By Burning Different Biomass Substances, Which Material Creates The Largest Amount Of Electricity For Lighting A Light Bulb?
School Name
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Grade Level
9th Grade
Presentation Topic
Chemistry
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Oral Presentation Award
2nd Place
Abstract
This project examines the effect of burning different types of biomass substances on the amount of heat and ultimately millivolts produced through a thermoelectric element. The biomass substances that were used were pine straw, torrified wood, dry leaves, and wood chips or also known as mulch. Each biomass substances had first been dried in a vacuum oven for 48 hours. Each biomass substance was lit above a sterno burner, then was quickly placed underneath a metal can filled with room temperature water. Also, another metal can placed with room temperature water was placed on the other side, while the thermoelectric element was placed between the two cans. Two thermocouples were used to measure the difference between in the water temperatures, which through the thermoelectric element created a small amount of voltage. After the experiment was finished, it was found that pine straw created the most amount of voltage the fastest but also lost its flame the fastest at about 1:00 minute in almost every run done. The other biomass samples all had flames burn longer than 1 minute and 15 seconds.
Recommended Citation
Lauterbach, Julia and Hennig, Beverly, "By Burning Different Biomass Substances, Which Material Creates The Largest Amount Of Electricity For Lighting A Light Bulb?" (2016). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 197.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2016/all/197
Location
Owens 101
Start Date
4-16-2016 10:30 AM
By Burning Different Biomass Substances, Which Material Creates The Largest Amount Of Electricity For Lighting A Light Bulb?
Owens 101
This project examines the effect of burning different types of biomass substances on the amount of heat and ultimately millivolts produced through a thermoelectric element. The biomass substances that were used were pine straw, torrified wood, dry leaves, and wood chips or also known as mulch. Each biomass substances had first been dried in a vacuum oven for 48 hours. Each biomass substance was lit above a sterno burner, then was quickly placed underneath a metal can filled with room temperature water. Also, another metal can placed with room temperature water was placed on the other side, while the thermoelectric element was placed between the two cans. Two thermocouples were used to measure the difference between in the water temperatures, which through the thermoelectric element created a small amount of voltage. After the experiment was finished, it was found that pine straw created the most amount of voltage the fastest but also lost its flame the fastest at about 1:00 minute in almost every run done. The other biomass samples all had flames burn longer than 1 minute and 15 seconds.
