Combustion of poultry litter and mixture of poultry litter with woodchips in a fixed bed lab-scale batch reactor

Experiments have been conducted in a batch fixed bed lab-scale reactor to investigate the combustion behaviour of three different biomass fuels, poultry litter (PL), blend PL with wood chips (PL/WC) and softwood pellets (SP). Analysis data gathered after completion test runs, provided useful insights about thermal decomposition formation N gaseous species, release ash forming elements estimation aerosol emissions. It was observed that species are mainly produced during devolatilisation phase. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) predominant compound case SP combustion, whereas ammonia (NH3) displayed highest concentration (PL/WC). With reference elements, rates potassium (K) sodium (Na) range between 15–50% 20–37% respectively, rate sulphur (S) falls 54–92%. Chlorine (Cl) presents very high for all tested fuels acquiring values greater than 85%, showing volatile nature specific compound. The maximum potential emissions estimated based on calculation elements. In particular, were observed, 2806 mg/Nm3 (dry flue gas, 13 vol% O2), influenced by K gas Fuel indexes pre-evaluation related challenges such as NOx emissions, aerosols formation, corrosion risk, melting also investigated.