Use of Low-quality Biogenic Fuels in a Decentralized Biomass Boiler for Thermal Energy Generation

The KIT generate heat with three hot water tube boilers and a combined heat and power unit. Their operation is based on natural gas. Alternatively, light fuel oil can be used in the hot water tube boilers. For the future the KIT has to achieve climate protection goals and for that to consider about alternative heat generation. This could be the operation of a biomass boiler, which is operated with wood chips or wood pellets. The Institute of Technical Chemistry (ITC) and Facility Management (FM) of KIT in cooperation with medium-sized enterprises now plans to integrate a decentralized biomass boiler into the existing heat supply network of KIT Campus North. The goal for the decentralized biomass boiler is to operate with low-quality biogenic fuel. Within the framework of preliminary studies, the biogenic fuels shall be characterized according to their combustion properties. To enhance sustainability, reduce the consumption of resources and increase economic efficiency, the studies are to focus on the use of waste materials. In addition, the waste flows at KIT and the suited waste shall be identified. The considered materials are lop, sieve residues or other previous identified waste.
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When planning such a project, legal and licensing-relevant aspects and their consequenses have to be considered. Then, the requirements to be met by the selected fuels will be listed and experimental tests at the “KLEAA” test facility of ITC will be reported. This test facility is a fixed bed reactor used for the characterization of burnout of solid fuels. Studies are aimed at identifying and assessing alternative fuels for future use in biomass boilers. Furthermore side effects such as corrosion, slagging, and emissions shall be taken into account. Depending on the achieved intermediate data the insert of additives to reduce the side effects will be tested. The project findings will be verified in an experimental facility later on.

In the proposed paper first results of the preliminary investigations shall be presented.