Efficiency of Biomass Energy: An Exergy Approach to Biofuels, Power, and Biorefineries

Details energy and exergy efficiencies of all major aspects of bioenergy systems * Covers all major bioenergy processes starting from photosynthesis and cultivation of biomass feedstocks and ending with final bioenergy products, like power, biofuels, and chemicals * Each chapter includes historical developments, chemistry, major technologies, applications as well as energy, environmental and economic aspects in order to serve as an introduction to biomass and bioenergy * A separate chapter introduces a beginner in easy accessible way to exergy analysis and the similarities and differences between energy and exergy efficiencies are underlined * Includes case studies and illustrative examples of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation biofuels production, power and heat generation (thermal plants, fuel cells, boilers), and biorefineries * Traditional fossil fuels-based technologies are also described in order to compare with the corresponding bioenergy systems