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Abstract: Biomass combustion in pulverized-fuel boilers is a growing way to produce electricity from a renewable source of energy. Slagging and fouling limit however the reliability of the units that were initially designed for coal combustion. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes aiming at studying those phenomena include simplified models of biomass particle pyrolysis, of which the pertinence has already been questioned for the typical conditions of interest. A comprehensive model has been developed to investigate pyrolysis of particles in pulverized-fuel boilers, with sizes ranging from 17μm to 2.5mm. The detailed model accounts for internal heat conduction, internal gaseous convection, moisture evaporation and particle shrinkage. It includes a competitive, multi-component kinetic scheme, improved for high temperatures. The discrepancy between the simplified models integrated in most CFD applications and the detailed simulations is highlighted. The simplified isothermal models underestimate pyrolysis time for the largest particles. Moreover, such models delay and shorten the volatiles release. The flame lengths, the local temperature fields and the pollutant emissions might be importantly impacted in global combustion simulations. Apparent kinetic parameters have been derived from the detailed simulations. Their use in existing simplified models improves the behavior of the biomass particles during pyrolysis, and offers therefore an efficient alternative to the integration of complex pyrolysis models in CFD codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their obvious benefit in terms of energy efficiency and their potential benefit on pollutant emissions, Flue Gas Condensers (FGCs) are still not widely spread in biomass combustion plants. Although their costs have significantly decreased during the last decade, the economic viability of FGC retrofits is not straightforward and their return on investments is mainly dependent on the temperature of the available heat sink and the moisture content of the fuel. Based on a new techno-economic model of a FGC validated with recent industrial data, this paper presents a methodology to assess the economic viability of an FGC retrofitting in a medium-scale biomass combustion plant. The proposed methodology is applied to the case of a typical District Heating plant for which real data was collected. For the first time, the usual assumptions of constant process data generally used are challenged by considering the variability of the return temperature and heat demand over the year. Furthermore, a new concept of optimal configurations in terms of energy savings is introduced in this paper and compared to a strictly economic optimum. The economic feasibility is mainly evaluated by means of the Net Present Value (NPV), Discounted Payback Period (DPP), and the Modified Internal Rate of Return (MIRR). As expected, results show that the higher the humidity level and the lower the return temperature, the higher the economic profitability of a project. The NPV is, however, increased when considering variable inputs: Even with an average return temperature of 60 °C, a mixed operation of the FGC as a condenser and an economizer along the year is predicted, which results in an increased profitability assessment. Considering a constant return temperature over the year can lead to a 20% underestimation of the project NPV. An alternative averaging method is proposed, where two distinct temperature zones are considered: above and below the flue gas dew point. The discrepancy with a detailed temperature variation is reduced to a few percents. Our results also show that increasing the FGC surface beyond the highest NPV can lead to substantial energy savings at a reasonable cost, up to a certain level. The energetic optimum we defined can lead to an increase in energy savings by 17% for the same relative decrease of the NPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately measuring particulate matter emissions from biomass combustion is crucial for evaluating the performance of fuels, combustion appliances and flue gas cleaning methods. These measurements are essential for refining emission inventories for health risk assessments and environmental models and for defining pollution control strategies. However, as air quality standards become increasingly stringent and emission levels decrease, it is important to develop reliable, accurate measurement methods. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of two particulate dilution systems, namely a full flow dilution (FFD) tunnel and a two-stage partial flow dilution system (porous tube diluter combined with ejector diluter, PTD + ED), for characterising the particle number size distribution from a wood pellet boiler. The maximum relative sampling errors due to not sampling isokinetically increase with particle size and dilution ratio (DR), but are less than 1% for particles smaller than 1 μm for both systems. The total particle number concentration with FFD is on average 35% lower than with PTD + ED, which suggests substantial particle loss during FFD. In addition with FFD, a strong negative correlation is observed between DR and the average particle size. On the other hand with PTD + ED, both the dilution air temperature and DR have no substantial influence on the particle number emissions. However, it is observed with both systems that the particle distribution is affected by coagulation, and this effect becomes more pronounced as dilution decreases. Overall, this work provides insights into the strengths and limitations of particulate dilution systems for accurately measuring emissions from biomass combustion, which can support the development of more reliable measurement methods and assist in implementing effective pollution control strategies. • Dilution temperature with partial flow dilution does not affect particulate matter. • Particle number concentration is 35% lower with full flow dilution. • Decreasing the dilution ratio with full flow dilution yields larger particles. • Coagulation has a larger impact on particulate measurements when dilution decreases. • Errors due to anisokinetic sampling increase with increasing dilution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrostatic precipitators (ESP) are an effective means of reducing particulate matter emissions from biomass combustion. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of an ESP integrated in a 240 kW wood chip boiler. The boiler-integrated ESP is commercially available and is evaluated in-situ using two types of wood chips, unlike previous studies, which mainly focuses on prototypes or lab-based constructions. The obtained results indicate a mass-based ESP efficiency of 94%–96%, surpassing previously reported values for small-scale boiler-integrated ESPs. Furthermore, the number-based ESP efficiency is 83%–92%, which is in line with values reported in literature. Despite the promising performance, the widespread adoption of integrated ESPs in small-scale appliances faces challenges due to the lack of financial, regulatory and energetic incentives. Nevertheless, the application of ESPs in this context remains crucial in addressing local air pollution and reducing the overall environmental impact of small-scale biomass combustion. To facilitate broader implementation, further research and policy initiatives are necessary. This study provides valuable insights into the true effectiveness of a small-scale ESP in mitigating particulate matter emissions. • Study of commercially available ESP in real-world use. • Particle mass-based ESP collection efficiency is 94–96%. • Particle number-based ESP collection efficiency is 83–92%. • ESP effectively reduces particulate emissions from small-scale biomass combustion. • Lack of financial, regulatory and energetic incentives to invest in small-scale ESP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]