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DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET

Performance and Evaluation of the Heating Value of Wood Biomass for Use in Steam Thermal Power Plant

P. EgbaeluDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Ondo State, NigeriaE. I BelloProfessor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Ondo State, NigeriaO. Z AyodejiPh.D., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Vol 5 No 12 (2021): Volume 5, Issue 12, December 2021 | Pages: 73-83

International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology

OPEN ACCESS | Research Article | Published Date: 05-01-2022

doi Logo doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2021.512015

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Abstract

Wood biomass is a potential alternatives source of energy for electricity generation if well Harnessed. This is due to its prospect in the production of fuel having high calorific value that can be used to drive a steam turbine in the production of electricity. This study shows the Performance and evaluation of the heating values of wood biomass for use in steam thermal power plant. Biomass (wood wastes) from six tropical  species, Iroko (Melicia Exclsa),Omo(Cordial Platythyrsa), Obeche (Tripochiton  Scleroxylon), Afara (Terminal Superb), Ayin (Anogeissuseleio Carpus), Abura (Mirangya Cilita) collected  from twelve(12) sawmills in Akure metropolis Ondo state in south west Nigeria, were used as a feedstock. The proximate and ultimate analyses were performed to access the energy characteristics of the collected wood samples according to the procedure of American Society Standard Test Material (ASTM) for ultimate and proximate analysis ASTM E870-82. A computer program (MATLAB) was developed to determine the calorific value, volume of air, consumption of water and steam require in  powering a 1.0 MW-h steam thermal power plant (Model). The results from laboratory experiments and energy calculations from the model revealed that the six wood species used in this study contain relatively low moisture content and ash content, high proportion of volatile matter and high calorific value, low level of sulphur as well as a sufficient high value of thermal energy potential. The boiler efficiency, mass of air, volume of air, steam consumption of the six samples of wood at different air fuel ratio were determined. Furthermore the model required 7.985 kg/h of wood waste, 13.206 kg/h mass of water, 1.86 factor of evaporation and 7.1 kg/h of steam consumption. The volume and mass of air require is 58.297 m3/h and 318.813 kg/h respectively.

Keywords

Wood Biomass, Steam, Calorific value, Thermal Power, Energy Potential


Citation of this Article

P. Egbaelu, E. I Bello, O. Z Ayodeji, “Performance and Evaluation of the Heating Value of Wood Biomass for Use in Steam Thermal Power Plant” Published in International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET, Volume 5, Issue 12, pp 73-83, December 2021. Article DOI https://doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2021.512015

Licence Copyright (c) 2026 International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology creative common licence This work is licensed under Creative common Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 Internation Licence
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