Publications
Conference Papers | 2015
Validation of a Kinetic Model for the Catalyzed Water Gas Shift Reaction Applying a Fe/Cr Catalyst Processing Wood Gas from Biomass Steam Gasification
Kraussler M, Fail S, Plaza Quevedo A, Cortes Guerro JA, Rauch R, Hofbauer H. Validation of a Kinetic Model for the Catalyzed Water Gas Shift Reaction Applying a Fe/Cr Catalyst Processing Wood Gas from Biomass Steam Gasification. 23rd European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (Poster). June 2015, Vienna, Austria.
Peer Reviewed Scientific Journals | 2015
Ventilation of Carbon Monoxide from a Biomass Pellet Storage Tank - A Study of the Effects of Variation of Temperature and Cross-Ventilation on the Efficiency of Natural Ventilation
Emhofer W, Lichtenegger K, Haslinger W, Hofbauer H, Schmutzer-Roseneder I, Aigenbauer S, et al. Ventilation of carbon monoxide from a biomass pellet storage tank - A study of the effects of variation of temperature and cross-ventilation on the efficiency of natural ventilation. Ann Occup Hyg. 2015;59(1):79-90.
Wood pellets have been reported to emit toxic gaseous emissions during transport and storage. Carbon monoxide (CO) emission, due to the high toxicity of the gas and the possibility of it being present at high levels, is the most imminent threat to be considered before entering a pellet storage facility. For small-scale (<30 tons storage capacity) residential pellet storage facilities, ventilation, preferably natural ventilation utilizing already existing openings, has become the most favored solution to overcome the problem of high CO concentrations. However, there is little knowledge on the ventilation rates that can be reached and thus on the effectiveness of such measures. The aim of the study was to investigate ventilation rates for a specific small-scale pellet storage system depending on characteristic temperature differences. Furthermore, the influence of the implementation of a chimney and the influence of cross-ventilation on the ventilation rates were investigated. The air exchange rates observed in the experiments ranged between close to zero and up to 8 m3h-1, depending largely on the existing temperature differences and the existence of cross-ventilation. The results demonstrate that implementing natural ventilation is a possible measure to enhance safety from CO emissions, but not one without limitations. © 2014 © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.
Conference contributions | 2014
"BioCAT – Clean air technology for small-scale combustion systems"
Reichert G, Wöhler M, Schwabl M, Schmidl C, Aigenbauer S, Bachmaier H, Figl F, Hartmann H, Haslinger W, Kirchhof J, Stressler H, Sturmlechner R, Turowski P, Voglauer B. BioCAT – Clean air technology for small-scale combustion systems, 4. Central European Biomass Conference 2014, 15th-18th of January 2014, Graz, Austria. (oral presentation)
Conference contributions | 2014
Active condensation in a 10MW heating plant - measurement results from the first heating season
Hebenstreit B, Höftberger E, Schwabl M, Lundgren J, Toffolo A. Active condensation in a 10MW heating plant - measurement results from the first heating season, 4th Central European Biomass Conference 2014, 15th-18th of January 2014, Graz, Austria.
Conference contributions | 2014
Advanced Biofuels Technologies – R&D in Austria
Bacovsky D, Wörgetter M. Advanced Biofuels Technologies – R&D in Austria, Fuels of the Future 2014, 20th-21st of January 2014, Berlin, Germany.
Conference contributions | 2014
Air quality management and biomass burning at domestic level
Aigenbauer S, Bachmaier H, Figl F, Hartmann H, Haslinger W et al. Air quality management and biomass burning at domestic level, Progetto Fuoco 2014, 19th-23rd of February 2014, Verona, Italy.
Contributions at other events | 2014
Analysis of Environmental and Economic Aspects of International Pellet Supply Chains
Ehrig, R. Analysis of Environmental and Economic Aspects of International Pellet Supply Chains, Ph.D. Thesis, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria, 2014.
Biomass plays a key role to achieve the EU's 20-20-20 energy and climate targets. Because of rising European demand and limited domestic resources, the EU relies on worldwide imports. Given this framework, the present thesis explores the inuences on wood pellet supply chains considering dierent environmental policies, price risks and the eect of torrefaction pretreatment. The examinations refer to three real case studies for pellet trade from Australia, Canada, and Russia to Europe. In the rst investigation, the eciency of co-ring imported wood pellets in terms of CO2 savings and related subsidy schemes is analysed. Scenarios show that co-ring biomass is ecient to contribute to the EU energy targets. Though, policy makers could use these instruments more eective when directing sourcing decision towards options with even less environmental impacts. The second analysis explores the inuence of statistically derived price risks on total supply chain economics. It is shown that price risks can eect strong uctuations in the short term, which seriously aect the protability of individual trade routes. Securing the supply chain is mainly based on individual producer-buyer agreements, personal branch experiences and fast reactions on the subsidy system. Systematic evaluation of supply chains could contribute to a more reliable market and thus foster investment decisions. In the last investigation, the economic and environmental performance of potential torrefaction-based supply chains is assessed. As a result, torrefaction-based supply
chains turn out to be a certain alternative to conventional ones. Though, still huge research eorts and industrial demonstration are required to make torreed biomass a real alternative on the market.
Contributions to trade journals | 2014
Analysis of woody biomass commodity price volatility in Austria
Kristöfel C, Strasser C, Morawetz UB, Schmidt J, Schmid E. Analysis of woody biomass commodity price volatility in Austria. Biomass Bioenergy. 2014;65:112-124.
Several energy and agricultural commodities have experienced higher price volatility in recent years. Management of price risks usually leads to additional costs that are often shared and transmitted along the supply chain to the final consumers. Only little information is currently available on how price volatility of woody biomass commodities has developed compared to energy and agricultural commodities in recent years. We compute the historic price volatility of woody biomass commodities using the standard deviation of log returns as well as univariate GARCH models. The results show that the price volatility of several woody biomass commodities has increased in recent years. However, the price volatility of woody biomass is still lower compared to the price volatility of agricultural commodities and fossil fuels. The analysis of factors and linkages provides insights of the current biomass market developments.
Conference contributions | 2014
Applicability survey of different torrefied biomass fuels in small scale appliances
Feldmeier S, Schwabl M, Wopienka E, Strasser C, Haslinger W. Applicability survey of different torrefied biomass fuels in small scale appliances, 22nd European Biomass Conference 2014, 23rd-26th of June 2014, Hamburg, Germany. p 662-666.
The torrefaction process is a promising key technology for biomass treatment. An improvement of the fuel properties, e.g. a higher gross calorific value and a resulting increased energy density, is expected. The changed fuel properties in terms of water repellence enable an improved storability. However, the modified fuel characteristics change the combustion behaviour of the fuel. Since smallscale pellet boilers mainly are dedicated to wood pellets, the applicability of torrefied fuel yet remains unclear. Within the EU FP7 project SECTOR, amongst others, the enduse application of torrefied biomass was investigated in several small scale appliances and the behaviour during the stationary operational conditions of the combustion process was assessed. The experimental design was divided in two parts: First, a survey of the combustion appliances was conducted in order to observe the influence of the changed fuel properties on the different boiler systems. Afterwards, the combustion behaviour of torrefied pellets made of different raw material quality was monitored by utilizing the test fuels and monitor the emission release. The results of these experimental series provide an initial indication for the feasibility of the utilization of several torrefied fuels in stateoftheart pellet boilers.
Conference contributions | 2014
Application of a Model Based Control Strategy at a Fixed Bed Biomass District Heating Plant
Zemann C, Heinreichsberger O, Gölles M, Brunner T, Dourdoumas N, Obernberger I. Application of a Model Based Control Strategy at a Fixed Bed Biomass District Heating Plant. 22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition Proceedings. 2014;1698-1705.
Conference contributions | 2014
Ash melting behaviour of solid biofuels in residential pellet boilers
Schwabl M, Feldmeier S, Wopienka E, Haslinger W, Dahl J, Jensen TB, Hartmann H, Schön C, Boman C, Boström D. Pellets Workshop “Ash melting behaviour of solid biofuels in residential pellet boilers” (held held during the Central European Biomass Conference 2014), 15th-18th of January, Graz, Austria, 2014.
Conference contributions | 2014
Bi-directional networks in district heating systems: Results of the heat flow simulaiton
Lichtenegger K, Wöss D, Halmdienst C, Schnetzinger R, Höftberger E. Bidirectional Networks BiNe, Workshop “ Bi-directional networks in district heating systems: Results of the heat flow simulation” (held during the Central European Biomass Conference 2014), 15th-18th of January, Graz, Austria, 2014.
Conference contributions | 2014
Bilanzierung und Optimierung des Zweibett-Wirbelschicht-Dampfvergasers Oberwart mit IPSEpro
Wilk V, Bosch K, Hofbauer H. Bilanzierung und Optimierung des Zweibett-Wirbelschicht-Dampfvergasers Oberwart mit IPSEpro, Fachtagung Prozesssimulation in der Energietechnik 2014, 10th of September 2014, Leipzig, Germany.
Peer-reviewed publications | 2014
Biodiesel Production in Africa
Walimwipi H, Yamba FD, Wörgetter M, Rathbauer J, Bacovsky D. Biodiesel production in Africa. Bioenergy for sustainable development in Africa. ISBN 978-94-007-2181-4 2012:93-102.
Conference contributions | 2014
Biograce-II - Harmonised Greenhouse Gas Calculations for Electricity, Heating and Cooling from Biomass
Ludwiczek N, Bacovsky D, Neeft J. Biograce-II - Harmonised Greenhouse Gas Calculations for Electricity, Heating and Cooling from Biomass, 22nd European Biomass Conference 2014, 23rd-26th of June 2014, Hamburg, Germany. p 1359-1361.
Contributions at other events | 2014
Biohydrogen Production Based on the Catalyzed Water Gas Shift Reaction in Wood Gas
Fail, S. Biohydrogen Production Based on the Catalyzed Water Gas Shift Reaction in Wood Gas, Ph.D. Thesis, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria, 2014.
Conference contributions | 2014
Biomass CHP Oberwart –Production of heat, power and valuable gases
Rauch R. Biomass CHP Oberwart –Production of heat, power and valuable gases, 4th Central European Biomass Conference 2014, 15th-18th of January 2014, Graz, Austria.
Conference contributions | 2014
Biomass CHP Oberwart: Status and Future Potentials
Wilk V, Bosch K, Rauch R, Hofbauer H. Biomass CHP Oberwart: Status and Future Potentials, 4th International Symposium on Gasification and its Applications (iSGA-4) 2014, 2nd-5th of September 2014, Vienna, Austria.
Other publication | 2014
Biomass Gasification for Synthesis Gas Production and Applications of the Syngas
Rauch R, Hrbek J, Hofbauer H. Biomass gasification for synthesis gas production and applications of the syngas. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment. 2014;3(4):343-62.
Synthesis gas from biomass can be produced and utilized in different ways. Conversion of biomass to synthesis gas can be done either in fluidized bed or entrained flow reactors. As gasification agent oxygen, steam, or mixtures are used. The most common use of biomass gasification in the last decades has been for heat and/or power production. Nowadays, the importance of transportation fuels from renewables is increased due to environmental aspects and growing fossil fuels prices. That is why the production of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) liquids, methanol, mixed alcohols, substitute natural gas (SNG), and hydrogen from biomass is now in focus of view. The most innovative and interesting ways of synthesis gas utilization and projects, BioTfueL or GoBiGas, BioLiq, Choren, etc. are discussed here. Further the microchannel technology by Oxford Catalysts and distributed production of SNG in decentral small scale are presented. The synthesis platform in Güssing, Austria is also presented. The FT liquids, hydrogen production, mixed alcohols, and BioSNG, these are the projects associated with the FICFB gasification plant in Güssing. Also the principle and examples of sorption-enhanced reforming to adjust H2/CO ratio in product gas during the gasification is described. Finally, in the conclusion also an outlook for the thermochemical pathway to transportation fuels is given. WIREs Energy Environ 2014, 3:343-362. doi: 10.1002/wene.97 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Conference contributions | 2014
Biomass in the Common Roadmap
Haslinger W. Biomass in the Common Roadmap, Annual Event of European Technology Platform Renewable Heating and Cooling 2014, 22nd of May 2014, Brussels, Belgium.
Other Presentations | 2014
Can bioavailability of trace elements be measured in AD systems?
Ortner M, Rachbauer L, Somitsch W, Bochmann G, Fuchs W. Can bioavailability of trace elements be measured in AD systems? Biogas Science 2014, International Conference on Anaerobic Digestion 26th–30th of October 2014, Vienna, Austria.
Peer Reviewed Scientific Journals | 2014
Can bioavailability of trace nutrients be measured in anaerobic digestion?
Ortner M, Rachbauer L, Somitsch W, Fuchs W. Can bioavailability of trace nutrients be measured in anaerobic digestion? Appl Energy. 2014;126:190-8.
Trace nutrients significantly affect the microbial metabolic activity within anaerobic digestion processes but always imply the risk of overdosing of heavy metals. In this study the applicability of a sequential extraction scheme established for soil and sediment samples on biogas slurries with different compositions was tested and compared to an adapted version of this extraction method. The analytical results proved the successful applicability of the developed analytical technique for the speciation of trace nutrients in anaerobic digestion systems. The procedure fulfills the basic requirements of reproducible data, a time-saving analytical approach and economic feasibility. Recovery rates of 90-110% were obtained for the most important trace elements Fe, Co, Cu, Mo, Ni and Zn. However, it was demonstrated that the adapted method provides more reliable information about the bioavailable fractions and it is considered the more appropriate approach. Data on fractionation indicated that up to 76% of these essential trace nutrients might be present in an insoluble state. Depending on the specific trace element a significant fraction, from 30% to more than 70%, is not directly bioavailable. This important aspect should be considered to guarantee sufficient supply of the microbial consortium with trace elements and at the same time to avoid overdosage. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Conference contributions | 2014
Conversion and leaching characteristics of ashes during outdoor storage
Supancic K, Obernberger I, Kienzl N, Arich A. Aschenutzung Workshop „Conversion and leaching characteristics of ashes during outdoor storage” (held during the Central European Biomass Conference 2014), 15th-18th of January, Graz, Austria, 2014.
Conference contributions | 2014
Cost and energy efficient, environmentally friendly micro and small scale CHP
Haslinger W. Cost and energy efficient, environmentally friendly micro and small scale CHP, 5th AEBIOM European Bioenergy Conference 2014, 12th-14th of May 2014, Brussels, Belgium.
Conference contributions | 2014
Deployment scenarios of biomass-to-end-use chains for torrefied biomass
Schipfer F, Kranzl L, Bienert K, Ehrig R, Meyer M. Deployment scenarios of biomass-to-end-use chains for torrefied biomass, Word Sustainable Energy Days next 2014, 26th-28th of February 2014, Wels, Austria.