Abstract-The purview of paper pivoted around the pyrolysis decomposition of forest waste (pine needle litter) by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Experiments were carried out in the presence of Nitrogen atmosphere. The experimental data was compared with those obtained by numerical solution of distributed activation energy model (DAEM). Asymptotic expansion is adopted to evaluate the pre-exponential factor, mean activation energy and variance. The correction factor Bi has been invoked to describe accurately the differential thermogravitmeric curves of thermal decomposition of pine needles.

Mitigating global climate change via emission control and taxation is promising for strengthening the economic benefits of bioenergy generation and utilization. This study examines the cost effectiveness of pine needles as an alternative fuel for off-grid electricity generation in India. We first examined the changes of prices in coal for electricity generation due to CO 2 emission reductions and taxes using experimental data of gasification plants. The time value of money and depreciation scale were used to find out the real levellized cost of electricity generation of gasification plants. Then, the costs of electricity generation fuelled by pine needles and coal were estimated using the cost analysis method. Our results indicate that pine needles would have more competitive edge than coal if emission had taxed at about an emission tax INR 525.15 Mg -1 of CO 2 (US$ 8.4), or higher would be needed for pine needles at a yield of 202.176 dry Mg hm -2 yr. The price of coal used for electricity generation would have significantly increased if global CO 2 emission had abridged by 20% or more. However, pine needles were found a much better fuel source with an increasing yield of 5.05 Mg hm -2 yr (with respect to power generation) and 2.335 Mg hm -2 yr (with respect to feedstock production).

This paper deals with the performance evaluation of a throatless gasifier TG-SI-10E. Evaluation of the throatless gasifier was done in three streams, which were the thermal, design and economic aspects. It was tested with pine needles, derived from the Himalayan chir pine (Pinus roxburghii). A non-isokinetic sampling technique was used for measuring the tar and dust contents. The carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emission at the exhaust of engine was in the range of 12.8% and 0.1-0.5% respectively. The maximum temperature of producer gas measured at the outlet of the gasifier was 505 °C. The specific biomass consumption rate of pine needles was calculated to be 1.595 kg/kWh (electrical). Specific gasification rate for the given design was found to be 107 kg/m 2 h. Economic evaluation was based on direct tax incidence.