Microscale Combustion Calorimetry as a New Method of Composition and Heating Value Determination of Miscanthus:An Early View

The perennial biomass crop Miscanthus combines key attributes achieving high energy output/input ratios in a wide range of climatic conditions and it is an important feedstock for bio-mass-to-energy. New Miscanthus hybrids, with better yield resilience and scalability, that are expected to boost supply from marginal lands in Europe, were grown in Croatia and the composition of ripe biomass samples from a spring harvest were analysed by a new microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC) method that determines the heat release rate (HRR). The same samples were also analysed by standard chemical methods: structural analysis, and bomb calorimetry. Higher heating values (HHVs) measured by bomb calorimetry ranged from 17.76 MJ/kg to 18.10 MJ/kg. Microscale combustion calorimetry developed to quantify flammability indices such as HRR was strongly correlated with HHV, which could allow differentiation between new hybrids faster and more efficiently. Obtaining such energy properties data from an early stage of development is necessary for the detection of genotypes with high biomass-to-bioenergy potential for intensive monitoring in the coming period

Energy Properties Potential of Novel Miscanthus Hybrids in the Plantation Establishment Phase

Miscanthus × giganteus J.M. Greef, Deuter ex Hodk., Renvoize (M. giganteus) is currently one of the most important energy crops in terms of the cultivation of dedicated crops. However, restricting biomass production to a sterile triploid hybrid may result in insufficient energy efficiency under various agroecological conditions. Therefore, current researches are focused on developing novel hybrids with higher tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as salinity or drought. Increasing the utilization of energy crops, i.e., the potential is achieved by increasing biomass yield and improving its energy properties under certain conditions. In this study, the biomass of five new Miscanthus hybrids (M. sacchariflorus x M. sinensis) and M. giganteus was used as control. The energetic properties were studied during the first two years of the cultivation period. Following the determination of biomass yield in fresh weight, dry matter content was also determined using standard methods, as well as the main energetic properties. Statistical data processing compared the energy potential of the new hybrids with each other and with that of the control hybrids. The results confirmed that there were specific changes in the energy properties of the new genotypes and the control hybrids during the establishment phase. In parallel with the increase in yield, it has a positive effect on energy efficiency and results from different genetic sources and adaptation to environmental conditions

The influence of water and hydrogen content on the heating value of miscanthus grass

Biomasa, kao važna sastavnica obnovljivih izvora energije, obuhvaća širok spektar sirovina za proizvodnju energije. Zbog toga postaje sve konkurentniji obnovljiv izvor energije koji će doprinijeti cjelokupnom sustavu opskrbe energijom, uglavnom zbog vrlo niskih troškova i činjenice da je obnovljiva. Posljednjih godina, poljoprivredne energetske kulture pokazuju veliki tehnički potencijal za takve svrhe. U svrhu proizvodnje različitih oblika energije, koristi se nekoliko poljoprivrednih energetskih kultura, a jedna od takvih kultura je višegodišnja trava miskantus koja je najviše istražena u EU. Ona je zbog svog jednostavnog uzgoja, visokih prinosa te malih zahtjeva i visokih energetskih svojstava, idealna energetska kultura. U ovom istraživanju koristila su se 5 hibrida, križanaca M. sacchariflorus x M. sinensis te su se laboratorijskim analizama utvrdile energetske karakteristike ispitivane biomase. Također se ispitao utjecaj sadržaja vode i vodika na ogrjevnu vrijednost. Voda u biomasi općenito smanjuje njezinu ogrjevnu vrijednost. Također, visok sadržaj vodika pozitivno utječe na ogrjevnu vrijednost te poboljšava kvalitetu samog energenta. Na temelju dobivenih rezultata utvrđeno je kako se gornja ogrjevna vrijednost smanjuje s povećanjem sadržaja vode. Nadalje, donja ogrjevna vrijednost se povećava uslijed povećanja sadržaja vodika. Provedene analize potvrdile su potencijal trave miskantus kao energetski visokokvalitetne i ekološki prihvatljive sirovine za proizvodnju energije i goriva.Biomass, as an important component of renewable energy sources, includes a wide range of raw materials for energy production. As a result, it is becoming an increasingly competitive renewable energy source that will contribute to the overall energy supply system, mainly due to its very low cost and the fact that it is renewable. In recent years, agricultural energy crops have shown great technical potential for such purposes. For the purpose of producing various forms of energy, several agricultural energy crops are used, and one of such crops is the perennial grass Miscanthus, which is the most researched in the EU. Due to its simple cultivation, high yields and low requirements and high energy properties, it is an ideal energy culture. In this research, 5 hybrids of M. sacchariflorus x M. sinensis were used and the energy properties of the investigated biomass was determined. The effect of moisture and hydrogen content on the heating value was also examined. Moisture in biomass generally decreases its heating value. Moreover, the high hydrogen content has a positive effect on the heating value and improves the quality of the energy source itself. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that the higher heating value decreases with increasing moisture content. Furthermore, the lower heating value increases due to the increase in hydrogen content. The analyses confirmed the potential of Miscanthus grass as an energy-high-quality and environmentally friendly raw material for energy and fuel production

The influence of water and hydrogen content on the heating value of miscanthus grass

Biomasa, kao važna sastavnica obnovljivih izvora energije, obuhvaća širok spektar sirovina za proizvodnju energije. Zbog toga postaje sve konkurentniji obnovljiv izvor energije koji će doprinijeti cjelokupnom sustavu opskrbe energijom, uglavnom zbog vrlo niskih troškova i činjenice da je obnovljiva. Posljednjih godina, poljoprivredne energetske kulture pokazuju veliki tehnički potencijal za takve svrhe. U svrhu proizvodnje različitih oblika energije, koristi se nekoliko poljoprivrednih energetskih kultura, a jedna od takvih kultura je višegodišnja trava miskantus koja je najviše istražena u EU. Ona je zbog svog jednostavnog uzgoja, visokih prinosa te malih zahtjeva i visokih energetskih svojstava, idealna energetska kultura. U ovom istraživanju koristila su se 5 hibrida, križanaca M. sacchariflorus x M. sinensis te su se laboratorijskim analizama utvrdile energetske karakteristike ispitivane biomase. Također se ispitao utjecaj sadržaja vode i vodika na ogrjevnu vrijednost. Voda u biomasi općenito smanjuje njezinu ogrjevnu vrijednost. Također, visok sadržaj vodika pozitivno utječe na ogrjevnu vrijednost te poboljšava kvalitetu samog energenta. Na temelju dobivenih rezultata utvrđeno je kako se gornja ogrjevna vrijednost smanjuje s povećanjem sadržaja vode. Nadalje, donja ogrjevna vrijednost se povećava uslijed povećanja sadržaja vodika. Provedene analize potvrdile su potencijal trave miskantus kao energetski visokokvalitetne i ekološki prihvatljive sirovine za proizvodnju energije i goriva.Biomass, as an important component of renewable energy sources, includes a wide range of raw materials for energy production. As a result, it is becoming an increasingly competitive renewable energy source that will contribute to the overall energy supply system, mainly due to its very low cost and the fact that it is renewable. In recent years, agricultural energy crops have shown great technical potential for such purposes. For the purpose of producing various forms of energy, several agricultural energy crops are used, and one of such crops is the perennial grass Miscanthus, which is the most researched in the EU. Due to its simple cultivation, high yields and low requirements and high energy properties, it is an ideal energy culture. In this research, 5 hybrids of M. sacchariflorus x M. sinensis were used and the energy properties of the investigated biomass was determined. The effect of moisture and hydrogen content on the heating value was also examined. Moisture in biomass generally decreases its heating value. Moreover, the high hydrogen content has a positive effect on the heating value and improves the quality of the energy source itself. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that the higher heating value decreases with increasing moisture content. Furthermore, the lower heating value increases due to the increase in hydrogen content. The analyses confirmed the potential of Miscanthus grass as an energy-high-quality and environmentally friendly raw material for energy and fuel production

The influence of water and hydrogen content on the heating value of miscanthus grass

Biomasa, kao važna sastavnica obnovljivih izvora energije, obuhvaća širok spektar sirovina za proizvodnju energije. Zbog toga postaje sve konkurentniji obnovljiv izvor energije koji će doprinijeti cjelokupnom sustavu opskrbe energijom, uglavnom zbog vrlo niskih troškova i činjenice da je obnovljiva. Posljednjih godina, poljoprivredne energetske kulture pokazuju veliki tehnički potencijal za takve svrhe. U svrhu proizvodnje različitih oblika energije, koristi se nekoliko poljoprivrednih energetskih kultura, a jedna od takvih kultura je višegodišnja trava miskantus koja je najviše istražena u EU. Ona je zbog svog jednostavnog uzgoja, visokih prinosa te malih zahtjeva i visokih energetskih svojstava, idealna energetska kultura. U ovom istraživanju koristila su se 5 hibrida, križanaca M. sacchariflorus x M. sinensis te su se laboratorijskim analizama utvrdile energetske karakteristike ispitivane biomase. Također se ispitao utjecaj sadržaja vode i vodika na ogrjevnu vrijednost. Voda u biomasi općenito smanjuje njezinu ogrjevnu vrijednost. Također, visok sadržaj vodika pozitivno utječe na ogrjevnu vrijednost te poboljšava kvalitetu samog energenta. Na temelju dobivenih rezultata utvrđeno je kako se gornja ogrjevna vrijednost smanjuje s povećanjem sadržaja vode. Nadalje, donja ogrjevna vrijednost se povećava uslijed povećanja sadržaja vodika. Provedene analize potvrdile su potencijal trave miskantus kao energetski visokokvalitetne i ekološki prihvatljive sirovine za proizvodnju energije i goriva.Biomass, as an important component of renewable energy sources, includes a wide range of raw materials for energy production. As a result, it is becoming an increasingly competitive renewable energy source that will contribute to the overall energy supply system, mainly due to its very low cost and the fact that it is renewable. In recent years, agricultural energy crops have shown great technical potential for such purposes. For the purpose of producing various forms of energy, several agricultural energy crops are used, and one of such crops is the perennial grass Miscanthus, which is the most researched in the EU. Due to its simple cultivation, high yields and low requirements and high energy properties, it is an ideal energy culture. In this research, 5 hybrids of M. sacchariflorus x M. sinensis were used and the energy properties of the investigated biomass was determined. The effect of moisture and hydrogen content on the heating value was also examined. Moisture in biomass generally decreases its heating value. Moreover, the high hydrogen content has a positive effect on the heating value and improves the quality of the energy source itself. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that the higher heating value decreases with increasing moisture content. Furthermore, the lower heating value increases due to the increase in hydrogen content. The analyses confirmed the potential of Miscanthus grass as an energy-high-quality and environmentally friendly raw material for energy and fuel production