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Measurements of Ignition Point and Combustion


Characteristics of Biomass Fuels and their Blends
with Lignite
Conference Paper January 2011

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Despina Vamvuka

Stelios I. Sfakiotakis

Technical University of Crete

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Measurements of Ignition Point and Combustion Characteristics of Biomass Fuels and


their Blends with Lignite
D. Vamvuka1 *, N. El Chatib2, S. Sfakiotakis3
1

Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Hania 73100, Greece
2
Faculty of Applied Sciences, Technical University of Delft, Delft, The Netherlands
3
Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Hania 73100, Greece
Abstract
This work aimed at investigating the ignition behaviour and the combustion characteristics of various biomass fuels,
one lignite and lignite/biomass blends and at evaluating the compatibility of each component in the blend. The
experiments were conducted in a thermogravimetric analysis system (TGA) at non-isothermal heating conditions,
over the temperature range 25-850C. For ignition tests a heating rate of 3C/min was used and the effects of
particle size and moisture content of the fuels were examined. The results showed that the combustion process was
controlled by the emission of volatile matter. Biomass materials with volatile contents up to78% indicated ignition
temperatures between 236 and 270C, while the lignite with volatile content 53% ignited at 274C. Ignition and
burnout temperatures were slightly increased with particle size and moisture content of the fuels. For the mixtures
studied, it was found that the combustion characteristics of the blends followed those of parent fuels in both additive
and non-additive manners. The similarity of ignitability of lignite and pine needles fuels implies economic and
environmental benefits.
Introduction
In view of the energy crisis worldwide, biomass
fuels are becoming important, as they offer a
remarkable potential to reduce greenhouse emissions,
replace part of conventional energy sources and
increase economic returns to rural communities.
Co-combustion of solid residues and wastes with
coal in existing power plants is a most interesting
option, because apart from the environmental benefits
it offers technical and economic benefits [1].
However, practically, due to the different
characteristics of biomass fuels than coal, such as
their much higher volatile matter content,
modifications of the combustion systems may need to
be considered along with other factors. Thus, it is
essential to know in advance the behaviour of these
fuels during combustion not only separately, but also
together, as interactions may occur between them that
may affect the overall efficiency of the process
Ignition is an important step of combustion, for it
influences flame stability, pollutants formation and
flame extinction [2]. The ignition behaviour of
biomass and coal is important in order to identify the
optimal location for their injection into industrial
combustors. TGA technique allows this information
to be obtained in a simple and straightforward
manner and has been extensively used by other
researchers. Most of the related work employs coal,
wood and MSW as fuels [3-5]. The use of lignite
with different types of biomass materials is limited
throughout the literature.
The aim of this study was to investigate the
ignition behaviour and the combustion characteristics
of various biomass fuels from the Mediterranean
region, one lignite and their blends under nonisothermal TGA conditions and to evaluate the
*

Corresponding author: vamvuka@med.tuc.gr


Proceedings of the European Combustion Meeting 2011

compatibility of each component in the blend. The


obtained data should be useful for further design and
operation of co-firing units using such fuels for
power production.
Experimental
Materials and equipment. Different types of
biomass fuels, such as agricultural and forest
residues, sewage sludge wastes, one energy crop and
one lignite were the materials chosen for this study.
Also, blends of lignite with biomass samples were
prepared in three biomass percentages, 5, 10 and
20%wt, which are typical of co-firing applications in
European industry [6]. After air drying,
homogenization and riffling, the samples were milled
and sieved to -250m. Sewage sludge was separated
in three size fractions, -250m, -500m and 1000m. Proximate analysis was carried out
according to the ASTM stds (E871, D1102-84,
D3172-89) using programmable laboratory furnaces,
ultimate analysis using Leco type analyzers CHN600 and S532-500 (D3176-93, D3177-33) and
calorific value using Leco AC-300 Type calorimeter
(D2015-95).
Combustion tests were performed in a
differential thermogravimetric analyzer TGA-6/DTG
of Perkin Elmer (precision of temperature
measurement 2C, microbalance sensitivity <5g),
with which the sample weight loss and rate of weight
loss as functions of time or temperature were
recorded continuously, under dynamic conditions, in
the range 25-850C. The flow rate of air was
45ml/min. The heating rate was 3oC/min up to 300oC
and 10oC/min up to 850oC. Preliminary tests with
different sample masses and sizes and gas flow rates
were carried out, in order to check the influence of
heat and mass transfer. Small masses (20-25mg) of
each material, thinly distributed in the crucible and
particle sizes of 250m were found proper to be

used in the experiments, in order to eliminate the


effects of eventual side reactions and mass and heat
transfer limitations. Additionally to combustion
experiments, pyrolysis tests under the same
conditions, using nitrogen as the reactant gas, were
performed, in order to investigate the behaviour of
volatiles and char combustion.
Measurement of combustion parameters. The
thermograms were analyzed to determine the relevant
combustion parameters, like the ignition and burnout
temperatures and the corresponding times, as well as
the maximum temperature and rate of weight loss and
the corresponding time. The ignition temperature was
defined as follows [7]: Through the DTG (differential
thermogravimetric) peak point A (Figure 1), a
vertical line was made upward to meet the TG
oblique line at point B. A tangent line to TG curve
was made at point B, which met the extended TG
initial level line at Point C. Finally, another vertical
line was made downwards through point C, which
met the cross axle at point D. The corresponding
temperature of point D was defined as the ignition
temperature.
In order to evaluate ignition and combustion
performance of the fuels, an ignition index (D) and a
combustion index (S) were calculated according to
the equations:

S=Rmax.Ra/(Ti2.Tb)

(2)

where Ra is the average mass loss rate and Tb is the


burnout temperature [9].
-[(dm/dt)/(m o-m ash)] (102/min)

12
olive prunnings
pine needles
cardoon

10
8
6
4
2
0
200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Temperature ( C)

Figure 2. DTG curves of olive prunnings, pine


needles and cardoon

DTG

B
TG
D

(1)

where Rmax is the maximum combustion rate, tm is the


time which corresponds to maximum combustion rate
and ti is the ignition time which corresponds to
ignition temperature Ti [7,8]

-[(dm/dt)/(m o-m ash)] (102/min)

D=Rmax/(tm.ti)

6
sewage sludge

Kardia lignite

4
3
2
1
0
200

300

400

500

600

700

Temperature ( C)

Temperature ( C)

Figure 1. Measurement of ignition temperature

Figure 3. DTG curves of sewage sludge and Kardia


lignite

Table 1.
Proximate analysis, ultimate analysis (%dry) and calorific value of the fuels
Volatile
Fixed
Sample
Ash
C
H
Matter
Carbon
Olive
77.9
21.3
0.8
48.5
5.3
prunnings
Pine needles
71.5
19.2
9.3
49.7
6.6
Cardoon
72.6
17.2
8.2
41.3
6.1

HHV
(MJ/kg)

0.7

44.7

19.1

2.7

31.1

0.6

20.0

Kardia lignite

53.1

34.3

12.6

38.5

3.2

0.8
1.1

41.5
43.9

0.1
0.7

21.5
15.8

Sewage sludge

57.6

9.7

32.7

35.0

6.1

4.5

19.8

1.9

14.8

HHV: Higher Heating Value

800

4,5

10

-[(dm/dt)/(m o-m f)] (10 /min)

pyrolysis

combustion

-[(dm/dt)/(m o-m f)] (10 /min)

12

8
6
4
2

combustion

pyrolysis

3,5
3
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0

0
200

300

400

500

600

700

200

800

300

400

500

600

700

Temperature (oC)

Temperature (oC)

Figure 4. Pyrolysis and combustion DTG profiles of


cardoon

Figure 5. Pyrolysis and combustion DTG profiles of


Kardia lignite

Results and discussion


Combustion behaviour of individual fuels. A
comparison of the proximate and ultimate analysis
results, as well as of the calorific value of the fuels is
made in Table 1. As can be seen, woody biomass
samples display higher amounts of volatiles with
respect to lignite, ranging from 71 to 78%wt and
relatively low ash contents, ranging from 0.8 to
9%wt. Sewage sludge has a similar volatile content
with lignite, but a very high ash content (~33%wt).
Also, woody fuels present higher concentrations of
carbon and hydrogen and lower of oxygen as
compared to the lignite, which result in a higher
calorific value. Sulfur contents of all samples, with
the exception of sewage sludge, are very low,
indicating that SOx emissions during combustion are
not of concern for these fuels. However, the
percentage of nitrogen of pine and sewage sludge is
high, which might be a problem if combustion of
these fuels alone is considered.
The DTG profiles of the samples in air are
illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. It is apparent that the
DTG curves in Figure 2 are separated into two stages,
with the first one in the range of 200-400C and the
second stage in the range of 400-600C. Olive
prunnings and cardoon show bimodal DTG curves in
the lower temperature region reflecting the existence
of structures of different reactivity, whereas pine
needles shows one single peak and thus a more
homogeneous material. The first stage is attributed to
the total decomposition of hemi-cellulose and
cellulose and partial decomposition of lignin, the
thermal degradation of which is known to take place
over a wider temperature range [10]. The second
stage corresponds to the decomposition of the
remaining lignin and combustion of the residual
volatiles and char. The shoulder peak on the DTG
curve of pine needles is not noticed, either due to its
lower content of hemi-cellulose among the samples,
or its overlapping with the peak of cellulose which
dominates the first stage [4]. The correlation of the
first mass loss stage with combustion of hemicellulose and cellulose in the fuel is clearly indicated
in Figure 4, which compares pyrolysis and

combustion profiles of cardoon. On the other hand,


from the DTG profiles of sewage sludge and lignite
shown in Figure 3, it is evident that for sewage
sludge the second stage extends up to 750C.
Combustion of residual volatiles and char occurs in
this region with a high rate between 400 and 550C
and a slow rate between 550 and 750C. Lignite
combustion is different from biomass materials and
proceeds in a wide temperature range, 300-750C,
with a gradual weight loss. Figure 5 shows that the
volatile constituent of lignite burns slowly over the
whole temperature range, together with the char.
From the DTG curve of lignite, it can be observed
that the fuel consists of two components with
different reactivity, a high combustibility material
between 300 and 500C and a low combustibility
material between 500 and 750C.
The combustion characteristic parameters of the
fuels under study are summarized in Table 2. As can
be seen, the ignition temperature of biomass samples
is lower than that of lignite. This is explained by the
greater amount of volatiles, the higher H/C ratio and
the amount of energy released by volatiles
combustion of these fuels, as compared to the lignite.
Thus, among woody residues, olive prunnings, which
have the highest percentage of volatiles (Table 1), as
well as the highest release rate, present the lowest
ignition temperature. Ignition of sewage sludge
occurs earlier than any other fuel, because this
material contains more easily decomposed
components and has the highest H/C ratio. The
ignition temperature of lignite increases, because its
combustion follows a heterogeneous mechanism.
Similar correlations have been found by other
investigations [2-5,11,12]. The ignition index in
Table 2 agrees with the results of ignition
temperature. The lower value for sewage sludge is
mainly attributed to its lower peak combustion rate.
Also, the values of the combustion index S show the
same trend as the values of D. With respect to
combustion parameters, like maximum combustion
rate, temperature corresponding to peak rate and
burnout temperature, it can be concluded that olive
prunnings
is
the
most
reactive
fuel,

800

Table 2.
Characteristic combustion parameters of the fuels
Tmax
Sample
Ti
Rmax
(C)
(C)
(102/min)
Olive prunnings
246.9
318.0
8.8
Pine needles
270.0
333.0
6.8
Cardoon
254.7
416.0
11.0
Kardia lignite
273.4
389.0
4.2
Sewage sludge
235.8
515.0
5.4
-250m
Sewage sludge
236.9
521.0
6.0
-500m
Sewage sludge
242.0
527.0
5.3
-1000m
Sewage sludge
238.0
522.0
4.2
10%wt moisture
Sewage sludge
238.4
521.0
4.4
20%wt moisture
Sewage sludge
240.3
523.0
2.7
60%wt moisture
whereas sewage sludge the less reactive, among the
species studied.
Concerning the effects of particle size and
moisture content of the fuels on combustion
performance, from Table 2 it can be observed that
ignition and burnout temperatures were slightly
increased, when particle size increased from 250 to
1000m and percentage of moisture from 10 to
60%wt. Furthermore, the combustion rate was
somehow lowered, resulting in a small delay for
complete burnout.
Combustion behaviour of blends. The weight loss
rate profiles of the lignite/cardoon mixtures in three
blending ratios are shown in Figure 6. As can be
observed, the height of the peaks of the blended fuels
is higher than that of lignite and its position is shifted
to lower temperatures. Thus, the greater amount of
volatiles of cardoon, which was released at lower
temperatures, increased the reactivity of the blends as
compared to lignite, revealing mutual interactions
between component fuels. This behavior is reflected

Tb
(C)
517.0
569.0
525.0
739.0
732.0

tb
(min)
94.6
97.8
50.0
105.8
106.2

Dx105

Sx1011

2.12
1.51
2.68
1.0
1.14

6.05
3.08
6.13
1.38
1.80

737.0

106.6

1.16

2.71

739.0

106.8

1.14

2.20

736.0

116.3

0.84

1.32

726.0

116.4

0.88

1.41

727.0

116.9

0.54

0.49

in Figure 6, where the disappearance of the


combustion peak of the cardoon char for the blends is
clearly shown. On the other hand, from Figure 7 it
can be observed that the maximum combustion rate
of lignite/pine mixtures gradually increases with
increasing amount of biomass in the blend, but its
position remains very close to the one corresponding
to lignite. The curve of each blend lies between the
curves of the individual fuels and the contributions of
pine and lignite to these profiles are more apparent.
The combustion performance of the mixtures is
presented in Table 3. From these results, it is evident
that the ignition temperature of lignite/cardoon
blends is almost the same as that of cardoon,
indicating that the two fuels ignite independently
when mixed. The ignition and combustion indices
were improved with biomass addition, however they
did not show a linear relationship with the amount of
blending. The same trend was followed for burnout
temperature and time. However, the ignition
temperature of lignite/pine needles mixtures

Table 3.
Characteristic combustion parameters of the lignite/biomass blends
Tmax
Rmax
Tb
Sample
Ti
(C)
(C)
(102/min)
(C)
Kardia lignite/
255.3
380.0
6.0
709.0
cardoon 90:10
Kardia lignite/
254.7
380.0
6.0
707.0
cardoon 80:20
Kardia lignite/
257.7
380.0
6.3
709.0
cardoon 70:30
Kardia lignite/pine
272.2
387.0
5.9
730.0
needles 90:10
Kardia lignite/ pine
271.7
385.0
6.5
716.0
needles 80:20
Kardia lignite/ pine
271.0
383.0
6.9
713.0
needles 70:30

tb
(min)
105.6

Dx105

Sx1011

1.55

2.33

103.9

1.47

2.38

104.9

1.59

2.44

105.6

1.47

1.95

104.9

1.62

2.25

104.0

1.83

2.42

-[(dm/dt)/(m o-m ash)] (10 /min)

ardia lignite
cardoon
ardia lig./ card. 90:10
ardia lig./ card. 80:20
ardia lig./ card. 70:30

10
8

-[(dm/dt)/(m o-m ash)] (10 /min)

12

6
4
2

8
ardia lignite
pine needles
ardia lig./ pine 90:10
ardia lig. / pine 80:20
ardia lig. / pine 70:30

7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

0
200

300

400

500

600

700

200

800

300

400

500

600

700

800

Temperature (oC)

Temperature (oC)

Figure 6. DTG combustion profiles of Kardia


lignite/cardoon mixtures

Figure 7. DTG combustion profiles of Kardia


lignite/pine needles mixtures

decreased with biomass addition and the trend almost


coincides with the weighted average prediction. Also,
D and S indices agree with the results of ignition
temperature, whereas burnout temperature and time
are diminished and remain close to weighted average
value. Although the ignition temperatures of lignite
and pine needles are very similar, it is apparent that
these two fuels show an additive behaviour. An
improvement in the burnout performance for cocombustion of biomass with coal, as well as both
additivity or synergy, have been reported by other
authors [5,7,8,12-15].

Acknowledgements
The authors kindly thank the laboratory of
Geochemistry of the Dept. of Mineral Resources
Engineering for the chemical analysis of the fuels.
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Conclusions
The combustion process was controlled by the
emission of volatile matter. Biomass materials with
volatile contents up to 78%wt had ignition
temperature between 236 and 270C, while the
lignite with volatile content 53%wt ignited at 274C,
following a heterogeneous mechanism. Ignition and
burnout temperatures were slightly increased with
particle size and moisture content of the fuels. Olive
prunnings was the most reactive fuel, whereas
sewage sludge the less reactive fuel among the
species studied.
Co-combustion of lignite and cardoon showed
synergy, whereas co-combustion of lignite and pine
needles showed an additive behaviour. Blending
lignite with either fuel increased its thermochemical
reactivity, by improving the ignition index and the
peak weight loss and shortening the burnout time.
The similarity in ignitability of lignite and pine
needles implies the feasibility of replacing lignite
with this biomass fuel and therefore an economic and
environmental benefit. The obtained data provide
useful information on the combustion behaviour of
biomass fuels and their blends with lignite, for
practical applications.

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