Biomass & Bioenergy
Biomass is the largest source of renewable energy in the world. The main sources are wood and wood wastes, agricultural crops and residues, municipal solid waste, food processing waste, and algae and aquatic plants. Pre-treatment, including size reduction of solids, is necessary. Energy efficient size reduction to the required particle size is essential.
Wood and Wood Wastes
The most important source of biomass for energy use is wood and wood waste. A fast growing application is co-firing of pulverized wood waste with coal in power plants. Efficient wood waste pulverization has been demonstrated in pilot and small commercial scale Szego Mills.
Specific energy vs product size for pelletized wood waste ground in the Szego Mill
Micrograph of 300 x 425 µm particles of pelletized wood waste ground in the Szego Mill
Ethanol from Grain
Barley, corn and wheat have been ground wet in the Szego Mill, prior to fermentation. Ethanol yield was enhanced, e.g., it was 15% higher for barley, and fermentation time was reduced.
Ethanol yield from barley for Szego MIll vs hammer mill
| Szego Mill | Queen’s Univ. | Enzyme hydrolysis + yeast fermentatiion | 383 – 416 L ethanol per ton of barley |
| Hammer Mill | Queen’s Univ. | Enzyme hydrolysis + yeast fermentatiion | 348 L ethanol per ton of barley |
| Hammer Mill | Industrial plant, Minnedosa, Manitoba | 345 – 355 L ethanol per ton of barley |