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Research Project: ON-FARM EVALUATION OF THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION OF KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS STRAW TO ENERGY

Location: Forage Seed and Cereal Research

Project Number: 5358-21410-003-07
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jan 29, 2008
End Date: Dec 31, 2012

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to develop an integrated system for on-farm energy production from straw residues generated during grass seed production including the test of a farm-scale gasification reactor suitable for burning grass seed straw to produce high quality syngas that can be used to generate electricity and other value-added bio-based products to increase on-farm income. Using the seed production cropping system and a test gasification reactor platform, we will determine the most economic technical paths to overcome agronomic, microbiological, and physical chemical limitations to on-farm production of energy and other bio-based products.

Approach:
An integrated system for harvest, collection, storage and transport of the straw to a farm-scale gasification reactor will be evaluated for concept and related technologies of on-farm energy production from Kentucky bluegrass straw. The goal will be to develop an economical and integrated system that will result in the conversion of straw into a high quality syngas with a quality ratio around 12 (H2 + CO)/(CO2 + H2O) and net thermal-to-chemical energy efficiency in the 65-70% range. Documents NFCA with Farm Power.

   

 
Project Team
Banowetz, Gary
 
Project Annual Reports
  FY 2011
  FY 2010
  FY 2009
  FY 2008
 
Related National Programs
  Water Availability and Water Management (211)
  Bioenergy (213)
  Agricultural System Competitiveness and Sustainability (216)
 
 
Last Modified: 10/01/2012
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