Energy and Environmental Valorisation of Residual Wood Pellet by Small Size Residential Heating Systems

Valentina Coccia (), Ramoon Barros Lovate Temporim, Alessandro Paglianti, Alessia Di Giuseppe, Franco Cotana and Andrea Nicolini
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Valentina Coccia: CIRIAF—Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and the Environment “Mauro Felli”, Via G. Duranti, 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Ramoon Barros Lovate Temporim: CIRIAF—Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and the Environment “Mauro Felli”, Via G. Duranti, 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Alessandro Paglianti: Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari”, UNIBO—Università di Bologna, Via Zamboni, 33, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Alessia Di Giuseppe: CIRIAF—Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and the Environment “Mauro Felli”, Via G. Duranti, 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Franco Cotana: CIRIAF—Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and the Environment “Mauro Felli”, Via G. Duranti, 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Andrea Nicolini: CIRIAF—Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and the Environment “Mauro Felli”, Via G. Duranti, 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: Particulate matter (PM) emissions from combustion-based heating systems have been identified as a major contributor to environmental issues and human health risks. Particularly, small-scale residential combustion was responsible for 58% of the total PM 2.5 emissions in Europe in 2020, with domestic heating using wood-based fuels accounting for around 56% of soot emissions. Reducing PM 2.5 emissions has become a major goal of European environmental policies, which have included it among the key targets of the Zero Pollution Action Plan. In this framework, this study presents a performance analysis of a newly developed PM abatement system consisting of a passive cyclone abatement system (PCAS) specifically designed for small residential pellet stoves. The system was tested under steady-state and non-steady-state operating conditions. The experimental results showed that the PCAS abatement system effectively captured PM at a rate of 10.64 mg/MJ, with great efficiency in capturing particles ≥ 10 µm. The heavy metal content in the captured material was below the limit values for agricultural application-destined soil. A Life Cycle Assessment showed that the PCAS could achieve net-zero PM emissions in 1 year and 8 months. Finally, the economic analysis revealed that the PCAS is significantly more cost-effective: over a 10-year period, it could save up to €4000 in installation, maintenance, and energy costs compared to conventional active systems. These findings highlight the effectiveness of this design of PCAS as in reducing PM emissions from residential heating systems and provide valuable insights for the development of future abatement systems.

Keywords: particulate matter; Particulate Matter Abatement System; passive cyclone; life cycle assessment; residential heating system; pellet stove (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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