent slurry is major problem more sufficient open space and
compost pits are require to dry the slurry. Use of press filters and transpiration is
expensive

2. The gas forming methonogenic is very sensitive towards temperature compared

to non methonogenic during winter as temperature falls there is decrease in activity
of bacteria and subsequently fall in gas production rate.to overcome this difficulty
we have to supply hot water and maintain manual stirring

3. Due to lack of proper training many persons increase the loading rate and
improper mixing of water with cattle dung due to this flow of slurry from inlet to
outlet is very slow this may cause the accumulations of fatty acids and drop in pH
and then failure of digester .

4. Some persons may add urea fertilizers in large quantities due to which ammonia
nitrogen may cause decrease in gas production.

5. pH and volatile fatty acids play an important role . We have to maintain optimum
range otherwise this may cause upsetting of digester and even its failure

6. Leakage of gas from gas holder especially in case of janata biogas plant is major
and very common problem.

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 22
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

Applications of Biogas energy

➢ Bio gas is used as cooking fuel.

➢ Biogas used for water heating

➢ It is used as fuel in I C engine.

➢ It is used as fuel to run agricultural machineries.

➢ It is used to run diesel engine generator set to produce electricity.

Cogeneration plant

➢ A biomass energy cogeneration plant is a facility that generates electricity

and heat by burning organic materials such as wood, agricultural residues, or
organic waste. This process involves converting biomass into thermal energy
through combustion, which drives a turbine to produce electricity.

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 23
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

➢ Cogeneration, also known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP), is a highly

efficient method of utilizing biomass energy because it captures and utilizes
the heat produced during electricity generation. The heat can be used for
various purposes such as district heating, industrial processes, or to generate
steam for additional power generation.

Advantages and disadvantages of biomass energy

Gasifiers

• Fixed bed gasifiers are the most commonly used gasifiers. These are
classified in to three types based on the direction of gas flow through reactor
they are as fallows:

• Updraft Gasifiers

• Downdraft Gasifiers

• Cross draft Gasifiers

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 24
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

 Updraft Gasifiers

➢ This is oldest and simplest type of gasifiers.

➢ The air from atmosphere enters at bottom and gas leaves from the top.
Combustion reactions occurs near the grate at the bottom.
➢ Reduction reactions occurs some what higher up in the gasifier in the upper
part of the gasifier.
➢ Heating and pyrolysis of feed stock occurs as a result of heat transfer by
forced convection and radiation from the lower zone.
➢ Ash is removed from the bottom of gasifier.
2. Downdraft Gasifiers

➢ A solution to the problem of tar entertainment in the gas stream has been
found by designing co current or down draft gasifier in which primary
gasification air is introduced above the oxidation zone in the gasifier.
➢ The producer gas is removed at the bottom of the apparatus , so that fuel and
gas is move in same direction.
➢ Depending on the temperature of the hot zone and the residence time of the
tarry vapors, a more or less complete breakdown of tars is achieved.
➢ The main advantage of this gasifier lies in the possibility of producing a tar
free gas suitable for engine applications

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 25
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

Cross draft gasifiers

➢ Cross draft gasifier are also called charcoal gasification results in a very high
temperatures in the oxidation zone which can lead to material problem .
➢ In cross draft gasifiers insulation against these high temperatures is provided by the fuel
(Charcoal) itself.
➢ Advantages of the system lie in the very small scale at which it can be operated.
➢ A disadvantages of this gasifier is their minimal tar converting capabilities and
consequent need for high quality charcoal.

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 26
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

Unit 10 – Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen is the simplest element. An atom of hydrogen consists of only one proton and one
electron. It is also the most plentiful element in the universe. Despite its simplicity and abundance,
hydrogen doesn’t occur naturally as a gas on the Earth – it is always combined with other elements.
Water, for example, is a combination of hydrogen and Oxygen (H2O).

Hydrogen holds the potential to provide clean, reliable and affordable energy supply that can
enhance economy, environment and security. It is flexible and can be used by all sectors of
economy.

Hydrogen can be produced by using a variety of energy sources, such as solar, nuclear and fossil
fuels and can be converted to useful energy forms efficiently and without detrimental
Environmental effects. When burned as fuel or converted to electricity it joins with oxygen to
produce energy with water as the only emission. When air is used for combustion instead of
oxygen, some NOx is also produced, which can be reduced by lowering the combustion
temperature.

Properties of Hydrogen:

Property Relevance to Renewable Energy Use

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the
universe, though it doesn’t occur freely and must
Abundance
be extracted from water (H₂O), natural gas, or
biomass.
Hydrogen has a high energy content (120 MJ/kg),
High Energy Density (per unit mass) nearly 3 times that of gasoline, making it efficient
by weight.
When used in a fuel cell or combusted, hydrogen
Clean Combustion produces only water vapor—no CO₂, NOₓ, or
particulates.
Can be used in fuel cells, internal combustion
Versatility
engines, and for heating or industrial processes.
Hydrogen can be stored as gas, liquid, or in
Storage Capability chemical compounds, allowing energy to be stored
from intermittent sources like solar and wind.
Can be transported via pipelines, cylinders, or in
Transportability liquefied form, though it requires specialized
infrastructure.
Hydrogen can generate electricity in fuel cells with
Electrochemical Use (Fuel Cells)
high efficiency and no direct emissions.
Safe for human health, though precautions are
Non-toxic
needed due to flammability and leak risks.
Can be produced via electrolysis using renewable
Renewable Production Methods electricity (green hydrogen), creating a truly clean
fuel.

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 27
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

Sources of Hydrogen:

1. Natural Sources:
➢ Water (H₂O): The most abundant source, hydrogen is extracted from water through
electrolysis.
➢ Fossil Fuels: Hydrogen can be derived from hydrocarbons like natural gas, coal, and oil.
➢ Biomass: Organic materials can be gasified or fermented to produce hydrogen.
2. Industrial Production Methods
➢ Steam Methane Reforming (SMR)
o Reacts methane (CH₄) with steam at high temperatures.
o Source: Natural gas.
o Produces CO₂ as a by-product
➢ Electrolysis of Water:
o Uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
o Can be clean if powered by renewables (solar, wind).
➢ Coal Gasification:
o Coal reacts with oxygen and steam under high pressure.
o Produces syngas (CO + H₂), which is further processed to extract hydrogen.
➢ Partial Oxidation of Hydrocarbons:
o Hydrocarbons (like fuel oil) are partially burned to produce hydrogen-rich gas.
➢ Biological Processes:
o Photo biological: Algae or bacteria produce hydrogen using sunlight.
o Fermentation: Microorganisms break down organic matter.

Hydrogen production technologies

There are several ways to produce hydrogen (gas):
1. Natural Gas Reforming/Gasification
2. Renewable Liquid Reforming
3. Fermentation
4. Electrolysis

1. Natural Gas Reforming/Gasification: Synthesis gas (a mixture of hydrogen, carbon

monoxide, and a small amount of carbon dioxide) is created by reacting natural gas with
high-temperature steam. The carbon monoxide is reacted with water to produce hydrogen.

2. Renewable Liquid Reforming: Renewable liquid fuels, such as ethanol, are reacted with
high-temperature steam to produce hydrogen.

3. Fermentation: Biomass is converted into sugar-rich feedstock’s that can be fermented to

produce hydrogen.

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 28
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

4. Electrolysis or Electrolytic production of Hydrogen

Thermal decomposition of water:

Thermal decomposition of water, also known as thermolysis, is a chemical process in which water
molecules are broken down into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) gases using high temperatures.

Process of thermo decomposition of water

➢ Heating Water Vapour:
• Water is first converted to steam (gaseous form).
• The steam is then heated to temperatures above 2000°C using a high-energy
source such as concentrated solar power or nuclear heat.
➢ Molecular Breakdown:
• At extremely high temperatures, the thermal energy overcomes the chemical
bonds in water.
• The O–H bonds break, forming hydrogen and oxygen atoms, which recombine
into:
2H2O (g)→2H2(g)+O2 (g)

➢ Gas Separation:
• The hydrogen and oxygen gases produced must be quickly separated to prevent
recombination and to ensure safety (since H₂ and O₂ mixtures are explosive).

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 29
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

• Separation is typically done using membranes, chemical scrubbers, or physical

partitioning.

Thermochemical method for the production of hydrogen:

Thermochemical methods use heat and chemical reactions to split water into hydrogen and
oxygen. These processes can operate at moderate to high temperatures (500–2000°C) and often
use recyclable chemical agents.
Thermochemical Water-Splitting Cycles
These are multi-step chemical cycles where water is split using heat and intermediate chemical
reactions.
Examples include:
Sulfur–Iodine (S–I) Cycle
Uses sulfuric acid and iodine.
Requires ~850°C heat (can be supplied by nuclear or solar energy).
Overall reaction:
2H2O→2H2+O2
Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) Cycle
Operates at lower temperatures (~500°C).
Uses copper and chlorine compounds.

Biochemical method for the production of Hydrogen:

Biochemical methods use microorganisms like bacteria or algae to produce hydrogen from
organic matter.
1. Dark Fermentation
Bacteria break down organic waste or biomass without light.
Produces H₂, CO₂, and organic acids.
Low yield but simple process.

2. Photo fermentation
Uses light-sensitive bacteria (e.g., Rhodobacter) to convert organic acids into hydrogen.
Requires light and special bacteria.

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 30
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

3. Photo biological Water Splitting

Algae and cyanobacteria use sunlight and enzymes (like hydrogenase) to split water into H₂
and O₂.

Fig :Bio photolysis

In this method the ability of the plants (especially algae) to split water during photosynthesis
Process is utilized. An artificial system is devised, which could produce hydrogen and oxygen
from water in sunlight using isolated photosynthetic membrane and other catalysts. Since this
process is essentially a decomposition of water using photons in the presence of biological
catalysts, the reaction is called photolysis of water. There are three distinct functional components
coupled together in the system as shown in above Fig.
(i) Photosynthetic membrane, which absorbs light, split water to generate oxygen, electrons and
Protons,
(ii) An electron mediator, which is reducible by photo-synthetically generated electrons and
(iii) A proton activator that will accept electrons from the reduced mediator and catalyze the
reaction:

Applications of Hydrogen energy:

1. Transportation: Hydrogen fuel cells can power vehicles, including cars, buses, trucks, and
trains. This offers a clean and efficient alternative to traditional combustion engines, as hydrogen
fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, with water vapor being the only
emission.

2. Electricity Generation: Hydrogen can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity for various
applications. It can be particularly useful in remote areas or places where grid access is limited.
Hydrogen fuel cells can also support backup power systems for critical facilities.

3. Industrial Processes: Hydrogen is widely used in industrial processes, such as refining

petroleum, producing ammonia for fertilizers, and manufacturing various chemicals. By replacing
conventional fossil fuel-based processes with hydrogen, these industries can significantly reduce
their carbon emissions.

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 31
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS (BME654B)

4. Energy Storage: Hydrogen can be used as a means of energy storage, allowing excess
renewable energy to be captured and utilized when demand is high. Electrolysis can convert
surplus electricity into hydrogen, which can later be used in fuel cells or other applications.

5. Heating and Cogeneration: Hydrogen can be burned directly in boilers or combined with
natural gas in existing infrastructure to provide heat for residential, commercial, and
industrial purposes. This approach helps decarbonize the heating sector while leveraging
the existing distribution network.

Problem associated with hydrogen energy :

▪ Hydrogen is a very light gas, which makes it difficult to store and transport in large
quantities.
▪ The majority of hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels which results in significant carbon
emission.
▪ It is highly flammable and can be dangerous if not handled properly.
▪ Cost of hydrogen has decreased in recent years, it is still more expensive than traditional
fossil fuel.
▪ Hydrogen fuel cells are not yet as efficient as internal combustion engines.

▪ Building the necessary infrastructure to produce, transport and distribute hydrogen would
require significant investment and time.

Prepared by: Dr Parashuram A K, Asst. Professor, Mechanical Department, KSSEM Bengaluru pg. 32