Emission Measurements from high efficiency Wood boilers

SRIRAAM RAMANATHAN CHANDRASEKARAN (1) James Laing (2) Suresh Raja (3) Thomas M Holsen (4) Philip K Hopke (5)

(1)Center For Air Resources Engineering and Science, ClarksonUniversity (2)Center For Air Resources Engineering and Science, ClarksonUniversity (3)Center For Air Resources Engineering and Science, ClarksonUniversity (4)Center For Air Resources Engineering and Science, ClarksonUniversity (5)Center For Air Resources Engineering and Science, ClarksonUniversity

     Abstract Number: 794
     Last modified: May 14, 2010

Abstract
Biomass combustion is a significant source of soot carbon to the atmosphere causing visibility impairment and also affecting the Earth’s radiation balance. Despite this, biomass has been shown to be a promising source of alternate energy for space heating.
A high efficiency 1.7 million BTU wood pellet boiler integrated with a solar tube hot water system was tested at Wild Center. The average fuel feed rate (wood pellets) through the auger feed system was 294 lb.hr$-1. The nominal heat input rate during this measurement was 1.3 million BTU.hr$-1.

Samples of combustion exhaust was drawn through a dilution sampling system(Conditional Test Method CTM 039) The dilution sampling system contains an in-stack PM2.5 cyclone to remove particles larger than 2.5 µm. The diluted stack gas was continuously monitored for CO, NOx, SO2, CO2, PM2.5 mass concentration, and particle size distribution. Continuous measurement of PM2.5 mass were performed using a TEOM Filter Dynamics Measurement System (FDMS). Particles size distributions in the range from 5.6 to 560 nm were obtained using a Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (FMPS).Filters such as Quartz, Teflon and PUFS were collected for the Organic and elemental carbon analysis, particulate elemental analysis and particulate organic chemical speciation respectively. The average concentration during the boiler operation ranged from 0.4-0.45 microgram.Btu$-1 for SO2, 41-45 microgram.Btu$-1 for NOx, 60-70 microgram.Btu$-1 for CO2, 400-450 microgram.Btu$-1 for CO and 60-65 mg.m$-3 for PM2.5.