COMBUSTION PROPERTIES OF BIOMASS

Properties of biomass relevant to combustion are briefly reviewed. The compositions of biomass among fuel types are variable, especially wit h respect to inorganic constituents important to the critical problems of fouling and slagging, Alkali and alkaline earth metals, in combina tion with other fuel elements such as silica and sulfur, and facilitat ed by the presence of chlorine, are responsible for many undesirable r eactions in combustion furnaces and power boilers. Reductions in the c oncentrations of alkali metals and chlorine, created by leaching the e lements from the fuel with water, yield remarkable improvements in ash fusion temperatures and confirm much of what is suggested regarding t he nature of fouling by biomass fuels. Other influences of biomass com position are observed for the rates of combustion and pollutant emissi ons, Standardized engineering practices setting out protocols of analy sis and interpretation may prove useful in reducing unfavorable impact s and industry costs, and further development is encouraged. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.