Open AccessAlkali deposits found in biomass power plants: A preliminary investigation of their extent and nature. Volume 1
Author(s) -
Thomas R. Miles,
Larry Baxter,
R. W. Bryers,
B. M. Jenkins,
L.L. Oden
Publication year - 1995
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/251288
Subject(s) - fouling , renewable energy , environmental science , biomass fuels , waste management , boiler (water heating) , biomass (ecology) , power station , biofuel , energy source , electricity generation , engineering , fossil fuel , power (physics) , chemistry , geology , physics , oceanography , biochemistry , electrical engineering , quantum mechanics , membrane
Alkali in the ash of annual crop biomass fuels creates serious fouling and slagging in conventional boilers. Even with the use of sorbents and other additives, power plants can only fire limited amounts of these fuels in combination with wood. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), US Department of Energy, and the biomass power industry carried out eight full-scale firing tests and several laboratory experiments to study the nature and occurrence of deposits with the goal of increasing the quantities of these biofuels that can be used. This report describes the results of the laboratory and power plant tests that included: tracking and analyzing fuels and deposits by various methods; recording operating conditions; and extensive laboratory testing. The paper describes the occurrence of deposits, fuel and deposit analyses, boiler design and operation, fouling and slagging indicators, and recommendations. 37 refs., 41 figs., 17 tabs