[GNash94]

Hi, im an engineer so have little knowledge of chemistry. I have data on a biomass i am looking at burning to generate power. I have been given a rough breakdown of the biomass, and told to assume the rest is "Ash". how do i go about calculating the HHV or LHV of the biomass? the breakdown of the percentage mass of different compounds is below:


Cellulose      27.8
Hemicellulose   12.7
Lignin         17.8
Starch      6.28
Lipid         11.2
Protein      5.94
Nitrogen      1.88
Ash         16.4

[Arkcon]

There may be published values for the individual components, but it might be an easier search if you just use the reported values for the particular biomass in question.  For example, wood, or paper pulp waste, or whatever it is you have.

[Enthalpy]

I too would jump on published values, because
- Computing the combustion heat is too prone to errors
- Determining it for "protein" and "lipid" would first need a lengthy analysis of what the typical proteins may be.

[thelastone]

Hi, im an engineer so have little knowledge of chemistry. I have data on a biomass i am looking at burning to generate power. I have been given a rough breakdown of the biomass, and told to assume the rest is "Ash". how do i go about calculating the HHV or LHV of the biomass? the breakdown of the percentage mass of different compounds is below:


Cellulose      27.8
Hemicellulose   12.7
Lignin         17.8
Starch      6.28
Lipid         11.2
Protein      5.94
Nitrogen      1.88
Ash         16.4

I suggest obtain the mix in the lab and obtaining experimental data, a calorimeter is your friend: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calorimeter , search here for a "bomb calorimeter": http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/c120/calorimetry.html .

I too would jump on published values, because
- Computing the combustion heat is too prone to errors
- Determining it for "protein" and "lipid" would first need a lengthy analysis of what the typical proteins may be.

That's right, there is an enormous difference between diferent proteins.