Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The module adds to the knowledge obtained in Heat transfer; Fundamentals of CFD; Combustion theory; Fluid mechanics.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• Understand solid biomass feedstock: Fuel characterisation, representative biomass thermochemical conversion technologies, heat/mass transfer and various reactions in biomass thermochemical conversion
• Understand radiation heat transfer without or with participating medium: Surface-to-Surface model (extended network method) for radiation heat transfer without participating medium; radiative transfer equation, radiative properties of participating medium, and various models for radiation heat transfer with participating medium
• Have knowledge about biomass gasification and combustion on different scales such as particle, reactor and plant levels
• Have knowledge about biomass gasification technology for green fuel production: Principles, key factors, types of gasifiers and their key characteristics, gasifier design, green syngas or producer gas, success stories of biomass gasification
• Have knowledge about representative biomass combustion technologies for renewable heat and power generation such as grate-firing and suspension-firing: Different arrangements/layouts, special components, key topics, overall modelling strategy and special sub-modelling issues

Skills

• Be able to identify the appropriate utilisation technology for a given biomass based on its properties
• Understand thermal radiation heat transfer, various applications, and advanced modelling of radiation heat transfer without and with participating medium
• Understand the mechanisms and the key issues in biomass gasification and the modelling
• Understand the key sub-processes in biomass combustion and various key biomass combustion technologies (their advantages and disadvantages, and modelling strategies)
• Be able to develop key sub-models for biomass conversion and implementing them into commercial CFD

Competences

• Have in-depth understanding of all the important issues in biomass gasification and combustion, including combustion physics (e.g., radiative heat transfer, turbulent flow) and combustion chemistry (e.g., pyrolysis, homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions)
• Be able to develop sub-models and codes for the key, special processes in biomass gasification and combustion process and ability to perform a reliable CFD of biomass gasifier and combustor

Type of instruction

Lectures in combination with tutorials, assignments,  hands-on, and e-learning activities.

Extent and expected workload

Since it is a 5 ECTS course module, the work load is expected to be 150 hours for the student.

Exam

Exams