Determination of energy plant chopping quality and emissions while burning chaff

Abstract

In this paper an analytical review and the results of experimental studies of plant biomass production and its usage as an environmentally friendly local fuel are presented. Such fuels contain virtually no sulfur, and the carbon dioxide released during burning is the natural carbon cycle. An analytical review of experimental research results of growing and burning herbaceous and woody energy plants is given with evaluation and comparison with the emissions of harmful substances into the air while burning these plants. The experimental research results of burning energy plants, such as willows, chopped by the drum, the disc and the screw choppers are presented, and compared with ashen wood burning. The test is carried out in the laboratory boiler, which is designed for burning wood, wood briquettes, and large chips. On determining harmful substance (CO, SO2: NO, NOX) emissions into the environment it was concluded that burning of energy plants was better and pollution concentration was lower in case of those chopped bio-fuels (e.g. coarse chopped willow stems, chopped by the drum and screw choppers, and the wood) which were mixed with air while burning.