Bio Mass Energy

Overview

Engineering reference data for Bio Mass Energy in food bio.

Key Formulas

pH

$pH = -\log_{10}[H^+]$

Measure of acidity in food.

Water Activity

$a_w = \frac{P}{P_0}$

Ratio of vapor pressure of food to pure water.

Thermal Death Time

$\log\frac{N_0}{N} = \frac{t}{D}$

Microbial reduction during heating.

Q10 Temperature Coefficient

$Q_{10} = \left(\frac{k_2}{k_1}\right)^{10/(T_2-T_1)}$

Rate change per 10°C temperature increase.

Variables

References

• Original Source

Biomass Energy Conversion Factors

The following conversion factors relate common biomass fuel types to standard energy units and fossil fuel equivalents.

Unit Conversions by Fuel Type

Cross-Fuel Equivalences

Key Relationships

The energy content of biomass varies significantly with moisture content:

• Bone-dry wood: ~18 GJ/tonne (0% moisture)
• Air-dry wood: ~11 GJ/tonne (~20% moisture)
• Wood chips: ~3.6 GJ/m³ (variable moisture, ~30–50%)

The relationship between mass and volume for solid wood is:

$\rho_{\text{bone-dry wood}} = \frac{0.68 \text{ tonnes}}{1 \text{ m}^3} = 680 \text{ kg/m}^3$

Energy conversion between oil and biomass:

$1 \text{ barrel oil} = 6.1 \text{ GJ} = 0.5 \text{ m}^3 \text{ bone-dry wood}$

$\therefore E_{\text{wood}} = \frac{6.1 \text{ GJ}}{0.5 \text{ m}^3} = 12.2 \text{ GJ/m}^3 \text{ (solid bone-dry wood)}$

Actual energy content varies with wood species, moisture content, and density. Values above represent typical engineering estimates for mixed hardwood/softwood fuels.