Biomass combustion with hydrogen injection for energy applications

Abstract

This paper introduces a viable and economical solution for reducing the impact of fossil fuels combustion on the environment. The new proposed energy vector solid biomass-hydrogen combines the positive effect of biomass on the carbon emissions and the ones of hydrogen clean gas. The researches regarding hydrogen diffusion (pure or mixed) within biomass are part of a wider research conducted by the authors on utilization of hydrogen as active environment for combustion of solid biomass. The researches focus on the development of an innovative efficient technology for co-combustion of solid biomass with hydrogen enriched gas (HRG). The HRG is produced by an electrolytic system. The combustion of various types of solid biomass like sawdust, chopped wood, straw briquette, ropes of wine, cobs corn, and energy willow with and without HRG is analyzed. The results of thermal and environmental analyses are leading to interesting conclusions. By injecting HRG in the primary air in the co-combustion process of biomass, the flame temperature increased by 10%, the CO concentration decreased by 60–80% for specific ratio 15 L/kg, and the combustion efficiency raised by 2–4%. The results reveal the reduction by 40% of SO2 concentration, while the NOx concentration increased by 10%.