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Integration of biomass drying with combustion/gasification technologies and minimization of emissions of organic compounds

  • Karel Svoboda EMAIL logo , Jiří Martinec , Michael Pohořelý and David Baxter
Published/Copyright: November 20, 2008
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Chemical Papers
From the journal Chemical Papers Volume 63 Issue 1

Abstract

Moisture content (MC) of green biomass or raw biomass materials (wood, bark, plants, etc.) commonly exceeds 50 mass % (wet basis). The maximum possible MC of biomass fuel for big scale combustion (e.g. fluidized bed combustion with low external heat losses) is approximately 60–65 mass %. Higher biomass MC generally causes operational problems of biomass combustors, lower stability of burning and higher CO and VOC emissions. Gasification of biomass with higher MC produces fuel gas of lower effective heating values and higher tar concentrations. In this review, various technological schemes for wood drying in combination with combustion/gasification with the assessment of factors for possible minimization of emissions of organics from the drying processes are compared. The simple direct flue gas biomass drying technologies lead to exhaust drying gases containing high VOC emissions (terpenes, alcohols, organic acids, etc.). VOC emissions depend on the drying temperature, residence time and final MC of the dried biomass. Indirect biomass drying has an advantage in the possibility of reaching very low emissions of organic compounds from the drying process. Exhaust drying gases can be simply destroyed as a part of the total combustion air (gas) in a combustion chamber or a gasifier. Liquid, condensed effluents have to be treated properly because they have relatively high content of organic compounds, some of them accompanied by odor. Drying of biomass with superheated steam offers more uniform drying of both small and bigger particles and shorter periods of higher temperatures of the dried biomass, particularly if drying to the final MC below 15 mass % is required. In practical modern drying technologies, biomass (mainly wood) is dried in recirculated gas of relatively high humidity (approaching saturation) and the period of constant rate drying is longer. Drying of moist wood material (saw dust, chips, etc.) is required in wood pellet production. Emissions of organics in drying depend on biomass properties, content of resins, storing time and on operational aspects of the drying process: drying temperature, drying medium, final MC, residence time, and particle size distribution of the dried biomass (wood). Integration of biomass drying with combustion/gasification processes includes the choice of the drying medium (flue gas, air, superheated steam). Properties of the drying media and operational parameters are strongly dependent on local conditions, fuel input of the combustion/gasification unit, cleaning of the exhaust drying media (gas, steam, wastewater), and on environmental factors and requirements.

Keywords: wood; drying; combustion; emissions; VOC; terpene

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Published Online: 2008-11-20
Published in Print: 2009-2-1

© 2008 Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences

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https://doi.org/10.2478/s11696-008-0080-5
Keywords for this article
wood; drying; combustion; emissions; VOC; terpene

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Polymer interfaces used in electrochemical DNA-based biosensors
  2. Integration of biomass drying with combustion/gasification technologies and minimization of emissions of organic compounds
  3. Application of hydrocolloids as baking improvers
  4. Simultaneous determination of 118 pesticide residues in Chinese teas by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
  5. Modifications of spectrophotometric methods for total phosphorus determination in meat samples
  6. Modification and characterization of montmorillonite fillers used in composites with vulcanized natural rubber
  7. A new approach to nickel electrolytic colouring of anodised aluminium
  8. Solvent-free synthesis and properties of carboxymethyl starch fatty acid ester derivatives
  9. Reduction of silver nitrate by polyaniline nanotubes to produce silver-polyaniline composites
  10. Chemometrical analysis of computed QSAR parameters and their use in biological activity prediction
  11. Mild and efficient conversion of trifluoromethylarenes into tribromomethylarenes using boron tribromide
  12. 1,3-Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin as a useful reagent for efficient synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones under solvent-free conditions
  13. A new xanthone from the roots of Securidaca inappendiculata
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