Agricultural Residues
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Agricultural Residues in Biomass Combustion Systems
Rising fossil fuel prices and increasing concerns about climate change are creating a growing demand for new sources of biomass raw materials for combustion and thus sustainable heat production. Recent technical innovations in biomass combustion systems combined with further understanding of the fuels have resulted in improved systems.
The main barrier to the use of herbaceous biomass for heating has historically been unsuitable biomass quality for conventional combustion systems. Potassium and chorine, when exposed to high temperatures, vaporize from the biomass fuel, creating corrosive salt formations on boiler walls. These elements agglomerate with silica particles to create clinker formations resulting in serious performance and operating problems for boilers.
Maturity of the technology:
Although, the combustion of agricultural wastes and low grade crops for heat energy has been practiced for many years, the low combustion efficiency, coupled with high ash and emissions have prevented farmers from using them widely. Recent developments of improved - 'staged combustion' systems have improved the efficiencies and environmental attributes of using straw and other agricultural wastes for heat generation.
Sources of agricultural fuels:
The use of corn and other grains directly in combustion for heat is becoming less economic because of the recent increase in their price, but farmers have easy access to residues such as straws or especially grown herbaceous crops such as switchgrass and other. For best results, it is necessary to process these biomass feedstocks into pellets. In fact, pellet plants operated by farmers and producing significant quantities of such fuel can be a profitable side business. The product can be used by the farmer(s) as well as sold in the open market (see Technical note).
Sources for additional information:
(See also the Technical Note on this subject)
Combustion Companies:
Blue Flame Stoker www.blueflamestoker.com
Box 285, Headingley, MB R4J 1C1; Tel.: 204-694-2398; Fax: 204-697-7535; Email: info@blueflamestoker.com
Decker Brand Boilers www.deckerbrand.com
General Delivery, Decker, Manitoba, R0M 0K0 Tel.: 204-764-2861; Fax: 204-764-2594 Email: clarence@dekkerbrand.com 8 models from 44kw to 1025kw.
Grove Wood Heat Inc. grovewoodheat@pei.sympatico.ca
c/o Vince Court, 935 Pleasant Grove Rd., York, Prince Edward Island C0A 1P0 Tel.: 902-672-2090
Pelleting companies:
Amandus Kahl GmbH & Co. KG http://www.akahl.de/index.php?hid=34
Dieselstrasse 5, D-21465 Reinbek, Germany; T:+49-40-72771-0 ; F:+49-40-72771-100
E: info@amandus-kahl-group.de Production of plants for pellets from wood, sawdust, straw, and other organic residual products
Modified: 03-31-2008
