Logo image
Partially oxidative torrefaction of Woody Biomass Pellets: Burning behaviour and emission analysis
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Partially oxidative torrefaction of Woody Biomass Pellets: Burning behaviour and emission analysis

Sajid Riaz, Yasir M. M. Al-Abdeli and Ibukun Oluwoye
Bioenergy research, Vol.16, pp.2331-2341
2023
pdf
s12155-023-10572-z (1)1.30 MBDownloadView
CC BY V4.0 Open Access

Abstract

Biomass Partially oxidative Torrefaction Solid biofuel Thermochemical conversion Combustion
Non-conventional torrefaction under partially oxidative conditions is an emerging cost-effective thermochemical pre-treatment method to improve the quality of biomass for energy applications. The literature lacks data on the combustion of biomass torrefied under oxygen-deficient atmosphere with actual reactor conditions (inevitable non-uniformities in the thermal environment). In this work, a dual mode fixed-bed biomass (torrefaction) reactor and combustor was operated on Australian biomass pellets, to torrefy the fuels at 275 degrees C for 30 min using partially oxidative atmosphere (O-2: 5 vol%, balance N-2) and then to combust them. Combustion behaviour with a particular focus on gaseous emissions of raw, blended (25% torrefied), and torrefied (100%) pellet fuels in a batch-type combustor was investigated. The decomposition behaviour was analysed in a thermogravimetric analyser to understand the impact of biomass constituents on the direct combustion of the tested samples. Results indicate that unlike the combustion of raw biomass, the fuels torrefied under partially oxidative conditions burned 45% faster, attained high packed-bed temperatures (1382 degrees C) and exhaust gas temperatures (657 degrees C) then latter (bed: 1128 degrees C, exhaust: 574 degrees C) at similar airflow. Additionally, 100% torrefied pellets emitted 38% less NOx compared to raw biomass pellets. However, low CO values for torrefied biomass were attained at higher primary airflows compared to raw. The combustion of 100% torrefied biomass in a fixed-bed was dominated by both flaming and smouldering phases with a modified combustion efficiency (MCE) value of 91%, whereas raw biomass combustion occurred in flaming phase with an MCE value of 98% at same airflow (0.35 kg center dot m(-2)center dot s(-1)). The outcomes of this work provide useful insights into the viability of using biomass fuels torrefied under partially oxidative conditions alongside other industrial processes generating (waste) heat and flue gases.

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#7 Affordable and Clean Energy
#9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Metrics

208 File views/ downloads
30 Record Views

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
7 Engineering & Materials Science
7.139 Energy & Fuels
7.139.89 Gasification
Web Of Science research areas
Energy & Fuels
Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas
Environment/Ecology
Logo image