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3 authors, including:
Despina Vamvuka
Stelios I. Sfakiotakis
SEE PROFILE
SEE PROFILE
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
*
S=Rmax.Ra/(Ti2.Tb)
(2)
12
olive prunnings
pine needles
cardoon
10
8
6
4
2
0
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Temperature ( C)
DTG
B
TG
D
(1)
D=Rmax/(tm.ti)
6
sewage sludge
Kardia lignite
4
3
2
1
0
200
300
400
500
600
700
Temperature ( C)
Temperature ( C)
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
800
4,5
10
pyrolysis
combustion
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)
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
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
ardia lignite
cardoon
ardia lig./ card. 90:10
ardia lig./ card. 80:20
ardia lig./ card. 70:30
10
8
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)
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.