Organic carbon emissions from the co-firing of coal and wood in a fixed bed combustor. (1st May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, J.M.; Ross, A.B.; Mitchell, E.J.S.; Lea-Langton, A.R.; Williams, A.; Bartle, K.D.
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 195(2017)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 2017-05-01
• Subjects: Fixed bed -- Co-firing -- Emissions; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2017.01.061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Highlights: Organic carbon emitted during co-firing arises through both HACA and CPDyl routes. Naphthalene takes part in both mechanisms which cannot be distinguished. Distribution of OC between particles and vapour depends on filter temperature. H-bonding by O-compounds may reduce pollutant vapour pressures. Methoxyphenols from lignin are wood specific in co-firing. Abstract: Co-firing of biomass and coal and biomass reduces the emission of pollutants and the overall effects have been extensively studied, but many aspects of the detailed mechanism remain uncertain. A number of studies have been previously made by us of emissions from the combustion in a fixed-bed furnace of bituminous coal and wood, both individually and together, and it was observed that biomass produced less soot and lower NOX emissions. These data are combined with recent measurements of emissions of black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC), which are an important source of climate forcing, from the combustion of a number of solid fuels. Conclusion are drawn about the nature of the OC and how the values are dependent on the measurement technique used. Complementary analytical-scale combustion and pyrolysis experiments were also carried out. The results of the analysis of emissions and reaction products, mainly by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), were interpreted so as to construct a model for pollutant formation during co-firing. There is a reduction of smoke from the combustion of torrefied biomass and this is considered in relation to the torrefaction processes.