CC8 - Renewable energy resources, low environmental impact technologies: characteristics and availability, proven and innovative exploitation technologies, energy sustainability, economic and environmental sustainability.CA1 -Ability of analysis and modeling of mechanical/electrical/propulsive components and systems: basic problems and models for industrial engineering, with special reference to mechanical and energy engineering.
CC10 - Multidisciplinary context for the energy engineering and problem-solving oriented approach: from the problem to the reasons that caused this and possible solutions, typically interdisciplinary ones. Biomass processes and plants.
CA5 - Identify, formulate and solve industrial engineering problems, with special focus to energy issues.
CA7 - Analyze, design and manage innovative integrated renewable energy systems, sustainability, environmental and economic impact
CA8 - Ability of analyzing plants, components and process technologies and methods of engineering and their economic implications
CA10 - Communication skills to transfer information, ideas and solutions to specialists and others, in Italian and English
Prerequisites
The following courses are suggested at inlet Chemistry, Mechanics, Renewable Energy
Teaching Methods
Lesson in Classroom, slides given to the students
Type of Assessment
Oral Examination.
Lignocellulosic biomass pre-treatment. Thermochemical (torrefaction, pyrolysis, gasification and combustion, exhaust gas and syngas cleaning) and Biochemical (anaerobic digestion, hydrolysis and fermentation) processes for energy and biofuel production. Conventional and advanced transport biofuels. EU regulation of the transport sector. Green Chemistry. Sustainability and economics.
Extended understanding of physical and technological issues. Fundamental knowledge on possible bioenergy chains and related issues.
Course program
PART 1 THE FEEDSTOCK
1.1 Types of biomasses. Main constituents of biomass.
1.2 Biomass from forestry and from agriculture
1.3 Energy crops
1.4 Agroindustrial and agro-residues
1.5 Microalgae and macroalgae
1.6 Chemical and physical characteristics of solid biomass. Analytical techniques for the characterisation of solid biomasses.
PART 2 PRETREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES
2.1 Drying: technologies, energy consumption
2.2 Chipping
2.3 Compactation: pellets and briquettes
PART 3 ENERGY CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
3.1 Biomass combustion: domestic and industrial plants
3.2 Biomass torrefaction
3.3 Pyrolysis of biomass: slow, intermediate and flash pyrolysis. Pyrolysis products
3.4 Biomass gasification. Processes, technologies, plants.
3.5 Anaerobic digestion and biogas production. Feedstocks, biogas characteristics and upgrading, biomethane
3.6 Use of biogas for power and CHP
3.7 Use of pyrolysis oil for power and CHP
3.8 Use of producer gas for power and CHP
PART 4 BIOFUELS AND GREEN CHEMICALS
4.1 Calls about organic chemistry and transport fuels
4.2 Liquid biofuels for transport. First and second generation biofuels, advanced generation biofuels
4.3 First generation biofuels - Straight vegetable oil: feedstocks, processes, technologies and plants
4.4 First generation biofuels - Biodiesel: feedstocks, processes, technologies and plants
4.5 First generation biofuels - Bioethanol: feedstocks, processes, technologies and plants
4.6 Second generation biofuels - BTL: : feedstocks, processes, technologies and plants
4.7 Second generation biofuels - Lignocellulosic ethanol: feedstocks, processes, technologies and plants
4.8 Microalgae. Cultivation of microalgae in Open Ponds (OP) and Photobioreactors (PBRs)
4.9 Use of liquid biofuels in engines and turbines
4.10 The Green Chemistry sector
PART 5 POLICY, SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMICS OF BIOENERGY
5.1 Calls on EU and National Policies
5.2 Calls on Sustainability and Life Cycle Analysis
5.3 Call on economics