BioMatNet Item: JOULE JOR3-CT98-0285 - Application of utilisation and emissions of biomass residues from industrial combustors

[BioMatNet Database - European Commission]

JOULE JOR3-CT98-0285
Application of utilisation and emissions of biomass residues from industrial combustors

To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
Agricultural Residues : JOULE/THERMIE Programme : Solid Biofuels : Thermochemical Conversion : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Type of Project	Shared cost
	Contract No	JOR3-CT98-0285
	EC Contribution	407 683 ECU
	Start Date	01/01/1999
	Duration	36 Months

Objectives
The objectives of the ENDASH project are to determine the final destination of both the captured and uncaptured solid residues from the utilisation of renewables in the form of biomass energy crops and renewable wastes derived from agro-industrial processes in both dedicated combustion systems and in centralised power generation in suspension fired utility boilers co-fired with coal and large biomass fired fluidised bed combustors. The commercial use of the captured residues is to be determined in regard to their use as a raw material in the Portland cement production process. The aim is to determine how the renewable fuels, the blend ratios and the level of commercial NOx reduction reagent injection affects their final destination, that is commercial utilisation or disposal. Whichever route is appropriate, the final product needs to be environmentally benign in terms of the stability of the any inherent heavy metals or from the slippage of the reagents used though direct contact or leachability.

The environmental impact of the uncaptured fraction which has avoided capture in the gas cleaning systems such as cyclones, bag filters and electrostatic precipitators, can be significant in that problematic heavy metal species are preferentially condensed on this fraction. This impact is determined mathematically through the development of a predictive tool based on a unique computational fluid dynamic modelling approach which will predict the final destination of the solids emitted from the stack, taking into account the local terrain and prevailing wind patterns.

Technical Approach
An initial bench-top characterisation will determine the expected behaviour of a number of biomass derived fuels in terms of their stability, combustion efficiency, NO emissions and slagging and fouling propensity. The large scale combustion experiments will attempt to validate the characterisation predictions, while providing accurate data on metal partitioning, NOx emissions reduction with reagent injection for a number of the above fuels blended with EU sourced coals. The data will be used to calibrate a CFD based model being developed to predict the partitioning of heavy metals in to captured and released fractions from the suspension fired combustor. The experimental exhaust data will also be used as the initial conditions for the allied development of a two-phase dispersion model, again CFD-based, to provide an accurate prediction of the final destination of the uncaptured ash particles emanating from the stack of such a full scale utility boiler. Finally, the cement manufacturer will determine the effect of the fuel and their blend ratios on the strength of cement and the leachability of metals from the bound matrix.

Expected achievements and exploitation
It is envisaged that the mathematical modelling tools developed in this project will find a ready market in the waste incineration, boiler and environmental protection industries. The heavy metal partitioning post-processor will be of importance to the operator of combustors in determining the fate of metals inherent in the raw material being burned in their units and enable immediate ameliorative measures to be undertaken. The dispersion model will be unique in that it will be capable of predicting not only the gas trajectory from a stack, but also that of the particles. E Such a tool will be vital in the development of an environment impact statement for an existing plant wishing to burn a new fuel or in the planning stage of new plant

Contacts

Coordinator

Frederik LOCKWOOD / Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine / UNITED KINGDOM

Participant