Abstract:
This research studied the emissions of NOₓ and N₂O from co-combustion of coal and biomass in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB). Sub-bituminous rank coal and rice husk were employed as feedstocks. Nitrogen contents in coal and rice husk are 0.30 and 0.18% by weight, respectively. The combustion zone in this CFB took place in the cylindrical riser with 10 cm I.D. and 3 m in height. Fuel feed rate, primary air feed rate and solid circulation rate (silica sand return rate) were kept constant at 7 kg/hr, 200 l/min and 300 kg/hr, respectively. Here, effects of coal to biomass ratio in the mixed fuel and secondary air position were investigated. In addition, performance of water scrubber on reducing some toxic gases was examined.
From the experimental results, coal and rice husk properties such as density, heating value and nitrogen composition obviously influenced temperature in combustion zone and also emissions of NOₓ and N₂O. Average temperature in the riser was approximately 650 – 800 ℃ NOₓ and N₂O emissions increased with the increasing of total air feed rate. Injecting secondary air at higher position resulted in lower NOₓ and N2O concentrations and higher temperature. Utilization of the water scrubber helped slightly decrease NOₓ emission, but had no effect on N₂O emission. The change in NOₓ and N₂O was found in the same trend. Moreover, the concentration of NOₓ (approximately 40 – 90 ppm) was observed to be higher than that of N₂O (approximately 20 – 45 ppm) (at 7% O₂) . The concentration of NO₂ was relatively low in the flue gas. The flue gas from co-combustion of coal and rice husk in CFB was found to satisfy the Thai emission standards.