Optimisation of Biomass/Coal Co-Firing Processes through Integrated Measurement and Computational Modelling
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Computational Fluid Dynamics
Abstract
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Organisations
- University of Leeds (Lead Research Organisation)
- Zhejiang University (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- International Flame Research Foundation (Collaboration)
- Datang Weihe Power Station (Project Partner)
- RWE (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Tianjin University (Project Partner)
- Xi'an Jiaotong University (Project Partner)
- Alstom (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- E ON (Project Partner)
Publications
Degereji M
(2012)
Prediction of ash slagging propensity in a pulverized coal combustion furnace
in Fuel
Degereji M
(2013)
Predicting the slagging potential of co-fired coal with sewage sludge and wood biomass
in Fuel
Edge P
(2011)
LES modelling of air and oxy-fuel pulverised coal combustion-impact on flame properties
in Proceedings of the Combustion Institute
Farrow T
(2015)
Impact of CO2 on biomass pyrolysis, nitrogen partitioning, and char combustion in a drop tube furnace
in Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis
Fei Y
(2015)
Evaluation of the potential of retrofitting a coal power plant to oxy-firing using CFD and process co-simulation
in Fuel Processing Technology
Garba M
(2012)
Prediction of Potassium Chloride Sulfation and Its Effect on Deposition in Biomass-Fired Boilers
in Energy & Fuels
Garba M
(2013)
Modelling of deposit formation and sintering for the co-combustion of coal with biomass
in Fuel
Gubba S
(2011)
Influence of particle shape and internal thermal gradients of biomass particles on pulverised coal/biomass co-fired flames
in Fuel Processing Technology
Gubba S
(2012)
Investigations of the transportation characteristics of biomass fuel particles in a horizontal pipeline through CFD modelling and experimental measurement
in Biomass and Bioenergy
| Description | Co-firing biomass with coal at existing power plant is widely adopted as one of the main technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and many parts of the world. Despite various advances in developing the co-firing technology, a range of technological issues remain to be resolved due to the inherent differences in the physical and combustion properties between biomass and coal. Typical problems associated with co-firing include poor flame stability, low thermal efficiency, and slagging and fouling. This research project brings together leading research institutions in the field of advanced clean power generation technology research from both UK and China with substantial support from industry with an aim to achieve optimisation of the biomass/coal co-firing processes through a combination of advanced fuel characterisation, integrated measurement and computational modelling. Through the research funded on this grant we obtained fundamental understandings of the characteristics of coal and biomass mixture flows and flames. The Leeds team with strong capability in combustion process modelling has developed fundamental CFD and mathematical models for the simulation of biomass/coal blend transport and combustion process for both lab-scale and full industrial furnaces. The computational models developed have been applied to simulate the coal/biomass/air three phase flows in laboratory scale and industrial scale pipelines. The model and the simulation results have been compared with measurements which revealed unique flow characteristics of different biomass-biomass and biomass-coal blends. Advanced CFD models for the simulation of the internal heat transfer of large biomass particles and its impact on co-firing flame and burnout efficiency have been developed and tested both in a small 0.5 MW industrial combustion test facility and in a large scale 300MW power plant furnace. New computer models for predicting ash depositions in industrial boilers have been developed for coal fired, coal and biomass co-fired and 100% biomass fired boilers. The impact of biomass combustion on ash deposition and formation of slagging and fouling has been investigated using both mathematical and CFD modelling. Cofiring process optimisation has been investigated through CFD computer experimentation and it is suggested that by proper design of the combustion air split/staging an improved cofiring process may be achieved in terms of an increase in combustion efficiency and reduction in pollutant species emissions. Large Eddy Simulation technique has been implemented in the simulation of coal flame dynamics of an industrial coal combustion test facility. It reveals the importance of intermittence on the flame stability and radiation property of coal and cofiring flames. During the life of the project, two co-firing research workshops were held in China and one in the UK. 14 research papers have been published in international leading research journals (8 papers) and conference proceedings (6 papers) with 5 joint papers between UK and/or Chinese partners. Finally, as one of the UK-China collaborative project in energy research, the project significantly enhanced research collaborations in clean power generation technology between UK and China. |
| Exploitation Route | The integrated monitoring technology and combustion models have been proven to be feasible to be implemented in real power plant conditions. The results derived have made a considerable contribution to the body of knowledge on physical aspects of biomass/coal co-firing. In addition to being published in research journals and conferences, the results from the study have been reported at the project review meetings with all partners and through workshops to relevant industrial organisations and academic groups in UK and China. Further disseminations are being carried out through knowledge transfer activities and applications to other relevant research projects. |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment |
| URL | http://www.pact.ac.uk/ |
| Description | This was a very timely project of great interest to the power industry at the time when power plant operators are preparing to scale up their biomass intake from currently about 10% to 50-100% cofing loading. The research outcome from the project have lead to an much improved understanding of the biomass/coal co-firing process and possible ways of improving the performance of co-firing in power stations, efficient use of biomass fuels and subsequent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions both in the UK and China. Being one of the UK-China collaborative project in energy research, the results from the research funded on this grant have helped the industrial partners, in particular, RWE npower, E.ON, Alstom Power and China Datang Corporation, to optimise their coal and biomass fired power plants, leading to improved plant efficiency and reduced pollutant emissions. This project initiated a very successful and timely project on BECCS (Bioenergy-CCS) for a negative CO2 emission. This is one of the first project at international level. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Energy,Environment |
| Description | CPD Oxy-Fuel Combustion |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Additives to Mitigate against Slagging and Fouling in Biomass Combustion--addition of Coal PFA |
| Amount | £35,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | URMS number: 147605 |
| Organisation | Biomass and Fossil Fuel Research Alliance |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | BioFIP |
| Amount | £2,200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 08/2019 |
| Description | CE Generation |
| Amount | £62,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 149966 |
| Organisation | Clean Electricity Generation UK LTD |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2016 |
| End | 08/2017 |
| Description | EPSRC |
| Amount | £490,610 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/G06315X/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2010 |
| End | 02/2014 |
| Description | Energy Technologies Institute |
| Amount | £72,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ET/I000038/1 |
| Organisation | Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2011 |
| End | 09/2011 |
| Description | Energy Technologies Institute |
| Amount | £72,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ET/I000038/1 |
| Organisation | Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2011 |
| End | 05/2013 |
| Description | European Union Framework 7 |
| Amount | £640,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 268191 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Department | Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 11/2011 |
| End | 10/2015 |
| Description | NANOMEMC2 |
| Amount | € 4,200,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | URMS number: 147326 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | Newton Fund Researcher Links Workshop Grant |
| Amount | £39,600 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 215833160 |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 11/2016 |
| Description | Newton Fund Researcher Links Workshop Grant-2 |
| Amount | £39,600 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 216405884 |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 10/2016 |
| Description | Clean Energy Partership Institute for Thermal Power Engineeing, Zhejiang University, China |
| Organisation | Zhejiang University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The partnership was initiated via EPSRC-China clean Energy project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint research and innovation, Visits to UK and China, Joint workshop in China and UK, Joint applications for funding |
| Impact | 2-3 journal publication |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | International Flame Research Foundation (IFRF)-PACT National Facilities |
| Organisation | International Flame Research Foundation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration agreement between IFRF-UK and PACT national facilities: we will provide technical support to IFRF experimental projects. The partnership will include, our combustion/emission control expertise, intellectual input or the training of staff from industry. It also includes access to data, equipment or facilities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The members of International Flame Research Foundation will use the PACT national facilities to test their energy systems, fuels and new and novel low carbon devices. |
| Impact | New collaboration |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Title | FSCK Radiation SubModel for CFD codes V1 |
| Description | New radiation sub model to predict the combustion of Oxy-coal more accurately. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | The performance of Commercial CFD codes to predict the combustion of oxy-fuels has been enhanced significantly. The radiation prediction in power plant boilers is crucial for accurate and realistic calculations of the overall performance and it is of great importance to utility industry and OEMs. |
| Description | Training for Bioenergy CDT PhD Students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 15 Bioenergy CDT PhD students attended one week workshop in PACT to learn the pilot scale research and development activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.pact.ac.uk |