Thermo-Chemical Conversion of Microwave Selectively Pre-Treated Biomass Blends

Linards Goldšteins, Māris Gunārs Dzenis, Raimonds Valdmanis, Maija Zaķe and Alexandr Arshanitsa
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Linards Goldšteins: Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, Miera str. 32, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Māris Gunārs Dzenis: Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, Miera str. 32, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Raimonds Valdmanis: Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, Miera str. 32, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Maija Zaķe: Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, Miera str. 32, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Alexandr Arshanitsa: SIA “EkoKompozit”, Skolas str. 13-7, LV-2121 Salaspils, Latvia

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: Possibilities of more efficient use of regional lignocellulosic resources (wood, wheat straw, peat) of different origin for an environmentally friendly energy production using selectively MW pre-treated blends of commercial wood or wheat straw pellets with raw peat pellets are studied. A hypothesis is proposed and tested that selective MW pre-treatment of wood or wheat straw pellets at the frequency 2.45 GHz and blending of MW pre-treated pellets with raw peat pellets can be used to enhance and control the thermo-chemical conversion of biomass blends. To test this hypothesis, a combined experimental study and mathematical modelling of the processes were performed. The thermo-chemical conversion of selectively activated blends was experimentally studied using a batch-size pilot device, which consists of a biomass gasifier and a combustor. To evaluate the effect of selective MW pre-treatment of biomass pellets on the thermo-chemical conversion of pre-treated blends, measurements of the kinetics of weight loss, yield of combustible volatiles, flame temperature, heat output of the device, and composition of emissions were made at different MW pre-treatment regimes of wheat straw and wood pellets and different mass fractions of pre-treated pellets in biomass blends. The developed novel 2D numerical model of thermo-chemical conversion of MW pre-treated straw confirmed that the pre-treatment of wheat straw pellets increases the generated heat and significantly affects the temperature distribution in the flame/bed zones. It was confirmed that MW pre-treatment leads to a faster thermal decomposition of biomass pellets, synergistically activating the non-treated parts of blends. The overall improved yield of combustible volatiles and their complete combustion provide a surplus of heat production by limiting the formation of GHG emissions, which allows promoting MW pre-treated biomass of different origin as efficient regional bioenergy resources for energy production.

Keywords: wheat straw; softwood; peat; pellet blends; microwave pre-treatment; thermal decomposition; combustion; heat production (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: 2022
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