Technical assessment and flue gases emission monitoring of an oil palm biomass–biogas cofired boiler

Abstract

Biogas generated from anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent (POME) can be a supplementary fuel in palm oil mill biomass boilers. The effects of biogas cofiring with different types of oil palm biomass‐based conventional boiler fuel on the boiler efficiency and performance were investigated. Three different types of fuel input were assessed, namely (1) a mixed biogas‐mesocarp fiber (MF)‐empty fruit bunch fiber (EFBF) (biogas‐MF‐EFBF) fuel, (2) a mixed biogas‐MF (biogas‐MF) fuel, and (3) MF only for a 40 t/h water tube boiler. It was found that the boiler efficiencies and particulate emissions varied from 72 to 83% and 0.1375 to 0.6050 g/m3, respectively. The highest boiler efficiency with the lowest particulate emission was attainable when cofiring biogas with MF. This fuel mix combination contributed to reduction of the fed solid biomass fuel into the boiler furnace and resulted in lesser incomplete combustion and ash generation. The findings demonstrated that the fuel selection and proper mixture of the type of biogas‐biomass fuel are among the important factors to ensure high palm oil mill boiler efficiency and low particulate emission in meeting the permitted limit as stipulated in the Malaysian Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulations, 2014. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13146, 2019