Institute provides the expertise to support biomass energy research project
Biomass is increasingly being used for power generation and there is strong interest within industry of the potential of coal pulverised fuel ash (PFA) as an additive, as PFA is readily available to many converted power stations with minimal cost.
An issue is that ash composition resulting from biomass combustion can be the cause of significant slagging and fouling in pulverised fuel boilers. This project, funded by the Biomass and Fuel Research Alliance, looks at how the use of additives can improve the ash deposition characteristics of biomass, by improving the ash sintering and melting properties of biomass fuels.
Laboratory scale research at the Materials Processing Institute by Dr Adam Hunt, Senior Researcher and a co-author of the paper, included using a specialist heating microscope and high temperature viscometer test to investigate the melting properties of biomass ash.
This equipment was used to analyse the effect of additives with the aim of reducing boiler slagging issues. These measurements were supported by thermodynamic assessment of melting properties and viscosity, also conducted at the Materials Processing Institute.
Research findings showed that the use of additives increased flow temperatures, reduced deformation and improved deposition properties and this shows promise in making the ash compositions viable for pulverised-fuel combustion.
The research paper authors are:
Lee J. Roberts, University of Leeds
Patrick E. Mason, University of Leeds
Jenny M. Jones, University of Leeds
William F. Gale, University of Leeds
Alan Williams, University of Leeds
Adam Hunt, Materials Processing Institute
James Ashman, Drax Power Limited
Link to research paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953419302338?dgcid=coauthor8 July 2019
