The influence of the oxidizing atmosphere on the mass loss of biomass pellets combusted in the inert material stream

Abstract

Biomass is a renewable energy source with high growth potential due to wide availability around the world. Wood pellets are commonly used biomass for modern energy production, however, due to the growing demand, the issue of sustainable development has encouraged many entrepreneurs to produce pellets from non-wood biomass. On the one hand, the versatile nature of biomass enables its use in all parts of the world, on the other hand, this diversity makes biomass a complex and difficult fuel. Especially because of the high percentage of alkali (potassium) and chlorine in some types of biomass that can generate problems during combustion. The production and use of pellets from various types of biomass, therefore, opens up opportunities and challenges for existing technologies. In recent years, fluidized combustion technology has been considered as one of the main directions of development of professional energy in the world. Fluidized bed boilers also allow the implementation of the dynamically developing oxy-combustion technology, which perfectly fits the prevailing trends due to the key advantages of increased energy conversion, as well as the possibility of direct sequestration of carbon dioxide. During experimental research, the mass loss of individual biomass pellets of various origin combusted in a laboratory reactor with a circulating fluid layer under various conditions of the furnace chamber (oxidizing atmosphere and intensity of inert material stream) was analyzed. The obtained results allow stating that the large variety of biomass offered by suppliers requires a thorough knowledge of its properties and determination of its impact on the process and installations when used in the power industry.