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PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

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4.2.1 Derived Fuel Production Specification<br />

In this procedure, the production <strong>of</strong> fuels by various processes has been split<br />

from its end use as this then allows the same fuel type to be used later in more<br />

than one process (e.g. in vehicles and turbines). The fuels chosen for inclusion<br />

in this procedure are biogas (low and medium heating value), 95% methane,<br />

biodiesel, hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, pyrolysis oil, charcoal and refuse<br />

derived fuel (RDF). Three ‘other’ categories are also included to allow the<br />

modelling <strong>of</strong> the untreated production <strong>of</strong> biomass or waste (e.g. straw<br />

production or waste availability), residues <strong>of</strong> the fuel production procedures, or<br />

the use <strong>of</strong> conventional fuels, making these available for use in various supply<br />

technologies, in order to allow the same analysis <strong>of</strong> storage requirements and<br />

fuel availability. A distinction has been made here between low, medium and<br />

high (95% methane) heating value biogas as, although these may all be<br />

commonly produced by various methods, some plant (e.g. vehicles) can only use<br />

95% methane, while others may be adapted to use any <strong>of</strong> these. <strong>Energy</strong> is<br />

required to increase the heating value <strong>of</strong> the biogas, and this also reduces the<br />

yield.<br />

As the gases (biogas and hydrogen) can be stored in a number <strong>of</strong> ways (e.g.<br />

compressed gas, liquid, or as metal hydride for hydrogen), it has been decided<br />

that it is confusing to use a unit <strong>of</strong> volume to describe the amount stored or the<br />

rate <strong>of</strong> production, as this would vary with the storage medium. These<br />

parameters will, instead, be described by their energy content – kWh for storage,<br />

and kW for rate <strong>of</strong> production. As the lower heating value <strong>of</strong> the biogas<br />

produced by various processes can vary significantly within the broad bands <strong>of</strong><br />

low and medium heating value, this also means that the lower heating value <strong>of</strong><br />

the gas need only be considered once during the procedure, and that gases, made<br />

by different methods, with slightly different lower heating values, may be<br />

combined under the headings <strong>of</strong> low or medium heating value biogas.<br />

To make results more meaningful for the user, however, the liquid fuels<br />

(ethanol, methanol, biodiesel and pyrolysis oil) are described in litres for storage<br />

and litres/hour for production rate <strong>of</strong> the liquid fuel. As liquid fuel consumption<br />

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