RTP Bio-Oil As a Renewable Power Source

Renewable energy is a form of energy which comes from natural resources such as wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat, where the source of energy can be reproduced. It also can come from agricultural waste or feedstock which later can be converted into value-added products. A distinct example of renewable energy is bio-oil, a product that derived from oil palm biomass through a chemical process.

Bio-oil produced from RTP™ can economically replace the current transportation fuel, as it can be used to fuel a turbine and specific diesel engines to produce power. It also can replace natural gas, and/or coal in boilers, in either co-fired or sole fuel configuration. As a renewable energy product, it is economical without subsidy at today's fossil fuel prices. It can be referred as an economical RTP bio-oil, which can replace the current fuel based on similar characteristics to fuel machines.

To date, oil palm biomass has been major source in producing biofuel. Lots of research has been conducted in order to convert the biomass into biofuel, notably biodiesel. Not only the oil from the oil palm is used but fronds, empty fruit bunches and palm kernel shells harvested from oil palm plantations were proposed into conversion to renewable energy. By using both the biomass from the plantation as well as the processing residues from palm oil production (fibers, kernel shells, and palm oil mill effluent), bio-energy from palm plantations can have an effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

By using palm biomass to generate renewable energy, fuels and biodegradable products, the balance of energy and greenhouse emissions is improved. Oil palm plantations incinerate biomass to generate power for palm oil mills. In efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, scientists treat palm oil mill effluent to extract biogas which later can be used as energy source for various products.

After purification process, biogas can substitute for natural gas for use at factories. One example on biogas production is anaerobic treatment of palm oil mill effluent results in the production biomass degrading bacteria that produce methane, a form of biogas. It plays an important role in methane production which leads to the production of biogas as renewable fuel.

Conversion of waste into wealth has been garnering attention since it is economical and helps to solve environmental problems. Agricultural waste for example oil palm biomass has been used to create another source of energy, that is safer, cost-effective and efficient in terms of the performance. It also can reduce the cost of production since it is a continuous process.

Premium Renewable Energy (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., also known as PRE Malaysia focuses on the production of bio-oil from oil palm biomass as a source of green renewable energy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5420299

Rapid Thermal Processing to Convert Oil Palm Biomass Into a Premium Renewable Energy Source

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Rapid Thermal Processing or "RTP™" is a process which adds value to biomass. In this particular case, it can be used to convert oil palm biomass into bio-oil, which can then be served to other purposes such as a renewable source of energy. Large-scale experiments have shown that the quality and yield of the resulting bio-oil is so viable, it can be considered as a premium renewable energy. Among the intended uses being renewable transport fuels. This method of producing a renewable source of energy is based on the introduction of heat to efficiently convert oil palm biomass to produce high value products. The result is a premium renewable energy source which can be used for various purposes including power generators, green diesel and can even replace jet fuel.

The conversion of oil-palm biomass through RTP™ technology in producing a renewable energy source of fuel such as bio-oil is currently under research and development. Such pyrolysis technology exists, and has operated on a long-term commercial basis which converts the solid biomass to liquid in less than two seconds. The result is simply renewable energy from oil palm biomass. Basically, it is a fast thermal process where the biomass is introduced into a vessel and rapidly heated to 500 deg C by a tornado of hot sand and then rapidly cooled within seconds. It generates a relatively high yield (up to 75% per weight of biomass) of pourable, liquid "bio-oil" from residual forestry or agricultural product, in this case oil palm biomass. Pyrolysis technology exploits the thermo-chemical process of decomposing organic material at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen. It typically occurs under pressure and operates at high temperatures (above 430 deg C).

This process is the basis of several methods that are being developed for producing premium renewable energy from oil palm biomass. The process is self-sustaining as it is economical, where the byproducts produced from this process are used to generate much of the heat and power required to operate the unit. It produces very little byproducts: notably char which is consumed internally to generate the required heat for the rapid thermal process; and gas, which can be used for drying the incoming biomass or for heating integration into the overall facility. From here it is clear that rapid thermal processing in converting oil palm biomass into a premium renewable energy source provides an answer to the energy debate. The resulting clean renewable energy can be used to replace fossil fuels without the expense of changing the infrastructure of fuel engine technology, like the issue with bio-diesel. Faiz Suberi is currently a consultant for Premium Renewable Energy (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Also known as PRE Malaysia, they focus on the production of bio-oil from oil palm biomass as a source of green renewable energy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5118670