Biomass Boiler Design

Opportunities for Agricultural Biomass Combustion in Atlantic Canada

Don Harfield, P. Eng. , P.M.P.
AITF Biomass Engineering September 13, 2011

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About AITF
AITF was established in 2010 as part of the larger Alberta Innovates family and includes the four prior research organizations of the Alberta Research Council, Alberta Ingenuity Fund, iCore & nanoAlberta. Created to serve as the commercialization stream of the Alberta Innovates system, AITFs mandate is to build globally competitive commerce in the province. AITF offers a suite of programs and services that include: Technical R&D support and advisory services Innovation and talent development programs Regionally accessible commercialization support

State of Combustion Technology

High Efficiency Boiler Systems

Well Designed Heat Distribution Systems

Adaptable to Agricultural and Forestry Residuals Adaptable to Combined Heat & Power

Automatic Operation & Safety Features

Lambda Control (Fuel Efficiency)

Biomass Heating Systems

BioHeat for Canadian Greenhouse Industry

Heating system at Worcestershire County Hall

Greenhouses in Denmark

Smaller Biomass Systems

KOB Biomass Boiler

Prairie Bioenergy Biomass Cubing Facility

Vidir Two Stage Combustion Boiler

Decker Boilers Connected In Series

Fuel Combustion Issues

Complete combustion air fuel ratio (secondary air) Heat transfer to hydronic system temperature & contact time Consistent fuel input rate uniform size Ash Fusion Temp (slags and clinkers) Increased ash handling Tube fouling high ash content and fusion characteristics
Moving grate design (Blue Flame Stoker)

Combustion Boiler Design 3 Ts

TIME (Retention for Combustion)
Moving Grate or Ring Grate Bubbling fluidized bed (sand) Circulating fluidized bed Ring Burner or Pulverized Fuel Burner
Circulating Fluidized Bed (Babcock & Wilcox)

TEMP (Ash Fusion Issues)

Air/fuel ratio Consistent fuel size & heating value Secondary Air

TORTUOSITY
Flue gas heat transfer Cleaning access
Oldest Power Station Utilizing Circular Fluidized Bed Technology Lunen, Germany

Optimizing Combustion
For optimum combustion with low emissions and low slagging, two combustion zones are required:

Primary zone drying, pyrolysis and

initial combustion with a deficient air supply

Secondary zone flammable gases

combusted with excess air

An inclined moving grate (AESI)

Moving grate minimizes ash clumping Ash settling and ash extraction

Air Fuel Ratio

Optimum combustion point characterized by maximum CO2 with minimum CO and O2

Excess Air Graph Wood Pellets

Evaluation of Combustion Conditions
Net Heating Value: Fuel Moisture Content: Ash Content: Stoichiometric Air: Combustor Type: Pellet Stove 18.53 MJ/ dry kg (7,967 Btu/dry lb) 4.55 % on wet basis 0.32 % on dry basis 5.1 m3/kg of dry fuel at STP Basic Pellet Stove Top Fed Basic Top Fed Corn/Wood

Excess Air Graph Barley Pellets

Determination of Optimum Combustion Conditions
Net Heating Value: Fuel Moisture Content: Ash Content: Stoichiometric Air: Combustor Type: 16.99 MJ/ dry kg (7,304 Btu/dry lb) 7.3 % on wet basis 5.3 % on dry basis 4.7 m3/kg of dry fuel at STP Pellet Stove Basic Top Fed Corn/Wood Pellet Stove

Combustion Burner Designs

Power range
> 50 MW 1 - 20 MW 0.5 - 5 MW 0.5 - 5 MW 0.5 - 10 MW

Heating
Fluidized bed Grate firing Ring burner Underfeed firing Direct firing

Application
Combustion system for all solid biomass (green or dry) Combustion system for solid biomass (wood or agricultural residues) Simultaneous burning of lumpy and fine material, or dust Simple fuels with low ash content Fine- grained fuels

Parker direct-fired hot water boiler

KOB Ring burner

Types of Boilers

Fire Tube Boiler

Water Tube Boiler

AESI Global Series Boiler

Three Pass Fire Tube Firebox Design

Hurst Firebox LPD HF Hand Fired System

Reciprocating Grate System

Reciprocating grate

Hurst Hybrid RG

Cutaway of a Combustion Furnace

Courtesy of Lambion

Courtesy of Lambion

Emissions Control
Air fuel ratio & secondary air Stack monitoring (O2 or CO) Particulate matter removal
Multi-cyclone (velocity) Baghouse Electrostatic precipitator

Biomass Engineering Expertise

Lab Analysis ultimate and proximate analysis, calorific value,
physical testing, flue gas emissions

Lab and Pilot Scale Facilities feedstock preparation and

densification, combustion performance testing (CAN/CSA B415), pyrolysis (carbonization, torrefaction)

Demonstation Scale Facilities

750 kW Lambion boiler 300 kg/hr & 500 kg/hr pelleting systems Waste wood grinding Alberta Biomaterials Development Centre (ABDC) fibre processing

On-site client equipment testing

Thank You!
Don Harfield, P. Eng., P.M.P.
Telephone: (780) 632-8271 Email: don.harfield@albertainnovates.ca