Production of reed canary grass-wood pellets
2016
Platace, R., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia) | Adamovics, A., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia) | Kalnacs, J., Institute of Physical Energetics, Riga (Latvia)
Grass biomass is a perspective source for fuel production; however, low heating values thereof require new strategies for biomass preparation. One of the solutions to obtain biomass pellets with higher heating value is to mix grass biomass with timber. Therefore, this research covered biomass of reed canary grass and timber of birch, osier, grey alder, poplar, and hybrid aspen. The research aimed at evaluating the possibilities to mix grass biomass with timber biomass and finding the proportions of the components most suitable for pellet production. The research allowed concluding that the best combination of the components is 1 (wood) / 3 (RCG). Such a proportion is due to the higher calorific value of timber and higher ash and chlorine content of grass. When biomass is used for the production of thermal energy, the main problems arising in combustion should be addressed to, therefore, to reach the aim set for the research the highest and lowest heating values, ash content, chlorine content, as well as calorific value (MWh·t-1) of the biomasses were found. The research allowed concluding that too high ash and chlorine content in reed canary grass biomass may be reduced by addition of timber. Moreover, mixing reed canary grass with wood allows diminishing the chlorine content almost by half. As compared to grass, timber has more suitable characteristics for pellet production, however, mankind is running short of wood resources, therefore consumption thereof may be reduced by use of grass biomass, i.e. by adding perennial grass to timber pellets.
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