Assessing the Potential for Increased Capacity of Combined Heat and Power Facilities Based on Available Corn Stover and Forest Logging Residue in Mississippi

Author

Selvarani Radhakrishnan

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Paz, Joel

Committee Member

Yu, Fei

Committee Member

Eksioglu, Sandra

Date of Degree

8-11-2012

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Engineering Technology

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Engineering Technology Program

Abstract

The amount of available biomass feedstock and associated cost components were analyzed to determine the potential increase in energy capacity of two existing combined heat and power plants in Mississippi. The amount of corn stover and forest logging residue within a 10-mile radius can satisfy the existing requirements of CHP plants in Scott (1 MW) and Washington counties (5 MW). Transporting feedstock within a smaller source area had lower transportation costs, but higher total unit cost than the two other source buffer scenarios. However, capital costs associated with higher plant capacities were significantly higher and plant expansion may not be economically advantageous. Increasing the CHP capacity from 1 MW to 2 MW in Scott county and 5 MW to 10 MW in Washington county might be a sustainable approach by drawing feedstock from a smaller area and at lower utilization rates, while keeping transportation costs low.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/20104

Recommended Citation

Radhakrishnan, Selvarani, "Assessing the Potential for Increased Capacity of Combined Heat and Power Facilities Based on Available Corn Stover and Forest Logging Residue in Mississippi" (2012). Theses and Dissertations. 760.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/760