Fuel 188 (2017) 277–284

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Fuel
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/fuel

Full Length Article

An experimental study of ignition and combustion of single biomass

pellets in air and oxy-fuel
Fupeng Shan, Qizhao Lin ⇑, Kun Zhou, Yakun Wu, Wei Fu, Po Zhang, Lanbo Song, Chunyu Shao, Bolun Yi
Department of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Jinzhai Road, Hefei 230026, China

h i g h l i g h t s

The oxy-fuel combustion behavior of biomass pellet was detected.

Heterogeneous ignition on the surface of biomass pellets was observed.

The volatile matter showed a hetero-homogeneous combustion at larger oxygen concentration (than 50%).

The higher oxygen concentration was useful to reduce the length of the flame.

The skeleton of the biomass pellets remained intact during burning process.

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: This study presents an experimental investigation of the ignition and combustion characteristics of single
Received 19 May 2016 biomass pellets in air and O2/CO2 atmospheres containing 21%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 100% oxygen mole frac-
Received in revised form 19 September tions. In this experiment, the temperature of the gas surrounding the biomass pellets was set respectively
2016
at 873 K, 973 K and 1073 K. The rate of co-flow gas was set at 10 L/min, 15 L/min and 20 L/min. Single
Accepted 23 September 2016
Available online 13 October 2016
pellets of Pinus bungeana and rice husk were fixed on a thermocouple and burned in a vertical heating
tube furnace. High-speed photography was used to record images of the combustion process of biomass
pellets. The resulting images exhibit two ignition behaviors: (1) homogeneous ignition of volatile, and (2)
Keywords:
Biomass pellets
heterogeneous ignition on the particles’ surface. After ignition, the combustion was no longer a homoge-
Ignition mechanism neous combustion of volatile. When the oxygen concentration exceeded 50%, the biomass showed a
Combustion characteristic hetero-homogeneous combustion. Similarly, when the concentration of O2 increased, the flame became
Oxy-fuel shorter and more stable. With the same oxygen concentration, and once the N2 was replaced by CO2, the
Single pellet ignition delay, internal ignition temperature and the volatile combustion time increased. Inversely, when
the oxygen concentration exceeded 21% (i.e. under the conditions of oxy-fuel), these parameters were
correspondingly reduced. In other words, the ignition and combustion intensity were increased. The
effects of oxygen concentration and co-flow temperature on ignition and combustion of biomass pellets
were greater than that of co-flow velocity. The study’s results show that the biomass pellets did not break
during combustion.
Ó 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction energy has become a potentially vital source of renewable energy

Given the recent increase in people’s awareness of threats to the
environment, as well as global events such as the climate confer-
ence held in Paris in 2015 [1], the general public now understands
that the excessive use of fossil fuels is one of the chief causes of cli-
mate change. In order to tackle the increasingly serious energy cri-
sis and other environmental issues, new energy must be
developed. Among current alternative forms of energy, biomass
⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: qlin@ustc.edu.cn (Q. Lin).
due to its excellent properties: renewable, clean, rich raw material
and alternative advantages.
The main purpose behind shaping loose biomass into pellets is
to change its fuel density. This density solves the bottleneck of
transportation and storage, which currently restricts large-scale
utilization of biomass energy. The applications of biomass pellets
have shown a recent increase around the world. Countries with
the fastest-growing biomass pellet production include the United
States, Canada, and Russia. The main demand for biomass pellets
is still in the European Union. China’s demand for biomass pellets
is currently increasing [2,3].

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2016.09.069
0016-2361/Ó 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
278 F. Shan et al. / Fuel 188 (2017) 277–284

Oxy-fuel combustion is a promising technology used to pro- and gas temperature on the ignition and combustion
mote carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) by burning fuel characteristics.
in a mixture of oxygen and recycled flue gases (rather than in
air, as conventional combustion). The flue gases mainly contain
carbon dioxide. This technique of CCS needs more carbon dioxide 2. Experimental
to work properly, so biomass offers a great advantage. Riaza et al.
[4] have concluded that the combustion of biomass in the oxy- 2.1. Biomass samples
fuel atmosphere could be conducive to capturing carbon dioxide
and enhancing combustion intensity. Current research on biomass Two kinds of biomass pellets were used as the research object,
burning focuses more on co-firing biomass with coal. Some stud- which are Pinus bungeana and rice husk. They were obtained from a
ies suggest that the combustion of biomass-coal blends under pellet factory in Hefei City, Anhui Province, China. The pellets’
oxy-fuel conditions cannot only reduce carbon dioxide emissions diameter was 9 mm. Then the length of biomass pellet was pro-
and atmospheric carbon dioxide, but also control the maximum cessed to 10 mm. A hole with a depth of 5 mm and a diameter of
temperature of coal combustion [5–10]. This technology has been 1 mm was drilled into the biomass pellets. These column of bio-
called ‘‘clean” coal combustion. Other researchers have also stud- mass samples are similar to that in [15–17]. The proximate and
ied the combustion of pulverized biomass particles. Riaza et al. ultimate analyses of the biomasses are given in Table 1 (GB/T
[4] studied the combustion of single biomass particles in air 28731-2012).
and in oxy-fuel conditions in a drop-tube furnace. The tempera-
ture of the furnace wall was set to 1400 K, and the gas atmo-
2.2. Experimental equipment and methods
sphere was air and O2/CO2 containing 21%, 30%, 35% and 50%
oxygen mole fractions. Riaza et al.’s results show that increasing
An electrically-heated tube furnace with an inner diameter of
the oxygen mole fraction in the CO2 background gas enhanced
8.0 cm was used for the experiments, and the schematic diagram
combustion intensity of biomass and decreased the burnout time
is shown in Fig. 1. In this experiment, oxygen (1) and nitrogen
of volatiles and char residues. However, it increased the temper-
(2) were used to form air in the gases mixing chamber (7) before
ature of the burning char particles. Tran et al. [11] have con-
flowing through steady flow chamber (8) into the vertical heating
cluded that the torrefaction process of biomass particles
tube furnace (9). Carbon dioxide (3) and oxygen (mole fractions of
integrated with simulated oxy-fuel combustion flue gases can
21%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 100%) were used to simulate the oxy-fuel
reduce mass and energy yields. However, the biomass would
combustion conditions. The gas flow rate was set respectively
get better grindability. The mass yield (Ymass) and energy yield
to10 L/min, 15 L/min and 20 L/min.
(Yenergy) were determined by the following equation, respectively:
Ignition and combustion experiments of biomass pellets were
Y mass ð%Þ ¼ mmbiochar  100%, Y energy ð%Þ ¼ Y mass HHV
HHV biochar
 100%. In
feedstock feedstock conducted under a flow gas condition. The gas temperature sur-
addition to the above coal-based studies, many researchers have rounding biomass pellets was respectively set to 873 K, 973 K
only studied biomass combustion. Most of the prior studies have and 1073 K. The ignition temperature of solid biomass was approx-
been applied to boilers and small heating devices. Grotkjær et al. imately 473 K [12,18]. Therefore, the heating rate of biomass was
[12] studied the ignition mechanism of wheat straw. In this sufficient. The gas temperature was determined by heating control
study, the straw sample was connected to the thermocouple cabinet (13) and a thermocouple (14) which measures feedback
and the supportive rod. Air flow temperature was set to 260– temperature. The furnace was heated until the temperature of
350 °C. The ignition temperature was determined according to the thermocouple (14) reached the set value.
the carbon conversion ratio. The flue gas was collected to mea- The biomass pellet (18) was fixed on a thermocouple (15) with
sure the amount of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Results high-temperature resistant inorganic glue. The thermocouple (15)
of this study indicated that when the superficial gas velocity was supported by a bracket (16) and used to measure the internal
decreased, the ignition temperature increased. This was consis- ignition temperature of biomass pellets. When the gases flow and
tent with the homogeneous ignition mechanism. Boman et al. the temperatures of the gases stream were stable, the biomass was
[13] studied the combustion characteristics and environmental fed into the furnace. The biomass was ignited when the visible
performance of pelletized hardwood of aspen. In this study, bio- flame was observed, and the temperature demonstrator (12) indi-
mass pellets were placed in a sample holder. Their test method cated the internal ignition temperature of biomass. High-speed
had a great influence on the combustion flame, so their research photography (10) was used to record the ignition and combustion
only concentrated on the emissions and slagging. Kuo and Hsi
[14] studied the pyrolysis and ignition of single wooden spheres
in high-temperature airflow. They also analyzed the impact of Table 1
the wood spheres’ diameter, air velocity, and temperature on Proximate and ultimate analyses of the biomass.
their ignition rate. Their conclusion was that biomass anisotropy Component Pinus bungeana (wt%) Ricehusk (wt%)
had the largest effect on ignition time. The above studies are con-
(Ash)ara 4.84 11.67
cerned with the combustion of biomass powder particles (such as (Moisture)ar 6.54 7.45
wood spheres) in oxy-fuel and air. However, few studies have (Volatiles)ar 85.89 73.08
been carried out to examine the ignition and combustion of bio- (Fixed carbon)arb 2.73 7.80
(LHV)cdb (MJ/kg) 19.32 17.53
mass pellets under oxy-fuel conditions. Further research on this
topic is necessary. The present study is therefore useful for future (Carbon)db 47.17 39.88
(Hydrogen)db 6.43 5.54
applications of biomass pellets in power plants, the metallurgical
(Oxygen)db 42.5 36.71
industry, and other areas. (Nitrogen)db 0.07 0.46
In this paper, two kinds of biomass pellets (Pinus bungeana and (Sulfur)db 0.46 0.48
rice husk) were used to investigate their ignition and combustion
LHV = Low heating value.
characteristics under the conditions of oxy-fuel and air in a tube a
ar indicates the abbreviation of ‘as received basis’.
furnace. The thermocouple and high-speed photography were b
Calculated by difference.
c
used to record the effects of gas velocity, oxygen concentration db indicates the abbreviation of ‘as dry basis’.
 F. Shan et al. / Fuel 188 (2017) 277–284 279

Fig. 1. The schematic of the experimental equipment.

process of biomass pellets through the observation window (17), at small particles, it is possible to be blown away by the gas flow
a speed of 50 frames per second. and this will increase the emission of fly ash and heat loss.

3.2. The ignition delay of biomass pellets

2.3. Error analysis

Timing started when biomass pellets were injected into the fur-
Test error is mainly from the following three aspects: the ther-
nace and stopped once a visible flame emerged. The time measured
mocouple (14), the thermocouple (15) and ignition delay time. The
between both events is the ignition delay. Compared with
previous work has carried out a detailed analysis of these errors in
untreated biomass, biomass pellets have a higher bulk density.
this laboratory [19]. The gas temperature was obtained when the
Thus, the rate of devolatilization is slow, and ignition takes a long
gas flow was stable. The thermal radiation of furnace wall would
time. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, three variables were selected to
produce error in the measurement of thermocouple (14). Accord-
study the changes of the ignition point in different conditions,
ing to the heat balance equation, the relative error of the temper-
which are oxygen concentration, gas temperature and gas flow
ature measured by the thermocouple (14) is about 3–8%. This error
rate. The following phenomena were observed from the charts:
is within the allowable range. The time interval between particles
(i) at the same oxygen concentration, the ignition delay in the
entering the furnace until they reached their designated position
nitrogen atmosphere was shorter than that in the atmosphere of
was approximately 0.4–0.8 s. The response time of the thermocou-
carbon dioxide. It has been confirmed that this is related to the
ple (15) is 0.5 s. So the error caused by the heating process of the
properties of carbon dioxide [5,20–22]. The specific heat capacity
interval can be disregarded; Ignition delay time was obtained by
of carbon dioxide was relatively larger than that of nitrogen and
high speed photography. The time interval between the two pic-
the diffusion rate of oxygen in the carbon dioxide was relatively
tures is 0.02 s. The max error of ignition delay is 0.4%. This error
lower than N2. The decrease of co-flow temperature led to a
is minor and can therefore also be disregarded.
decrease of heating rate on the surface of particles so that the igni-
tion delay increased. (ii) At the same temperature, the ignition
delay decreased with the increase of oxygen concentration and
3. Results and discussion
gas flow rate. When the oxygen concentration was less than 50%,
the decrease of the amplitude became large. This phenomenon
3.1. Phenomena observed
was confirmed by the heterogeneous ignition theory. Due to the
effects of high oxygen concentration and gas turbulence, the
As shown in Fig. 2, the ignition and combustion process of bio-
increase of oxidant and heat transfer enhanced the ignition of bio-
mass pellets were recorded by high-speed photography. Each row
mass pellets. Biomass pellets showed heterogeneous ignition char-
represents the combustion process of biomass pellets, and the ver-
acteristics. (iii) At the same gas flow rate, when the gas
tical column shows the oxygen concentration which increases
temperature was the same, oxygen concentration has less effect
from top to bottom. Each row has five pictures. The first one was
on ignition delay. In contrast, at the same oxygen concentration,
taken at the start of ignition, whereas the fifth one represents the
the influence of the co-flow temperature was quite large. This is
end of volatile combustion and the beginning of char combustion.
because the increase of temperature accelerated the heat transfer
As shown in the pictures, the ignition of biomass pellets at low
and the release of volatile matter.
oxygen concentrations was homogeneous (oxygen (21%) and car-
bon dioxide atmosphere was more obvious). Under all the condi-
tions of temperature and gas atmosphere, the flame of biomass 3.3. Internal ignition temperature of the single biomass pellets
became more and more luminous with the increase of oxygen con-
centration. A phenomenon was observed that biomass pellets did In this experiment, the internal ignition temperature of biomass
not break during combustion process. This was different with the pellets was measured. Although there is a certain temperature gra-
combustion of biomass powder [4]. Once the biomass broke into dient with the particle surface, their temperature change trend is
280 F. Shan et al. / Fuel 188 (2017) 277–284

873K 10L/min(a) 873K 15L/min(b)

Air

0.21
Oxygen concentration, xo2
0.30

0.40

0.50

1.00

873K 20L/min(c) 973K 10L/min(d)

Air

0.21
Oxygen concentration ,xo2

0.30

0.40

0.50

1.00

1073K 10L/min(e)

Air

0.21
Oxygen concentration, xo2

0.30

0.40

0.50

1.00

Fig. 2. Several groups of typical sawdust pellets ignition and combustion process under different conditions were displayed.

similar. Zhou [19], Ponzio [23], Kijo-Kleczkowska [24] and Lu et al.
[25] confirmed this phenomenon. The value of internal ignition
temperature was obtained according to Fig. 5.
As shown in Fig. 6, when the oxygen concentration was less
than 50%, the internal ignition temperature of biomass pellets
decreased obviously with the increase of oxygen concentration.
However, when the oxygen concentration surpassed 50%, the inter-
nal ignition temperature of biomass pellets decreased gradually
with the increase of oxygen concentration. As Fig. 2 above shows,
at the same temperature, when the oxygen concentration
exceeded 50%, the biomass was experiencing heterogeneous igni-
tion. This kind of ignition mode was also observed by Ponzio [23]
and Essenhigh [26].
As shown in Fig. 7, although the internal ignition temperature of
biomass particles decreased slightly with the increase of oxygen
concentration, the effect of co-flow temperature was obvious. From
 F. Shan et al. / Fuel 188 (2017) 277–284 281

45 25 10
Vf=10L/min Vf=10L/min Vf=10L/min
Vf=15L/min Vf=15L/min Vf=15L/min
40 8
Vf=20L/min 20 Vf=20L/min Vf=20L/min
τd(s)

τd (s)
τd (s)
6
35 15

open symbols=air open symbols=air

open symbols=air 4 filled symbols=CO2
filled symbols=CO2 filled symbols=CO2
30 10
20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%)
(a) Tg=873K (b) Tg=973K (c) Tg=1073K

45 20 10
Vf=10L/min Vf=10L/min Vf=10L/min
40 Vf=15L/min Vf=15L/min Vf=15L/min
8
Vf=20L/min 15 Vf=20L/min Vf=20L/min
35
τd (s)

τd (s)

τd (s)
30 6
10
25 open symbols=air open symbols=air
open symbols=air 4 filled symbols=CO2
filled symbols=CO2 filled symbols=CO2
20
20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%)

(d) Tg=873K (e) Tg=973K (f) Tg=1073K

Fig. 3. At the same gas temperature condition, ignition delay changes with the oxygen concentration. Biomass samples are: Pinus bungeana (a–c) and rice husk (d–f).

60 60 Tg=1073K
60 Tg=1073K
open symbols=air Tg=1073K open symbols=air open symbols=air
Tg=973K filled symbols=CO2 Tg=973K filled symbols=CO2 Tg=973K
50 filled symbols=CO2 50 50
Tg=873K Tg=873K Tg=873K
40 40 40

30 30
τd (s)

τd (s)

τd (s)

30

20 20 20

10 10 10

0 0 0
20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%)

(a) Vf=10L/min (b) Vf=15L/min (c) Vf=20L/min

60 Tg=1073K
60 Tg=1073K
60 Tg=1073K
open symbols=air open symbols=air open symbols=air
filled symbols=CO2 Tg=973K filled symbols=CO2 Tg=973K filled symbols=CO2 Tg=973K
50 50 50
Tg=873K Tg=873K Tg=873K
40 40 40

30 30 30
τd (s)

τd (s)

τd (s)

20 20 20

10 10 10

0 0 0
20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%)

(d) Vf=10L/min (e) Vf=15L/min (f) Vf=20L/min

Fig. 4. At the same gas velocity condition, ignition delay changes with the oxygen concentration. Biomass samples are: Pinus bungeana (a–c) and rice husk (d–f).

the graph, it indicates that the 50% oxygen concentration should be effect of oxygen. The heterogeneous ignition theory also suggested
treated as a critical point. The experiment results showed that the that the internal ignition temperature depended on the oxidation
effect of temperature on biomass activity was greater than that the temperature [23].
282 F. Shan et al. / Fuel 188 (2017) 277–284

1000 sharp increase of the flame temperature during the combustion

process of volatile. As a result, the effect of the gas temperature
around the biomass on the volatile combustion time was small.
800 Holtmeyer et al. [29] have studied the effect of biomass co-firing
on the volatile flame length. The decrease of the length of the vola-
tile flame was a sign of the decrease of the soot emission and the
600
heat loss. As shown in Fig. 2, the length of the volatile flame
T ( °C )

decreased gradually with the increase of the oxygen concentration.

400
200
0
20 40
Fig. 5. Internal ignition temperature was defined as the point where the maximum
particle temperature gradient was recorded.
3.4. The burnout time and flame length of volatile
The volatile combustion time is determined by the oxygen con-
centration and oxidation temperature. Fig. 8 shows the volatile
burnout time of biomass pellets. The volatile combustion time of
biomass decreased rapidly with the increase of oxygen concentra-
tion. A phenomenon also emerged that the burnout time obtained
in the 21%O2-79%N2 atmosphere was longer than that under 21%
O2-79%CO2 conditions. This result is consistent with the findings
of previous investigators [20,27,28]. In the volatile combustion
stage, the temperature of the co-flow was not critical, due to the
particle internal temperature
At the same time, the flame became more stable and the soot evo-
lution was reduced. The results confirmed that under the condition
of oxy-fuel, the formation rate of soot was less than that of
oxidation.
max(dT/dt)
3.5. Modes and mechanisms of ignition and combustion
60 80 100 120 140 160
In this section, the ignition and combustion mechanisms of bio-
t(s) mass pellets are discussed. Zhang and Wall [30] have observed that
the ignition mechanisms of coal depended on the type of ignition
experiment, sample mass and heating rate. However, the results
may be different for biomass with a high volatile content matter.
Grotkj et al. [12] studied the ignition mechanism of straw. Their
study concluded that the flow rate of the surface gas had a great
impact on ignition, because it affected the particle heating rate as
well as oxygen diffusion to the surface of the particles. They
reported that the homogeneous ignition of volatile was enhanced
by reaction of wheat straw surface. As Fig. 2 shows, in the atmo-
sphere of oxygen and carbon dioxide, when the oxygen concentra-
tion was 21%, biomass pellets showed the characteristics of
homogeneous ignition; when the oxygen concentration surpassed
50%, biomass pellets exhibited the characteristics of heterogeneous
ignition on the surface of the particle. Oxygen concentration plays
a key role due to the density of the biomass pellets, which in turn
slows down devolatilization. The ignition delay and temperature

particle internal temperature

particle internal temperature

at moment of ignition(K)

at moment of ignition(K)

at moment of ignition(K)

400 Vf=10L/min 360 Vf=10L/min 340 Vf=10L/min

Vf=15L/min Vf=15L/min Vf=15L/min
Vf=20L/min Vf=20L/min Vf=20L/min
380
340 320

360
320 300
open symbols=air open symbols=air open symbols=air
340 filled symbols=CO 2 filled symbols=CO 2 filled symbols=CO 2

300 280
20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%)

(a) Tg=873K (b) Tg=973K (c) Tg=1073K

390 360 350

particle internal temperature

particle internal temperature

particle internal temperature

Vf=10L/min
at moment of ignition(K)

at moment of ignition(K)

at moment of ignition(K)

Vf=10L/min Vf=10L/min
Vf=15L/min 340 Vf=15L/min
Vf=15L/min
350 Vf=20L/min
Vf=20L/min Vf=20L/min
380
330
open symbols=air
340 filled symbols=CO2
320
370
330
open symbols=air
open symbols=air
310
filled symbols=CO2
filled symbols=CO2

360 320 300

20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%)

(d) Tg =873K (e) Tg=973K (f) Tg =1073K

Fig. 6. At the same gas temperature condition, biomass internal ignition temperature changes with the oxygen concentration. Biomass samples are: rice husk (a–c) and
Pinus bungeana (d–f).
 F. Shan et al. / Fuel 188 (2017) 277–284 283

400
Tg=1073K Tg=1073K Tg=1073K

particle internal temperature

particle internal temperature

400 400

particle internal temperature

at moment of ingnition(K)

at moment of ignition(K)
at moment of ignition(K)
Tg=973K Tg=973K 380 Tg=973K
380 380
Tg=873K Tg=873K Tg=873K
360
360 360
340
340 340

320 320 320

300 open symbols=air 300 open symbols=air 300 open symbols=air

filled symbols=CO2 filled symbols=CO2 filled symbols=CO2
280 280 280
20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%)
(a) 10L/min (b) 15L/min (c) 20L/min
420 420 420
particle internal temperature

Tg=1073K

particle internal temperature

particle internal temperature

Tg=1073K Tg=1073K
at moment of ignition(K)

at moment of ignition(K)

at moment of ignition(K)
400 Tg=973K 400 Tg=973K 400 Tg=973K

380 Tg=873K 380 Tg=873K 380 Tg=873K

360 360 360

340 340
340
320 320
320
open symbols=air open symbols=air 300 open symbols=air
300
300 filled symbols=CO 2 filled symbols=CO 2 filled symbols=CO 2
280
20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%)
(d) (e) (f) 20L/min
Fig. 7. At the same gas velocity condition, biomass internal ignition temperature changes with the oxygen concentration. Biomass samples are: rice husk (a–c) and
Pinus bungeana (d–f).

70 70 65
V =10L/min V =10L/min V =10L/min
f f f
volatile burnout time(s)

65 V =15L/min V =15L/min
volatile burnout time(s)

volatile burnout time(s)

f f 60 V =15L/min
f
65
V =20L/min V =20L/min V =20L/min
60 f f f
open symbols=air 55
open symbols=air
55 60 filled symbols=CO 2
filled symbols=CO 2
50
50
open symbols=air 55
45
45
filled symbols=CO2
40 50 40
20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%)

(a) Tg =873K (b) Tg =973K (c) Tg =1073K

60 60 60
V =10L/min V =10L/min V =10L/min
f f f
volatile burnout time(s)

V =15L/min
volatile burnout time(s)

volatile burnout time(s)

f V =15L/min 55 V =15L/min
f f
55 55
V =20L/min V =20L/min V =20L/min
f f f
50
50 50
45

45 45
open symbols=air 40
open symbols=air open symbols=air
filled symbols=CO 2 filled symbols=CO2 filled symbols=CO 2
40 40 35
20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%) oxygen concentration(vol%)

(d) Tg =873K (e) Tg =973K (f) Tg =1073K

Fig. 8. The figure shows the relationship between volatile combustion time and oxygen concentration at the same gas temperature and different co-flow velocity conditions.
Biomass samples are: Pinus bungeana (a–c) and rice husk (d–f).

data graph also displayed this phenomenon. Although the high volatile ignite on the particles’ surface. In brief, the mode of igni-
flow velocity and the heating rate increased the speed of diffusion tion is oxygen-sensitive.
of oxygen to the surface of the particles and devolatilization rate, Different combustion modes undergo different combustion pro-
the lower oxygen concentration was incapable of making the cesses. In this experiment, the combustion process can be divided
284 F. Shan et al. / Fuel 188 (2017) 277–284
into two categories: (1) the homogeneous combustion of volatile;
(2) the homogeneous combustion of volatile and heterogeneous
of char simultaneously. The experimental data also showed that
50% oxygen concentration is a critical point. From the above anal-
ysis, the following combustion processes of biomass pellets were
obtained: (i) volatile combustion; (ii) combustion of volatile and
partial char; (iii) a small amount of volatile and char-based com-
bustion; (iv) char combustion. Biomass pellets belong to the com-
bustion of diffusion of infiltration type. For biomass, the
combustion mechanism is crucial for the efficiency and emissions.
Under oxy-fuel condition, biomass pellets combustion has more
advantages.
4. Conclusions
The purpose of this paper is to observe the ignition and combus-
tion phenomena of biomass pellets under oxygen-fuel condition. In
order to increase the reliability of the experiment, two kinds bio-
mass pellets were chose to do the experiment in a tube furnace.
The ignition behaviors and combustion processes were changed
with co-flow temperature, flow rate and oxygen concentration.
The experimental results revealed the following phenomena:
1. Under the same oxygen concentration, when the N2 was
replaced by CO2, the ignition delay, internal ignition tempera-
ture and the volatile combustion time increased. But when
the oxygen concentration increased, these parameters were
correspondingly reduced. That is, the combustion intensity of
biomass was enhanced.
2. The effects of oxygen concentration and temperature of the co-
flow on the ignition delay and internal ignition temperature of
biomass were greater than the effects of co-flow velocity. At the
same temperature, the combustion time of volatile decreased
with the increase of the oxygen concentration. Conversely,
when the oxygen concentration was greater than or equal to
50%, the volatile combustion time decreased very slowly.
3. The ignition and combustion modes of biomass particles were
determined. The homogeneous ignition of biomass pellets was
observed at low oxygen concentration, and it was a heteroge-
neous ignition on the particle surface at higher oxygen concen-
tration (larger than 50%). When oxygen concentration was less
than 50%, the volatile combustion was homogeneous, but when
oxygen concentration was greater than or equal to 50%, the
volatile combustion was a hetero-homogeneous combustion.
4. The length of the volatile flame became shorter and the com-
bustion was more stable when the oxygen concentration
increased.
5. The skeleton of biomass pellets remained intact during the pro-
cess of burning.
In summary, as a kind of clean energy, biomass pellets show
good ignition and combustion characteristics under oxygen-fuel
conditions. It is feasible to burn the biomass pellets under oxy-
fuel conditions.
Acknowledgments
This work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation
of China (No. 51376171).
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