Comprehensive Experimental Study of Biomass Conversion Behavior: From Particle Phenomena to Reactor Scale

João Silva (), Lelis Fraga, Senhorinha Teixeira and José Teixeira
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João Silva: MEtRICs Research Centre, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Lelis Fraga: Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e, Rua Formosa 10, Díli 314, Timor-Leste
Senhorinha Teixeira: ALGORITMI Research Centre/LASI, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
José Teixeira: MEtRICs Research Centre, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: During biomass combustion in a grate-fired boiler, each particle undergoes a sequence of different reactions, and the phenomena differ from the conversion of a single, thermally thin, particle. Hence, this paper aims to deepen the understanding of biomass conversion processes and provides valuable insights for advancing biomass-based energy systems. Firstly, the weight loss characteristics of the larger particles of eucalyptus, pine, acacia, and olive samples were investigated at different isothermal temperatures in a purpose-built reactor that simulates the devolatilization process in a controllable manner. As opposed to the thermogravimetric analysis using thermally thin particles, it was concluded that all fuels show that the combustion of large particles does not exhibit separate consecutive conversion stages, due to internal diffusion resistance. Furthermore, it was verified that the devolatilization rate depends mainly on the reactor temperature, and, consequently, the mass-loss profile is independent of the biomass type. In addition to these experiments, the composition of the gases over the devolatilization period was analyzed for the main fuel used in power plants, eucalyptus. Once again, a strong correlation to the reactor temperature was observed, with CO 2 and CO always being the main devolatilization products. The temperature dependence of both compounds presented an increase from 8 to 13% between 600 and 800 °C for CO, while the CO 2 yield only slightly increased from 11 to 12%. These observations were essential to identify the transport phenomena effect and the gaseous products released during the biomass combustion.

Keywords: biomass; combustion; forestry residues; TGA; macro TGA (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: 2024
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