Fine combustion particles released during combustion of unit mass of beechwood

Abstract

The combustion of biomass is associated with the production of a significant amount of combustion particles. These particles are entrained by the flue gas from the combustion plant. To assess the type of fuel and the influence of the operating parameters on the fine particle emission, it is useful to know the mass of the fine particles produced at combustion per unit amount of fuel. For this purpose, the authors carried out laboratory combustion tests using thermogravimetric analysis and identification of the fine particle size distribution in the flue gas. Different samples of beechwood were used for experimental measurements. The atmosphere of the combustion process was tested in the range of 0–21% of oxygen in a mixture with nitrogen. The measured mass ratios of the fine particles produced and the original fuel sample were compared with the experimental studies of other authors. The resulting mass emissions of fine particles were quantified between 2% and 9% of the initial fuel sample weight.