The co-combustion of hard coal with raw and torrefied biomasses (willow (Salix viminalis), olive oil residue and waste wood from furniture manufacturing)

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2017-12, Vol.140, p.1316-1325
• Main Authors: Kopczyński, Marcin, Lasek, Janusz A., Iluk, Andrzej, Zuwała, Jarosław
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ash; Ashes; Biodegradability; Biodegradable materials; Biodegradable wastes; Biodegradation; Biomass; Biomass burning; Bubbling; Co-combustion; Combustion; Combustion chambers; Deformation; Deformation mechanisms; Drying; Emission; Emissions; Energy conversion; Feeding behavior; Fluidized bed combustion; Fluidized beds; Furniture; Furniture industry; Fusibility; Industrial wastes; Manufacturing; Nitrogen oxides; Nuclear fuels; Oils & fats; Olive oil; Pyrolysis; Salix viminalis; Studies; Sulfur dioxide; Torrefaction; Willow; Wood; Wood products
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.04.036

The co-combustion of raw and torrefied biomasses is recognised as environmental friendly energy conversion. Co-combustion of hard coal with raw biomass has been widely investigated in the literature. In contrast, co-combustion with torrefied biomass has been not particularly investigated. This paper shows the investigations of co-combustion of raw, torrefied biomass and biodegradable waste in bubbling fluidized bed combustor. Two kind of biomass sources (i.e. willow (Salix viminalis), olive oil residue) and waste wood from furniture manufacturing were analysed in terms of fuel feeding rate, CO, SO2 and NOx emission and ash behavior. The part of a raw biomass was torrefied using a rotary kiln reactor. Hence, the combustion performance of raw and torrefied biomass was compared. The impact of torrefaction on the emission of CO, SO2 and NOx depends on biomass type. In the case of willow the decrease of SO2 emission was obtained when the raw biomass was substituted by the torrefied biomass. Additionally, ash fusibility from the raw and torrefied biomass was analysed. It was noticed that co-combustion of torrefied biomass caused increase of ash initial deformation temperature (IDT) comparing to co-combustion with a raw biomass. •Co-combustion of hard coal and raw/torrefied biomass was analysed.•The application of torrefied biomass did not deteriorate the combustion performance.•In the case of torrefied willow application, SO2 emission was decreased.•Torrefaction caused increase of ash initial deformation temperature (IDT).