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New insights into biomass combustion ash categorisation: A phylogenetic analysis

Zhai, Jihua; Burke, Ian; Mayes, William M.; Stewart, Douglas

Authors

Jihua Zhai

Ian Burke

Douglas Stewart



Abstract

Combustion of biomass within power stations is a more sustainable way to generate electricity than the use of fossil fuels provided the feedstock is sustainably grown. The physical and chemical properties of biomass combustion ash from different feedstocks were statistically analysed using 168 published database records. Plant taxonomy of the feedstock has a strong influence on the major element composition of the ash, and biomass feedstocks that are burnt commercially can usefully be categorised as hardwood, softwood, grass crop residues, and non-grass crop residues. The most abundant elements in hardwood ashes are calcium > potassium > phosphorous, whereas in the softwood ashes they are calcium > silicon > potassium. The most abundant elements in eudicot straw ashes are potassium > calcium > chlorine > phosphorous, and in grass straw ashes they are calcium > potassium > calcium > chlorine. Differences in major element chemistry between the feedstock categories are visualised using a ternary plot of the normalised calcium oxide, dipotassium oxide, silicon dioxide contents. Other properties depend principally on whether the feedstock is herbaceous or woody. Herbaceous feedstocks produce significantly more ash (typically 5–9%) than woody feedstocks (typically 1–2%) and their ash has a significantly lower initial deformation (melting) temperature than ash from woody feedstocks, and thus has greater potential to form slag and foul the furnace. These findings allow for the impact on ash characteristics to be include in commercial and operational decisions about power station feedstock.

Citation

Zhai, J., Burke, I., Mayes, W. M., & Stewart, D. (in press). New insights into biomass combustion ash categorisation: A phylogenetic analysis. Fuel, Article 119469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119469

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 8, 2020
Online Publication Date Nov 5, 2020
Deposit Date Nov 5, 2020
Publicly Available Date Nov 6, 2021
Journal Fuel
Print ISSN 0016-2361
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Article Number 119469
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119469
Keywords Biomass ash; Categorisation; Beneficial management; Statistical analysis
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3652846
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016236120324650?dgcid=coauthor

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