• 099249 - BIO-WTE TECH: ENERGY ASPECTS

The course is dedicated to the environmental and engineering aspects involved in the energy exploitation of biomass and waste materials. The module on energy aspects will provide students with the knowledge on the potential, the current use, the constraints and the limitations of biomass and waste valorisation for energy purposes. Thanks to such knowledge, students will be able to critically analyse a variety of energy conversion processes for waste and biomass valorisation, as well as to preliminary design some of them.

After passing the exam, the student will:

a)    know the main routes for the energy exploitation of waste and biomass;

b)    be able to analyse and understand waste/biomass-based processes from the energy, technical and economic points of view;

c)    to preliminary design some energy conversion processes for waste/biomass.

1. Energy Scenario. The current and potential role of biomass and waste materials in meeting the world energy needs.

2. Feedstock characterization. Physical and chemical properties of biomass and waste materials.

3. Energy conversion routes. Processes for direct and indirect energy exploitation of biomass and waste materials. Thermo-chemical processes: direct combustion, gasification, pyrolisis, liquefaction, etc. Characteristics and design of boilers for direct combustion. Power cycles for biomass and waste-to-energy plants. Innovative and new emerging technologies.

4. Production of synthetic liquid fuels. Production of bio-ethanol, bio-diesel, and other synthetic fuels.

5. Economic analysis. Basics of the economic analysis of capital intensive investments. Financial framework for economic analysis: the EPRI methodology. Specific features of the economics of biomass and waste-to-energy plants; incentives, green certificates, carbon credits.

Who is going to attend the module is expected to have rooted bases in chemistry and thermodynamics, as well as some elements of economics.

Course structure and examinations

The class is organized in lectures, precepts and seminars. A field visit will be arranged to biomass-/waste-to-energy plants.

The evaluation will be based on the result of a mandatory final written exam and an optional interview. The interview can change only slightly the result of the written test, and its access is subjected to the satisfactory accomplishment of the written test.
An optional midterm exam will be held around the middle of the semester. A positive result in the midterm exam will substitute the first half of the written exams held during the winter exam session.

Through the exam, the student must:

a)    demonstrate to know the main routes for the energy exploitation of waste and biomass, their main features and limitations;

b)    discuss waste/biomass-based processes by describing in qualitative and quantitative forms their energy, technical and economic performances;

c)    be able to preliminary design some energy conversion processes for waste/biomass.