Module Details
Module Code: |
ENVR E9Z02 |
Full Title:
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Bio-Energy 1
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Valid From:: |
Semester 1 - 2019/20 ( June 2019 ) |
Language of Instruction: | English |
Module Owner:: |
Wayne Doherty
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Module Description: |
This module provides students with a detailed knowledge of how energy can be generated from waste residues and biomass and to give students awareness and knowledge of associated legislation, policies, traditional approaches and emerging technologies.
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Module Learning Outcome |
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
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Module Learning Outcome Description |
MLO1 |
Critically evaluate global patterns of biomass use and identify solid, liquid and gaseous biomass resources. |
MLO2 |
Appraise the environmental impact of current and future energy sources and uses. |
MLO3 |
Examine, evaluate and apply the fundamental principles, operating criterias and design options for the conversion of biomass to bioenergy. |
MLO4 |
Evaluate recent advances in bioenergy technologies. |
MLO5 |
Interpret and compare national and international policies and apply the major legislative and regulatory instruments in relation to bioenergy and solid waste management. |
Pre-requisite learning |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named DkIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
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No recommendations listed |
Module Indicative Content |
Introduction to Biomass
The energy problem: sources of biomass, patterns of global biomass use and overview of legislation and policies. Fundamentals of biomass: biomass types and composition, moisture content, energy content and fuel properties, resource quantification, biomass fuel standards.
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Biomass Pre-treatment and Supply Chain
Biomass Pre-treatment: moisture reduction, size reduction, densification, fuel quality and standards. Biomass Supply Chain: forestry wood and energy crops, delivery and storage.
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Thermochemical Conversion
Combustion: basics and stages/steps of combustion, parameters influencing combustion, combustion process control, domestic, commercial and industrial scale biomass combustion technologies, co-firing biomass with fossil fuels, waste-to-energy combustion plants. Gasification: basics, gasifier technologies and operating parameters, gasification plants. Pyrolysis: fast pyrolysis technologies for the production of bio-oil, applications of bio-oil, development status and plants. Applications: process heat/district heat, CHP, Electricity only, steam engines and turbines, gas engines and turbines. Novel and emerging technologies.
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Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic digestion process basics and stages/steps, feedstock types, operational parameters, co-digestion, digester types, energy generation, biogas cleaning and upgrading for biomethane grid injection, landfill gas, associated legislation.
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Transport Biofuels
Feedstocks, transesterification for production of biodiesel, pure plant oil production, fermentation for production of bioethanol, novel production technologies, liquid biofuel quality issues and engine performance and modifications, legislation and regulatory instruments, global utilisation and production, sustainability and environmental impact of transport biofuels.
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Module Assessment
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Assessment Breakdown | % |
Course Work | 30.00% |
Final Examination | 70.00% |
Module Special Regulation |
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AssessmentsFull Time On Campus
Reassessment Requirement |
A repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.
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DKIT reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
Workload: Full Time On Campus |
Workload Type |
Contact Type |
Workload Description |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
Hours |
Lecture |
Contact |
Lecture |
Every Week |
2.00 |
2 |
Practical |
Contact |
Laboratory practical |
Every Third Week |
1.00 |
3 |
Independent Study |
Non Contact |
No Description |
Every Week |
6.00 |
6 |
Directed Reading |
Non Contact |
No Description |
Every Week |
3.00 |
3 |
Total Weekly Learner Workload |
12.00 |
Total Weekly Contact Hours |
3.00 |
This module has no Part Time On Campus workload. |
Module Resources
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Recommended Book Resources |
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van Loo & Koppejan. (2008), Biomass Combustion & Co‐firing, Earthscan.
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Spliethoff H. (2010), Power generation from solid fuels, Springer.
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Basu. (2013), Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis and Torrefaction - Practical Design and Theory, 2nd. Elsevier.
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Al Seadi et al.. (2008), Biogas Handbook, University of Southern Denmark.
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Deublein & Steinhauser. (2011), Biogas from Waste and Renewable Resources: An Introduction, Wiley.
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Speight. (2015), Biofuels Handbook, Royal Society of Chemistry.
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Luque. (2016), Handbook of Biofuels Production - Processes and Technologies, 2nd. Woodhead Publishing.
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Cengel & Boles. (2014), Thermodynamics an engineering approach, 8th. McGraw-Hill.
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DGS & Ecofys. (2005), Planning and Installing Bioenergy Systems: A guide for installers, architects and engineers, James & James.
| This module does not have any article/paper resources |
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Other Resources |
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Journal Search Database, Science Direct,
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Website, COFORD Connects: practical info. on
forestry,
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Database, Biomass composition database,
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Website, Manages Irish public forests, wood
supplier (incl. biomass for energy),
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Website, Irish Agriculture and Food Development
Authority (energy crops information,
etc.),
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Website, Irish Bioenergy Association (Annual
National Bioenergy Conference
presentations, etc.),
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Website, Irish Wood Fuel Quality Assurance scheme,
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Website, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
(information reports on all aspects of
renewable energy and statistical reports
on national energy use, etc.),
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Website, National Oil Reserves Agency
(responsible for Biofuels Obligation
Scheme),
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Website, Commission for Regulation of Utilities
(energy and water regulator, useful
reports on gas and electricity in
Ireland),
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Website, Irish electricity Transmission System
Operator (reports on generation
adequacy, Grid25, all connected/planned
electricity generators, smart grid
dashboard live electricity data, etc.),
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Website, Gas Networks Ireland own, operate, build
and maintain the natural gas network in
Ireland,
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Website, Originally peat harvesting company but
now moving into bioenergy (operate
Edenderry),
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Website, Ireland’s Environmental Protection
Agency (GHG emissions reports, reports
on waste, etc.),
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Website, Government Dept. of Communications,
Climate Action and Environment (national
energy policy documents such as the
NREAP and the Bioenergy Plan, REFIT,
etc.),
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Website, Central Statistics Office Ireland (land
use, population statistics, etc.),
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Website, EU Directives and EU energy policy
documents,
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Website, European Biomass Association,
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Website, European Biodiesel Board,
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Website, European Bioethanol Association,
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Website, European Biogas Association,
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Website, International Energy Agency Bioenergy
(information exchange between countries
on bioenergy, see Task Websites: Task 32
Biomass Combustion & Co-firing, Task
33 Thermal Gasification of Biomass,
etc.),
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Website, USA National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
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