Process simulation and CFD calculations for the development of an innovative baled biomass-fired combustion chamber

Abstract

This present work shows that the joint application of process simulation and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a helpful tool for the design and optimisation of complex and innovative concepts in chemical engineering practice. The application of these tools to the presented concept of a baled biomass-fired combustion chamber enables the optimisation of operation parameters such as the flue gas recirculation rate and excess air supply. Moreover numerous variations of the detailed engineering of the involved apparatuses can be simulated before realisation. The major goals comprise the maximisation of the thermal efficiency and the reduction of gaseous and particulate matter emissions. To meet these goals it is rather important to have available validated mathematical models with sharpened model parameters. Therefore the presented model approaches have been validated and refined using results from extensive combustion experiments conducted at an existing 2 MW pilot plant. Several modelling approaches are presented that especially focus on the treatment of the heterogeneous combustion and prediction of gaseous emissions such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. With validated models on a sound physical basis, process simulation and computational fluid dynamics enable a significant reduction of the development costs and the time-to-market of innovative chemical engineering concepts.