Steam Boilers are undoubtedly an essential asset in most process and manufacturing industries. Fuels play a vital role in the combustion process of steam boilers. The ignition of fuel heats the water that causes vaporization to generate steam. Steam boiler varies with the fuels used by the process plant, such as solid fuel boilers, oil-fired boilers, gas-fired boilers, and biomass boilers. The increasing costs of fuels that consequently increase the production costs as well as environmental laws have escalated the demand for biomass boilers in recent years. Biomass boilers are emerging as an ideal solution for heating sustainably and efficiently. Let us have a detailed understanding of the working of biomass boilers along with their advantages and disadvantages.
What is a Biomass Boiler?
Biomass boilers are an ideal choice for renewable heating. For understanding biomass boilers, it is necessary to understand the concept of biomass. Biomass is a fuel acquired from organic matter such as wood, agricultural wastes, industrial wastes, etc. Such renewable steam boiler systems are available for various types of biomass fuel with a range of product capacity, depending on the requirements of the process plant. With the increasing costs of non-renewable fuels like coal and the depletion of fossil fuels in the next three to four decades, biomass boilers are the best solution for effective heating and steam generation.
In other words, biomass boilers offer heating from renewable fuels, efficient steam generation, and reduce greenhouse emissions.
Biomass Conversion into Energy:
Biomass can be converted into energy through various processes such as,
- Direct Combustion: Burning the fuel to produce heat. Direct combustion is the most commonly used method of converting biomass into energy. Biomass of any type is burned for heating in industries, buildings, and generating electricity through steam turbines.
- Thermochemical: The process involves conversion to produce solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels. Thermochemical conversion involves the process of pyrolysis and gasification that are decomposition processes. It includes heating the biomass feedstock materials at high temperatures in closed, pressurized vessels termed gasifiers.
- Chemical: Chemical conversion produces liquid fuels. Also known as transesterification, it is used for converting animal fats, vegetable oils, and greases into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), utilized for producing biodiesel.
- Biological: It includes biomass conversion into producing liquid and gaseous fuels. Biological conversion involves fermentation in order to convert biomass into ethanol and anaerobic digestion that resultantly produces renewable natural gas. Renewable natural gas, also termed biogas or biomethane, is generated in anaerobic digesters at sewage treatment plants or dairy or livestock operations. It can also be captured and produced from solid waste landfills. If treated properly, renewable natural gas has the same utilization as fossil fuel natural gas.
Working of Biomass Boilers:
One of the primary benefits of adapting to biomass boilers is their ease of use. Like general steam boilers, biomass boilers use renewable fuels like wood, wood chips, wood pellets, agricultural wastes, industrial wastes, etc., to generate heat for steam.
Biomass boilers operate by burning the fuels suited for the steam boiler system, utilized for heating to generate steam. However, biomass boilers require a larger amount of fuel compared to fossil fuels. Biomass boilers are easy to maintain, but the ash built up by burning the fuel requires regular cleaning.
Types of Biomass Fuels:
Some of the most commonly used biomass fuels are as follows,
- Wood Chips:
Wood chips are the most economical type of biomass fuel that produces around 2.5p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity. It consists of a 30% moisture content that should not be stored for longer periods to avoid degradation. The drawback of using wood chips is the germination of spores that can cause incurable respiratory disease. Therefore, it is essential to keep the airflow and encourage the drying process.
- Wood Pellets:
Wood pellets are relatively expensive, as compared to wood chips. It is the densest form of biomass, as well as efficient and compact. Wood pellets release a high amount of dust that requires effective hoppers and dust collector systems.
- Wood Logs:
Wood logs are ideal for those having access to wood sources and large storage spaces. Due to its high moisture content, it requires to be stored in a dry place for a year to reduce its moisture content and allow its maximum efficiency. It can also be used as wood bark and sawdust.
- Agricultural Wastes:
Agricultural wastes such as briquettes, bailed bagasse, rice husk, coffee husk, palm shell, groundnut shell, coconut shell, cotton waste, etc. It is best-suited to agricultural industries and industries that can transport the fuels conveniently and store them easily.
- Industrial Wastes:
Industrial wastes like paper pulp, wood waste, textile waste, etc. can be used as fuels depending on the requirement and capacity of the steam boiler system.
Advantages of Biomass Boilers:
- Environment-friendly
- Renewable source of energy
- Cost-effective
- Easy to procure and transport
Disadvantages of Biomass Boilers:
- Requires large space for storage
- Requires Large Furnace
Efficient Biomass Boilers by Rakhoh:
With 38+ years of expertise and experience in thermal solutions, Rakhoh Boilers have aimed to balance advancement and sustainability with consistent innovations. We deliver efficient and reliable Biomass Boilers that operate effectively with various types of biomass fuels. As a leading steam boiler provider globally, we provide the best boiler services like fuel conversion, boiler automation, energy audit, annual boiler maintenance, steam trap assessment, turnkey solutions, etc.
Learn more about our products and services on www.rakhoh.com