Abstract
The present study aims to evaluate the effect of different operating conditions on fouling composition after woody biomass combustion in an experimental low-power fixed-bed boiler. The boiler was built specifically for research purposes and allows easy removal of areas susceptible to fouling and the control, modification and registry of combustion parameters. The influences of the total airflow supplied and the deposition probe temperature were studied in fouling; differentiating between the layers of fouling adhered to the tube and those deposited over the tube. Thermogravimetry and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG-DSC) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were performed in order to determine a relationship between the fouling composition and the combustion parameters used. Upon increasing the total airflow supplied and the deposition probe temperature, the amount of organic matter, namely unburned carbon, decreased, indicating a better combustion efficiency. Chemical analysis results of fouling deposits showed that inorganic elements presented different behaviors depending on the collection area and the combustion parameters. Non-volatile elements such as Si and Ca were mostly found in the coarse fraction of the bottom ash and minor amounts were deposited over the tube. Small amounts of Cl in biomass generated serious deposition problems, especially during combustions with low airflow rates.
Highlights
The growing awareness of environmental issues causes a demand for energy applications based on renewable sources, representing up to 14% of the total world energy demand [1]
The same amount of CO2 absorbed during the growth stage of biomass through photosynthesis is released in a complete combustion, which results in no net increase in this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere [5,6]
Their influence was not as critical as the composition of the burned biomass, but it was revealed that certain combustion parameters could be modified to find the optimal operating point in terms of fouling
Summary
The growing awareness of environmental issues causes a demand for energy applications based on renewable sources, representing up to 14% of the total world energy demand [1]. The novelty of this work comes from the combination of several factors that were investigated together: first, the study of the influence on fouling composition of two important combustion parameters, the total airflow supplied and the deposition probe temperature; second, the analysis and comparison of two separated layers of fouling, “deposited fouling” and “adhered fouling”; and third, the characterization of the organic matter in the fouling deposits, which is a topic rarely investigated. The study of these three aspects together provides the research its originality
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
