BIOMASS ENERGY CONTENT

The energy content of biomass is obviously a very important parameter from the standpoint
of conversion of biomass to energy and synfuels. The different components in biomass would
be expected to have different heats of combustion because of the different chemical structures
and carbon content.
Energy content equations:
Bain/Graboski (1979):
HHV [Btu/lb] = 85,65 +137,04 C + 217,55 H + 62,56 N 107,73 S + 8,04 O - 12,94 Ash
Dulong-Petit (Perry, 1997)
HHV [kJ/kg] = 337 C + 1428 (H - O/8) + 95 S
Dulong-Petit (Tillman)
HHV [Btu/lb] = 14490 C + 61000 H + 5550 S
HHV [Btu/lb] = 14440 C + 61020 H + 5550 S - 6590 O - (39 O)^2
Boie (Standard and modified for MSW respectively)
HHV [kJ/kg] = 351,7 C + 1162,4 H + 104,6 S - 110,9 O + 62,8 N - 439,6
HHV [kJ/kg] = 227,9 C + 1162,4 H + 104,6 S + 58,2 O + 62,8 N - 439,6
Vondracek
HHV [kcal/kg] = 85 C + 270 H +25 S - 27 O
HHV [kcal/kg] = (89,1 - 0,067 C) + 270 H + 25 S - 27 O
IGT/Graboski
HHV(kJ/g) = 0.341 C+ 1.322 H + 0.0686 S - 0.120 (O+N) - 0.0153 Ash
Atlas of Thermal Data (NREL/TP-433-7965)
HHV(kJ/g) = 0.3491 C + 1.1783 H + 0.1005 S -0.1034 O -0.0151 N - 0.0211 Ash

Channiwala
HHV [kJ/kg] = 349,1 C + 1178,3 H - 103,4 O + 100,5 S - 15,1 N - 21,1 Ash
Dr. Demirbas, published in the journal Fuel in 1997:
HHV = 0.312(FC) + 0.1534(VM).
Dr. Demirbas, published in the journal Fuel in 1997:
HHV = 0.196(FC) + 14.119.
Dr. Demirbas
The HHV(kJ g1) of the biomass fuel as a function of lignin content (L, wt%) was calculated
using the following equations:

The HHV is calculated from the ash, C, and H content by (Sheng and Azevedo, 2005):
HHV (MJ/kg) = -1.3675 + 0.3137C + 0.7009H + 0.0318 O*
Where O* = the sum of the contents of oxygen and other elements (including S, N, Cl, etc.)
in the organic matter, i.e. O*=100%-C-H-Ash.
Milnes formula
HHV(MJ/kg) = 338.2 x C + 1442.8 x (H-O/8)
Grummel and Davis
HHV, Btu/lb = [654.3 H/(100-A) + 424.62] [C/3 + H O/8 + S/8}
Mott and Spooner
HHV, Btu/lb = 144.54 C + 610.2 H + 40.5 S 62.46 O O < 15%
HHV, Btu/lb = 144.54 C + 610.2 H + 40.5 S [65.88 30.96 O/(100-Ash) (O)]

O > 15%

Francis and Lloyd

HHV, kJ/kg = 357.8 C + 1135.6 H + 54.9 N + 119.5 S 85.4 O -974
Shafizadeh and Degroot
HHV, kJ/kg = 173.89 Ce + 266.29 L + 321.87 E

Carbon, %
Hydrogen, %
Oxygen, %
Nitrogen, %
Sulfur, %
Ash, %

Pine
0.518
0.063
0.413
0.001
0.000
0.005
Pine

Bain/Graboski
(1979),kJ/kg
Dulong-Petit (Perry,
1997)
Dulong-Petit
(Tillman)
Boie
Vondracek
Atlas
IGT
Milnes formula
Grummel and
Davis
Francis and Lloyd

Giant
Brown
Kelp
0.277
0.037
0.282
0.012
0.003
0.389
Giant
Brown
Kelp

Water
Hyacinth
0.411
0.053
0.288
0.020
0.004
0.224

Livestock
waste
0.351
0.053
0.332
0.025
0.004
0.235

RDF
0.412
0.055
0.387
0.005
0.002
0.139

Water
Hyacinth

Livestock
waste

RDF

388.305

290.716

345.618

328.478

348.630

190.810

96.502

162.958

135.089

148.495

186.551
209.673
208.536
208.046
210.168
191.599

96.399
110.495
108.911
101.069
102.623
96.542

160.064
175.716
173.611
168.052
169.979
163.311

133.471
150.224
147.475
142.878
143.596
135.300

146.198
166.437
164.989
162.475
164.173
148.897

314.914
221.668

152.597
118.317

266.170
184.066

209.072
159.272

237.875
177.335

450.000
400.000
350.000

Bain/Graboski (1979),kJ/kg
Dulong-Petit (Perry, 1997)

300.000

/g
J
,k
V
H

Dulong-Petit (Tillman)
250.000

Boie

200.000

Vondracek
Atlas

150.000

IGT
Milnes formula

100.000

Grummel and Davis

50.000

Francis and Lloyd

0.000
Pine

Giant Brown Kelp

Water Hyacinth
Biomass

Livestock waste

RDF