Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis, and Torrefaction: Practical Design, Theory, and Climate Change Mitigation

Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis, and Torrefaction: Practical Design, Theory, and Climate Change Mitigation, Fourth Edition explores the role of biomass conversion in climate change mitigation. With a focus on design, analysis and operational aspects of biomass gasification, pyrolysis and torrefaction, this edition offers comprehensive coverage of biomass in its gas, liquid and solid states. Processing and cleaning of product gas in gasification is considered, as are biomaterials and their development, making this a versatile resource that not only explains the basic principles of energy conversion systems, but also provides valuable insights into the design of a complete biomass conversion systems.

For the first time, hydrogen production for fuel cells applications is addressed, reflecting the expanding role of hydrogen as a fuel source. Although the book carries the name ‘biomass’, the bulk of its content is also applicable to non-biomass fuels like coal, petcoke, municipal solid waste and others. This book will allow professionals, such as engineers, scientists, and operating personnel of biomass gasification, pyrolysis or torrefaction plants, to gain a better comprehension of biomass conversion.

• Features updates with the most recent research and technology
• Includes a dedicated chapter on hydrogen production for fuel cell application
• Explores the application of biomass conversion in climate change mitigation and sustainable development
• Contains updated step-by-step process flow diagrams, design data, conversion charts and numerical examples with solutions
• Provides available research results in an easy-to-use design methodology
• Spotlights advanced processes such as supercritical water gasification and torrefaction of biomass
• Examines the economic aspects of biomass conversion, including ecological economics and the circular economy for sustainable development

Dr. Prabir Basu, founding President of Greenfield Research Incorporated, a private research and development company in Canada that specializes in gasification and torrefaction, is an active researcher and designer of biomass energy conversion systems. Dr. Basu holds a position of Professor in Mechanical Engineering Department and is Head of Circulating Fluidized Bed Laboratory at Dalhousie University, Halifax His current research interests include frontier areas, chemical looping gasification, torrefaction, biomass cofiring amongst others.

Professor Basu also founded of the prestigious triennial International Conference series on Circulating Fluidized Beds, and a private R&D company, Fluidized Bed Systems Limited that specializes on design, training and investigative services on fluidized bed boilers.

Professor Basu has been working in the field of energy conversion and the environment for more than 30 years. Prior to joining the engineering faculty at Dalhousie University (formerly known as the Technical University of Nova Scotia), he worked with both a government research laboratory and a boiler manufacturing company.

Dr. Basu’s passion for the transformation of research results into industrial practice is well known, as is his ongoing commitment to spreading advanced knowledge around the world. He has authored more than 200 research papers and seven monographs in emerging areas of energy and environment, some of which have been translated into Chinese and Korean. He is well known internationally for providing expert advices on circulating fluidized bed boilers and conducting training courses to industries and universities across the globe.

She is presently an Associate Professor in Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India. She has research and teaching experience of twenty years in the areas of bioenergy and environment. Her present research interest lies in the interface between Energy Systems, Society and Climate Change. After obtaining Ph.D. from Technical University of Vienna, Austria and working in Calgary and Dalhousie University in Canada she joined The Energy and Resources Institute New Delhi. A think tank that spearheads the global action on climate change research and prepared multiple assessment report under the aegis of IPCC. This tenure allowed her to make significant contribution to designing policies and evaluating pathways to decarbonize the energy, material, and agriculture systems in India and elsewhere in the world. Additionally, she has been involved in cooperation and capacity building between Asia and Africa through multi and bi-lateral organizations.