Statistical Analysis and Evaluation of the Advanced Biomass and Natural Gas Co-Combustion Performance
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Date
2019-04-01
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Department
Engineering
Program
Doctor of Engineering
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Abstract
Increasing electricity demand and high emissions from fossil fuels combustion have created severe environmental problems and adverse impacts on human health. Biomass is considered as a promising energy resource to replace fossil fuels due to the large availability, clean, and relatively low cost. Poultry litter is a biomass and animal waste from poultry farms. However, excess production and land application also caused problems. Poultry litter and natural gas co-combustion were studied as one of the alternative solutions. Combustion efficiency and emissions in the lab-scale advanced swirling fluidized bed combustor (SFBC) system have been evaluated in previous studies. However, performance of energy production (electricity and hot water) were not evaluated yet. The main research objectives of this study are to: (1) study fuel properties and predict higher heating value (HHV) of biomass fuels (i.e., poultry litter) from proximate analysis data, (2) conduct statistical analysis and evaluate electricity generation during poultry litter and natural gas co-combustion process, and (3) evaluate the heat generation during co-combustion process by using the lab-scale shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) prototype.
Fuel properties, include HHV, proximate and ultimate analysis compositions were analyzed. Proximate analysis-based regression models were developed, compared, and validated to predict the HHV of poultry litter with lower estimation errors. The best-fit regression model has the highest R2 value (91.62%), lowest average absolute error (5.98%) and average biased error (0.35%). Then, the Stirling engine was successfully integrated into the lab-scale SFBC system to produce electricity (about 1 kW) from co-combustion process. Results also indicated that lower emissions (e.g., CO, NOx, SO2) and particulate matter (0.002 lb/MMBtu) were lower than the Maryland emission threshold. After that, the innovative lab-scale STHE system was designed, fabricated, and tested along with lab-scale SFBC system. Results proved that the lab-scale STHE is able to produce hot water (up to 139 ℉) and provide space heating of mobile mini-trailer (from 55℉ to 85℉) within 3 hours during co-combustion process. This study showed the possibility of electricity and hot water generation with acceptable emissions from the poultry litter and natural gas co-combustion process in the smalls-scale biomass conversion system. In the long term, results from this research will provide a sustainable and net-zero pathway and solution to convert poultry litter into on-farm energy with minimal emissions, and ultimately provide additional energy cost savings for the poultry farms.