Microwave Pre-Treatment and Blending of Biomass Pellets for Sustainable Use of Local Energy Resources in Energy Production

Linards Goldšteins, Māris Gunārs Dzenis, Viesturs Šints, 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
Viesturs Šints: 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 9, 1-21

Abstract: In the present study analysis of co-firing microwave (MW) pre-treated biomass pellets of different origins (wood and wheat straw), with raw pellets (wood, straw, and peat), to control and improve thermochemical conversion of biomass blends and achieve a sustainable use of local energy resources in energy production has been carried out. Effects of MW pre-treatment regimes and composition of blends were studied experimentally using measurements of the weight loss of blends, the yield of volatiles, flame temperature, total heat output from the device, and composition of products. It was found that co-firing MW pre-treated and raw biomass pellets promotes synergistic interaction between components of blends by increasing mass loss rate, the intensity of which depends on the proximate composition of pellets, MW pre-treatment regime and mass fraction of pre-treated pellets in the blend. The most effective synergistic interaction was found when co-firing pre-treated straw or wood pellets with raw peat, which increased the yield of combustible volatiles and heat output from the device as well as improved the composition of emissions. The least effective synergistic interaction was observed when co-firing pre-treated straw with raw wood pellets. Main factors that influenced the thermal and chemical conversion of MW pre-treated blends are discussed considering the effects of MW pre-treatment on the structural changes, elemental and chemical composition, and heating value of pre-treated pellets.

Keywords: biomass blends; microwave pre-treatment; thermal decomposition; combustion (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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