Improvement in Reactivity and Pollutant Emission by Cofiring of Coal and Pretreated Biomass

Abstract

A fuel pretreatment technique is one of the most effective ways of using biomass fuel to solve problems including disadvantages of low calorific value, slagging, and fouling. Biomass fuel can gain a high calorific value and lower ash content by torrefaction and ash removal technology, respectively. In this study, a thermogravimetric analysis for deriving combustion parameters and the combustion characteristic factor (S) and an evolved gas analysis for investigating emission characteristics were studied by using a thermogravimetric Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR) system with coal, biomass, pretreated biomass, and their blends (10, 20, and 30%) to evaluate the combustibility and environmental performance. In the thermogravimetric analysis, coal and ashless biomass blends showed the greatest combustion performance and were confirmed to have a higher S index. Gas emissions (CO2, CO, NO, and SO2) were also investigated during the combustion process (O2, 21%; N2, 79%) to compare coal and biomass blends wit...