Development of a Biomass-Fired Combustion Unit for Residential Heating

Abstract

An innovative combustion unit was designed and implemented, aiming at the production of thermal energy, using different types of biomass fuels. The unit was made out of conventional materials, had a nominal capacity of 65 kW_th and comprised a silo, a continuous feedstock supply system, a desiccator, a cutting mill, and a cross flow boiler. Among the two residues tested, olive kernels produced a higher thermal efficiency and lower CO, SO₂, and NO_x emissions. A series of experiments, conducted at different biomass/air feed rates, showed that at a feedstock mass flow of 14.4 kg/h improved combustion conditions and heat recovery were obtained. Gaseous emissions were kept below the threshold limits and system efficiency was 81.3%. The unit needs to be optimized in terms of air supply and optimal parameters control systems.

Keywords:

• Biomass
• Combustion
• Residential heating

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Erratum

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors kindly thank Mr. A. Kalpakas for inspiring the work, the University Students Entrepreneurship Programme (UNISTEP) for funding the project, AVEA Chania Oil Cooperation and Hellenic Pellets Company for providing the samples, and the laboratory of Toxic and Hazardous Waste Management of the Technical University of Crete for the chemical analyses of the samples.

Notes

Note. GCV = gross calorific value.