An Assessment of Electricity Generation Potentials of Agricultural Residues for Power Industries in India

Abstract

This article presents the results of proximate analyses, ash fusion temperatures, and energy values of different components of paddy, maize, arhar, and coconut agricultural residues and their impact on decentralized power generation structure. In general, the results indicated the highest energy values in the components of arhar, followed by those of coconut, maize, and paddy agricultural crops. The results also indicated the highest ash contents in the components of paddy and lowest in the coconut residues. The paddy and maize crops exhibited highest ash contents and lowest energy values for their leaves, while the leaf of arhar possessed a higher calorific value (just after stalk). Except for the ash of maize crop residue, the softening temperatures of other studied biomass ashes were observed to be in the range of 1,080–1,105°C, the highest being for the arhar crop ash. This indicates there will be no chance of bed agglomeration problems during the combustion of paddy, arhar, and coconut agricultural residues up to about 900°C. The calculation results have shown that approximately 216/750/4,220 hectares of land are required for plantations with coconut/paddy followed by maize/arhar crop in order to ensure a perpetual supply of electricity for a group of 10–15 villages.

Keywords:

• agricultural residues
• analysis
• ash fusion temperatures
• energy value
• power generation

Notes

^aData from field studies.

Assumptions used in the calculations for this study are as follows:

Conversion efficiency of biomass fueled thermal power plants = 30%

Overall efficiency of power plants = 85%

Total energy from 1 hectare of land at 30% efficiency of power plant:

For paddy = 15,797.5 × 10³ × 0.30 kcal = 4,739.25 × 10³ kcal = 5.50 × 10³ kWh

For maize = 22,302.3 × 10³ × 0.30 kcal = 6,690.69 × 10³ kcal = 7.76 × 10³ kWh

For arhar = 5,862.5 × 10³ × 0.30 kcal = 1,758.75 × 10³ kcal = 2.04 × 10³ kWh

For coconut = 38,118.2 × 10³ × 0.30 kcal = 11,435.46 × 10³ kcal = 13.27 × 10³ kWh

Power generation at 85% overall efficiency:

From paddy = 5.50 × 10³ × 0.85 = 4.68 × 10³ kWh/ha

From maize = 7.76 × 10³ × 0.85 = 6.60 × 10³ kWh/ha

From arhar = 2.04 × 10³ × 0.85 = 1.73 × 10³ kWh/ha

From coconut = 13.27 × 10³ × 0.85 = 11.28 × 10³ kWh/ha

Land required to supply electricity for the whole year: