IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v237y2024ipas0960148124016811.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Torrefied and pyrolyzed pellets and their environmental impact in household heating

Author

Listed:
  • Zlevorová, Tereza
  • Lachman, Jakub
  • Prchal, Miroslav
  • Baláš, Marek
  • Zlámalová Gargošová, Helena
  • Lisý, Martin

Abstract

The transition from original feedstock to torrefied and pyrolyzed biofuels was investigated on a small-scale automatic pellet boiler. Thermal treatment significantly improves fuel quality; however, several technological difficulties were encountered. The entrainment of unburnt fuel particles led to severe CO, TOC and PM emissions as well as a drop in power output. All these issues were exacerbated when firing herbaceous biomass. It was found that most of the emitted particles are smaller than 1 μm in aerodynamic diameter, which necessitates additional flue gas filtering. Furthermore, 16 selected PAHs were individually monitored to evaluate the effect of thermal treatment on PAHs emissions and composition. On average, the most abundant PAH was naphthalene (4135 μg·kgfuel−1), followed by phenanthrene (246 μg·kgfuel−1), acenaphthylene (145 μg·kgfuel−1), fluoranthene (97 μg·kgfuel−1) and pyrene (95 μg·kgfuel−1). Benzo(a)pyrene contributed minimally to the total PAHs emissions (on average 16.6 μg·kgfuel−1). The 16 selected PAHs constitute only about 0.1–1.1 % of the total organic carbon emitted from solid biofuel combustion.

Suggested Citation

  • Zlevorová, Tereza & Lachman, Jakub & Prchal, Miroslav & Baláš, Marek & Zlámalová Gargošová, Helena & Lisý, Martin, 2024. "Torrefied and pyrolyzed pellets and their environmental impact in household heating," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:237:y:2024:i:pa:s0960148124016811
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.121613
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148124016811
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2024.121613?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Peng, Jianghong & Bi, Xiaotao T., 2015. "A state-of-the-art review of biomass torrefaction, densification and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 847-866.
    2. Lasek, Janusz A. & Matuszek, Katarzyna & Hrycko, Piotr & Głód, Krzysztof & Li, Yueh-Heng, 2023. "The combustion of torrefied biomass in commercial-scale domestic boilers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    3. James W. Butler & William Skrivan & Samira Lotfi, 2023. "Identification of Optimal Binders for Torrefied Biomass Pellets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-23, April.
    4. Chen, Xuejiao & Wang, Hong & Yang, Rui & Lin, Wei & Qi, Zhiyong & Zhang, Dongdong, 2024. "Effect of severe torrefaction by superheated steam on pinewood pyrolysis kinetics and pyrolytic oil compounds," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    5. Pronobis, Marek & Wejkowski, Robert & Kalisz, Sylwester & Ciukaj, Szymon, 2023. "Conversion of a pulverized coal boiler into a torrefied biomass boiler," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    6. Rudolfsson, Magnus & Stelte, Wolfgang & Lestander, Torbjörn A., 2015. "Process optimization of combined biomass torrefaction and pelletization for fuel pellet production – A parametric study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 378-384.
    7. García, R. & González-Vázquez, M.P. & Martín, A.J. & Pevida, C. & Rubiera, F., 2020. "Pelletization of torrefied biomass with solid and liquid bio-additives," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 175-183.
    8. Hu, Zhongfa & Wang, Xuebin & Zhang, Lan & Yang, Shunzhi & Ruan, Renhui & Bai, Shengjie & Zhu, Yiming & Wang, Liang & Mikulčić, Hrvoje & Tan, Houzhang, 2020. "Emission characteristics of particulate matters from a 30 MW biomass-fired power plant in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 225-236.
    9. Arkadiusz Dyjakon & Tomasz Noszczyk & Agata Mostek, 2021. "Mechanical Durability and Grindability of Pellets after Torrefaction Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    10. Kambo, Harpreet Singh & Dutta, Animesh, 2014. "Strength, storage, and combustion characteristics of densified lignocellulosic biomass produced via torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 182-191.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mostafa, Mohamed E. & Hu, Song & Wang, Yi & Su, Sheng & Hu, Xun & Elsayed, Saad A. & Xiang, Jun, 2019. "The significance of pelletization operating conditions: An analysis of physical and mechanical characteristics as well as energy consumption of biomass pellets," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 332-348.
    2. Zhu, Youjian & Yang, Wei & Fan, Jiyuan & Kan, Tao & Zhang, Wennan & Liu, Heng & Cheng, Wei & Yang, Haiping & Wu, Xuehong & Chen, Hanping, 2018. "Effect of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose addition on particulate matter emissions during biomass pellet combustion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 925-934.
    3. Sui, Haiqing & Chen, Jianfeng & Cheng, Wei & Zhu, Youjian & Zhang, Wennan & Hu, Junhao & Jiang, Hao & Shao, Jing'ai & Chen, Hanping, 2024. "Effect of oxidative torrefaction on fuel and pelletizing properties of agricultural biomass in comparison with non-oxidative torrefaction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    4. Wang, Zhiwei & Lei, Tingzhou & Chang, Xia & Shi, Xinguang & Xiao, Ju & Li, Zaifeng & He, Xiaofeng & Zhu, Jinling & Yang, Shuhua, 2015. "Optimization of a biomass briquette fuel system based on grey relational analysis and analytic hierarchy process: A study using cornstalks in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 523-532.
    5. Chai, Li & Saffron, Christopher M., 2016. "Comparing pelletization and torrefaction depots: Optimization of depot capacity and biomass moisture to determine the minimum production cost," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 387-395.
    6. Rudolfsson, Magnus & Borén, Eleonora & Pommer, Linda & Nordin, Anders & Lestander, Torbjörn A., 2017. "Combined effects of torrefaction and pelletization parameters on the quality of pellets produced from torrefied biomass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 414-424.
    7. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Lin, Bo-Jhih & Colin, Baptiste & Chang, Jo-Shu & Pétrissans, Anélie & Bi, Xiaotao & Pétrissans, Mathieu, 2018. "Hygroscopic transformation of woody biomass torrefaction for carbon storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 768-776.
    8. Gangil, Sandip & Bhargav, Vinod Kumar, 2018. "Influence of torrefaction on intrinsic bioconstituents of cotton stalk: TG-insights," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 1066-1073.
    9. Adeleke, Adekunle A. & Ikubanni, Peter P. & Emmanuel, Stephen S. & Fajobi, Moses O. & Nwachukwu, Praise & Adesibikan, Ademidun A. & Odusote, Jamiu K. & Adeyemi, Emmanuel O. & Abioye, Oluwaseyi M. & Ok, 2024. "A comprehensive review on the similarity and disparity of torrefied biomass and coal properties," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    10. Paredes, B.M. & Paredes, J.P. & García, R., 2023. "Integration of biocoal in distributed energy systems: A potential case study in the Spanish coal-mining regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PC).
    11. Song, Xiaoxu & Yang, Yang & Zhang, Meng & Zhang, Ke & Wang, Donghai, 2018. "Ultrasonic pelleting of torrefied lignocellulosic biomass for bioenergy production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 56-62.
    12. Kang, Kang & Klinghoffer, Naomi B. & ElGhamrawy, Islam & Berruti, Franco, 2021. "Thermochemical conversion of agroforestry biomass and solid waste using decentralized and mobile systems for renewable energy and products," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    13. Yek, Peter Nai Yuh & Cheng, Yoke Wang & Liew, Rock Keey & Wan Mahari, Wan Adibah & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Peng, Wanxi & Park, Young-Kwon & Sonne, Christian & Kong, Sieng Huat & Tabatabaei, 2021. "Progress in the torrefaction technology for upgrading oil palm wastes to energy-dense biochar: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    14. Song, Xiaobing & Zhang, Shouyu & Wu, Yuanmo & Cao, Zhongyao, 2020. "Investigation on the properties of the bio-briquette fuel prepared from hydrothermal pretreated cotton stalk and wood sawdust," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 184-191.
    15. Qi, Jianhui & Zhao, Jianli & Xu, Yang & Wang, Yongjia & Han, Kuihua, 2018. "Segmented heating carbonization of biomass: Yields, property and estimation of heating value of chars," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 301-311.
    16. Sergio Jaimes Rueda & Bruna Rego de Vasconcelos & Xavier Duret & Jean-Michel Lavoie, 2022. "Lignin Pellets for Advanced Thermochemical Process—From a Single Pellet System to a Laboratory-Scale Pellet Mill," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, April.
    17. Abdulyekeen, Kabir Abogunde & Daud, Wan Mohd Ashri Wan & Patah, Muhamad Fazly Abdul, 2024. "Torrefaction of wood and garden wastes from municipal solid waste to enhanced solid fuel using helical screw rotation-induced fluidised bed reactor: Effect of particle size, helical screw speed and te," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    18. Śliz, Maciej & Wilk, Małgorzata, 2020. "A comprehensive investigation of hydrothermal carbonization: Energy potential of hydrochar derived from Virginia mallow," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 942-950.
    19. Fan, Yuyang & Tippayawong, Nakorn & Wei, Guoqiang & Huang, Zhen & Zhao, Kun & Jiang, Liqun & Zheng, Anqing & Zhao, Zengli & Li, Haibin, 2020. "Minimizing tar formation whilst enhancing syngas production by integrating biomass torrefaction pretreatment with chemical looping gasification," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    20. Leonel J. R. Nunes & João C. O. Matias, 2020. "Biomass Torrefaction as a Key Driver for the Sustainable Development and Decarbonization of Energy Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-9, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:237:y:2024:i:pa:s0960148124016811. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.