Combustion of coffee husks

Combustion mechanisms of two types of coffee husks have been studied using single particle combustion techniques as well as combustion in a pilot-scal e fluidised bed facility (FBC), 150 mm in diameter and 9 m high. Through me asurements of weight-loss and particle temperatures, the processes of dryin g, devolatilisation and combustion of coffee husks were studied. Axial temp erature profiles in the FBC were also measured during stationary combustion conditions to analyse the location of volatile release and combustion as a function of fuel feeding mode. Finally the problems of ash sintering were analysed. The results showed that devolatilisation of coffee husks (65-72% volatile matter, raw mass) starts at a low temperature range of 170-200 deg reesC and takes place rapidly. During fuel feeding using a non water-cooled system, pyrolysis of the husks took place in the feeder tube leading to bl ockage and non-uniform fuel flow. Measurements of axial temperature profile s showed that during under-bed feeding, the bed and freeboard temperatures were more or less the same, whereas for over-bed feeding, freeboard tempera tures were much higher, indicating significant combustion of the volatiles in the freeboard. A major problem observed during the combustion of coffee husks was ash sintering and bed agglomeration. This is due to the low melti ng temperature of the ash, which is attributed to the high contents of K2O (36-38%) of the coffee husks. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res erved.