Past Projects
Small-scale biomass-fired CHP
Funder: EPSRC
Total value: £171k
Principle Investigator:
Associated publications:
G. Qiu, Y. Shao Y., J. Li, H. Liu and S. B. Riffat, ‘Experimental investigation of a biomass-fired ORC-based micro-CHP for domestic applications’, FUEL, 2012, 96, 374-382
H. Liu, Y. Shao and J. Li, ‘A Biomass-Fired Micro-Scale CHP System with Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) - Thermodynamic Modelling Studies’, BIOMASS AND BIOENERGY, 2011, 35, 3985–3994
G. Qiu, H. Liu and S. B. Riffat, Expanders for micro-CHP systems with organic Rankine cycle, APPLIED THERMAL ENGEERING, 2011, 31, 3301–3307
Integrated Biomass-fuelled CHP/cooling system
Funder: Technology Strategy Board
Total value: £135k
Project partners:
- Ashwell Biomass Ltd
- GAST Group
- EPS Ltd
- GD Strawson
Associated publications:
G. Qiu, H. Liu and S. B. Riffat, ‘Experimental investigation of a liquid desiccant cooling system driven by flue gas waste heat of a biomass boiler’, International Journal of Low Carbon Technologies, 2013, 8, 165-172
H. Liu, G. Qiu, Y. Shao, S. B. Riffat, ‘Experimental investigation on the flue gas emissions of a domestic biomass boiler under normal and idle combustion conditions’, International Journal of Low Carbon Technologies, 2010, 5, 88 – 95
H. Liu and R. Boukhanouf, Chapter 21 Combined heat and power generation from biomass, in ‘Sustainable Bioenergy Production’ (Lijun Wang ed., ISBN: 1466505524), CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2014, pp 417 - 443
Mop fan and electrofilter - an innovative approach for cleaning product gases from biomass gasification
Funder: EPSRC
Total value: £175k
Principle Investigator:
Associated publications:
W. Zhang, H. Liu, I. Ul Hai, Y. Neubauer, P. Schröder, H. Oldenburg, A. Seilkopf and A. Kölling, ‘Cleaning strategies for biomass gasification product gas’, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LOW CARBON TECHNOLOGIES, 2012, 7, 69-74
Y. Neubauer and H. Liu, ‘Chapter 6: Biomass Gasification’, in ‘Biomass combustion science, technology and engineering’ (Lasse Rosendahl ed., ISBN 0 85709 131 X, ISBN-13: 978 0 85709 131 4), Woodhead Publishing Limited, pp 106 -129, 2013
Development of a small-scale fuel-flexible biomass pellet boiler with low NOx and particulate emissions
Funder: Carbon Trust
Total value: £230k
Principle Investigator:
Project partners:
Associated publications:
J. Chaney, H. Liu and J. Li, ‘An overview of CFD modelling of small-scale biomass pellet boilers with preliminary results from a simplified approach’, ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT, 2012, 63, 149-156
H. Liu, J. Chaney, J. Li and C. Sun, ‘Control of NOx emissions of a domestic/small-scale biomass pellet boiler by air staging’, FUEL, 2013, 103, 792-798
![Development of a small-scale fuel-flexible biomass pellet boiler with low NOx and particulate emissions](/Research/Groups/Low-Carbon-Energy-and-Resources-Technologies-Research-Group/Images/Research/Biomass/Development-of-a-small-scale-fuel-flexible-biomass-pellet-boiler-with-low-NOx-and-particulate-emissions460x312.png)
Rural Hybrid Energy Enterprise Systems (encompassing Gasification)
Funder: EPSRC
Total value: £2691k
Principle Investigator:
Co-Investigators:
![Rural Hybrid Energy Enterprise Systems (encompassing Gasification)](/Research/Groups/Low-Carbon-Energy-and-Resources-Technologies-Research-Group/Images/Research/Biomass/Rural-Hybrid-Energy-Enterprise-Systems-encompassing-Gasification460x516.png)
Ultra-Supercritical (USC) steam power generation technology with Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB): Combustion, Materials and Modelling
Funder: EPSRC
Total value: £1033k
Principle Investigator:
Co-Investigator:
Project partners:
- University of Sheffield
- University of Warwick
![20kW BFB Biomass Combustor (air and oxy-fuel combustion)](/Research/Groups/Low-Carbon-Energy-and-Resources-Technologies-Research-Group/Images/Research/Combustion-Cleaner-Coal/20kW-BFB-Biomass-Combustor-air-and-oxy-fuel-combustion466x350.png)
Biomass degradation during storage, Engineeriing Doctorate project with E.ON.
Funder: EPSRC and E.ON
Total value: £130k
Principle Investigator:
Co-Investigator:
Associated publications:
S. Graham, C. Eastwick, C.E. Snape and W. Quick, Degradation of biomass fuels during artificial storage in a laborarory environment, Int. J. Low Carbon Technologies, 2012, 7(2), 113-119
S. Graham, C. Eastwick; C.E. Snape and W. Quick, Mechanical degradation of steam exploded wood pellets during long term stockpile storage, Fuel Processing Technol., 2017, 160, 43
![Biomass degradation during storage, Engineeriing Doctorate project with E.ON 1](/Research/Groups/Low-Carbon-Energy-and-Resources-Technologies-Research-Group/Images/Research/Biomass/Biomass-degradation-during-storage-Engineeriing-Doctorate-project-with-E.ON-1.png)
![Biomass degradation during storage, Engineeriing Doctorate project with E.ON 2](/Research/Groups/Low-Carbon-Energy-and-Resources-Technologies-Research-Group/Images/Research/Biomass/Biomass-degradation-during-storage-Engineeriing-Doctorate-project-with-E.ON-2391x301.png)
![Biomass degradation during storage, Engineeriing Doctorate project with E.ON 3](/Research/Groups/Low-Carbon-Energy-and-Resources-Technologies-Research-Group/Images/Research/Biomass/Biomass-degradation-during-storage-Engineeriing-Doctorate-project-with-E.ON-3391x300.png)
Optimised charcoal production, Engineeriing Doctorate project with CPL.
Funder: EPSRC
Total value: £130k
Principle Investigator:
Co-Investigator:
Associated publications:
S. Russell, J.L. Turrion-Gomez, W. Meredith, P. Langston and C.E. Snape, Increased charcoal yield & production of lighter oils from the slow pyrolysis of biomass, J. Anal & Appl. Pyrolysis, 2017, 124, 536-541
Thermally mediated biomass liquefaction with hydrogen-donor solvents
Funder: BP
Principle Investigator:
Associated publications:
H. Deng, W. Meredith, C.N Uguna and C.E. Snape, Impact of solvent type and condition on biomass liquefaction to heavy oils in high yield with low oxygen contents, J. Anal & Appl. Pyrolysis, 2015, 113, 340-348
K. Md Isa, C.E Snape, C. Uguna and W. Meredith, High conversions of miscanthus to bio-oil using sub- and supercritical water above 400oC, J. Anal & Appl. Pyrolysis, 2015,113, 646-654
K. Md Isa, C.E Snape, W. Meredith, C. Uguna and H. Deng, Pyrolysis oil upgrading in high conversions using sub- and supercritical water above 400oC, J. Anal & Appl. Pyrolysis, 2016, 119, 180-188
Hydrothermal carbonisation pilot-plant
Funder: Innovative UK
Total value: £1.5M
![Hydrothermal carbonisation pilot-plant](/Research/Groups/Low-Carbon-Energy-and-Resources-Technologies-Research-Group/Images/Research/Biomass/Hydrothermal-carbonisation-pilot-plant460x612.jpg)