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Sustainable Development of Biomass Conversion, Biofuel Production and Biorefinery Processes

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Izabella Maj

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Guest Editor

Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Interests: biomass; biofuels; waste; corrosion; ash; slagging; fouling; fly ash; circular economy; boilers; emission control; gasification; pyrolysis

Prof. Dr. Sylwester Kalisz

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Guest Editor

Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Interests: fuels; circular economy; boilers; emission control; biomass; waste; ash; slagging; fouling; fly ash; SNCR; SCR

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fossil fuel depletion, along with the unstable situation in the global energy market, has resulted in a growing interest in the conversion of biomass. Biomass includes a wide range of raw materials of plant or animal origin that are biodegradable and preferably come from agricultural production or the food industry. Biomass is considered a sustainable fuel that can be used in both developed and developing countries for the transition to a low-carbon economy. It can be used directly to produce renewable heat and electricity, or can be processed into biofuels or value-added products. The conversion of biomass includes pyrolysis, gasification, anaerobic digestion, liquefaction, hydrothermal carbonization and other processes, which lead to the production of sustainable energy carriers. The use of biomass, as well as the recycling of the by-products of its conversion (such as fly ashes), is in line with the principles of a circular economy. Thus, biomass and biofuels are gaining more and more attention among energy producers and users all over the world.

This Special Issue aims to gather in-depth research and comprehensive review papers addressing the sustainable development of biomass conversion, biofuel production and biomass characterization. Studies of advanced techniques and methods for biorefinery processes are also welcome. Research involving experimental and numerical studies, recent advances, and the current state of the art and emerging technologies in this field are highly encouraged.

Dr. Izabella Maj
Prof. Dr. Sylwester Kalisz
Guest Editors

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Keywords

biomass
biofuel
combustion
pyrolysis
gasification
torrefaction
hydrothermal carbonization
biochar
agricultural residues
hydrogen
circular economy
bioenergy
energy recovery
material recovery

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flue Gas Recirculation System for Biomass Heating Boilers—Research and Technical Applications for Reductions in Nitrogen Oxides (NO_x) Emissions

by Bartosz Ciupek, Rafał Urbaniak, Dobrosława Kinalska and Zbigniew Nadolny

Energies 2024, 17(1), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17010259 - 04 Jan 2024

Viewed by 745

Abstract

The paper discusses the results of investigations of the change in thermal and emission-related parameters of a heating boiler fueled with biomass after a modification with a proprietary flue gas recirculation system made for this type of equipment. The results provide insight into the combustion process with a multistage flue gas recirculation that materially affected the boiler operation: a reduction in the mass concentration of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) by reducing the combustion temperature. The authors also observed a reduction in the emission of particulate matters (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO). For the investigations, the authors used a heating boiler fitted with an automatic fuel feed (timber pellets) and a proprietary patented flue gas recirculation system (Polish patent Pat. 243395) for low power solid fuel heating boilers. Aside from the measurement of the mass concentration of the emitted pollutants, the research focused on the measurements of the temperature inside the combustion chamber, the temperature of the flue gas and the level of oxygen in the flue gas. The aim of the research was to confirm the validity of using the flue gas recirculation technique to reduce emissions of harmful substances from biomass heating boilers, as a technique not previously used for this group of devices. Moreover, the aim of the research was to test an original engineering solution, in the form of a flue gas distribution valve, and investigate its effect on reducing NO_x emissions and improving other thermal and emission parameters of the boiler. The obtained research results confirm the validity of the chosen actions and provide a positive premise for the practical use of this technology in solid fuel heating boilers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Biomass Conversion, Biofuel Production and Biorefinery Processes)

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Review

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17 pages, 6044 KiB

Open AccessReview

Aluminosilicate Clay Minerals: Kaolin, Bentonite, and Halloysite as Fuel Additives for Thermal Conversion of Biomass and Waste

by Izabella Maj and Krzysztof Matus

Energies 2023, 16(11), 4359; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16114359 - 26 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1999

Abstract

The current focus on renewable energy sources and the circular economy favors the thermal conversion of low-quality fuels, such as biomass and waste. However, the main limitation of their usability in the power sector is the risk of slagging, fouling, ash deposition, and high-temperature corrosion. These problems may be avoided or significantly mitigated by the application of aluminosilicate clay minerals as fuel additives. In this paper, the three most commonly occurring aluminosilicates are reviewed: kaolin, halloysite, and bentonite. Their application has been proven to minimize combustion-related problems by bonding alkalis in high-melting compounds, thus increasing ash melting temperatures, reducing ash deposition tendencies, and decreasing the particulate matter emission. Due to excellent sorption properties, aluminosilicates are also expected to fix heavy metals in ash and therefore decrease their emissions into the atmosphere. The application of aluminosilicates as fuel additives may be a key factor that increases the attractiveness of biomass and other low-quality fuels for the power sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Biomass Conversion, Biofuel Production and Biorefinery Processes)

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