Abstract
This experimental work aims to study the viability of making use of agricultural and forest residues as an alternative to produce biofuels for commercial devices. It focuses on the feasibility of three non-commercial biomass fuels in an underfed biomass pilot combustor with a power range of 7–12 kWth (500–800 kW/m2). To carry out the investigation, the repeatability of the facility was studied using fuel with a high ash content. The relative deviations in the main parameters considered (combustion rate, gaseous emissions and particulate matter emissions) were below 10%. A feasibility analysis was performed by comparing the result obtained with a barley and leaf pellet with that obtained with a commercial wood pellet as a reference. The parameters used in this study were the operational parameters of the plant as well as the particle concentration and distribution, fouling and slagging. Comparing the results of the different fuels, it was determined that 25% leaf + 75% wood pellet (lp25) could be used as a commercial pellet with the incorporation of an additive. However, the two other fuels presented undesirable behavior characterized by high particle concentrations and notable amounts of slag.
Highlights
IntroductionThe growing increase in the price of fossil fuels and concern for the environment have powered the search for new energy resources [1]
In recent years, renewable energies have gained great importance
A feasibility analysis was performed by comparing the result obtained with a barley and leaf pellet with that obtained with a commercial wood pellet as a reference
Summary
The growing increase in the price of fossil fuels and concern for the environment have powered the search for new energy resources [1]. New technologies and advances coming from research studies in the field of biomass have increased the use of pellets and briquettes in common applications of heat production in the domestic sector [2,3]. As a consequence of this growing use, the availability of biomass is decreasing. The majority of commercial pellets are made of wood, and it is useful to search for new raw materials for the production of pellets. Some studies have proven the validity of alternative sources with lower energy quality, including various agricultural residues such as apple pulp, red canary grass, waste pectin citrus peel, sunflower husk, wheat straw, bagasse, nutshell, hemp, salix, grass, tomatoes, chard and olive pits, among others [4,5,6]. Tests are normally conducted in small-scale commercial boilers [7,8] but occasionally in pilot plants or experimental prototype burners [7,8,9]
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