Electric Field Effect on the Thermal Decomposition and Co-combustion of Straw with Solid Fuel Pellets

Inesa Barmina, Antons Kolmickovs, Raimonds Valdmanis, Maija Zake, Sergejs Vostrikovs, Harijs Kalis and Uldis Strautins
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Inesa Barmina: Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, 32 Miera str., 1 LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Antons Kolmickovs: Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, 32 Miera str., 1 LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Raimonds Valdmanis: Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, 32 Miera str., 1 LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Maija Zake: Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, 32 Miera str., 1 LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Sergejs Vostrikovs: Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, 32 Miera str., 1 LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Harijs Kalis: Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Latvia, 29 Raina blvd, LV-1459 Riga, Latvia
Uldis Strautins: Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Latvia, 29 Raina blvd, LV-1459 Riga, Latvia

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-20

Abstract: The aim of this study was to provide more effective use of straw for energy production by co-firing wheat straw pellets with solid fuels (wood, peat pellets) under additional electric control of the combustion characteristics at thermo-chemical conversion of fuel mixtures. Effects of the DC electric field on the main combustion characteristics were studied experimentally using a fixed-bed experimental setup with a heat output up to 4 kW. An axisymmetric electric field was applied to the flame base between the positively charged electrode and the grounded wall of the combustion chamber. The experimental study includes local measurements of the composition of the gasification gas, flame temperature, heat output, combustion efficiency and of the composition of the flue gas considering the variation of the bias voltage of the electrode. A mathematical model of the field-induced thermo-chemical conversion of combustible volatiles has been built using MATLAB. The results confirm that the electric field-induced processes of heat and mass transfer allow to control and improve the main combustion characteristics thus enhancing the fuel burnout and increasing the heat output from the device up to 14% and the produced heat per mass of burned solid fuel up to 7%.

Keywords: co-firing; wheat straw; softwood; bog peat; pellets; thermal decomposition; combustion; DC electric field (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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