Markus Broström

Principle, calibration, and application of the in situ alkali chloride monitor

The extended use of biomass for heat and power production has caused increased operational problems with fouling and high-temperature corrosion in boilers. These problems are mainly related to the presence of alkali chlorides (KCl and NaCl) at high concentrations in the flue gas. The in situ alkali chloride monitor (IACM) was developed by Vattenfall Research and Development AB for measuring the alkali chloride concentration in hot flue gases (less than or approximately 650 degrees C). The measurement technique is based on molecular differential absorption spectroscopy in the UV range. Simultaneous measurement of SO(2) concentration is also possible. The measuring range is 1-50 ppm for the sum of KCl and NaCl concentrations and 4-750 ppm for SO(2). This paper describes the principle of the IACM as well as its calibration. Furthermore, an example of its application in an industrial boiler is given.

Design and validation of an advanced entrained flow reactor system for studies of rapid solid biomass fuel particle conversion and ash formation reactions

The design and validation of a newly commissioned entrained flow reactor is described in the present paper. The reactor was designed for advanced studies of fuel conversion and ash formation in powder flames, and the capabilities of the reactor were experimentally validated using two different solid biomass fuels. The drop tube geometry was equipped with a flat flame burner to heat and support the powder flame, optical access ports, a particle image velocimetry (PIV) system for in situ conversion monitoring, and probes for extraction of gases and particulate matter. A detailed description of the system is provided based on simulations and measurements, establishing the detailed temperature distribution and gas flow profiles. Mass balance closures of approximately 98% were achieved by combining gas analysis and particle extraction. Biomass fuel particles were successfully tracked using shadow imaging PIV, and the resulting data were used to determine the size, shape, velocity, and residence time of converting particles. Successful extractive sampling of coarse and fine particles during combustion while retaining their morphology was demonstrated, and it opens up for detailed time resolved studies of rapid ash transformation reactions; in the validation experiments, clear and systematic fractionation trends for K, Cl, S, and Si were observed for the two fuels tested. The combination of in situ access, accurate residence time estimations, and precise particle sampling for subsequent chemical analysis allows for a wide range of future studies, with implications and possibilities discussed in the paper.

Comprehensive study of the thermal decomposition of different hemicelluloses

Carbohydrates (cellulose and hemicellulose) constitute the main fraction of plant cell walls and detailed knowledge about their thermal decomposition are therefore of great importance for understan ...