Removal of inorganic elements to improve biomass combustion properties
- Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
Slagging and fouling of boilers remains one of the most important obstacles to the widespread use of herbaceous and annual growth biomass in conventional power plants and steam generators. High concentration of alkali and alkaline earth metals in combination with silica and other compounds leads to the rapid build-up of tenacious deposits on grates and heat exchange surfaces. This study investigates the removal of inorganic compounds prior to firing by relatively simple techniques and discusses potential applications in the biomass power industry. Rice and wheat straw were leached by various techniques, and concentrations of major inorganic species determined in the solid and liquid phases. Total ash contents as well as concentrations of potassium and other alkali and alkaline earth species were reduced substantially. Softening and fusion of the leached fuel ash were observed to occur at higher temperatures than for the untreated fuel ash. Full-scale experiments are pending, but laboratory results suggest that fouling rates should decline for treated fuels compared to untreated fuels in conventional and advanced biomass power systems.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 115271
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-200-8098; CONF-9508104-; ON: DE95009230; TRN: 95:006736-0052
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. meeting on biomass of the Americas, Portland, OR (United States), 21-24 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]; Related Information: Is Part Of Second biomass conference of the Americas: Energy, environment, agriculture, and industry. Proceedings; PB: 1741 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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