Biomass co-firing with coal exhibits great potential for large scale utilization of biomass energy in the near future. In the present work, energy and exergy analyses are carried out for a co-firing based power generation system to investigate the impacts of biomass cofiring on system performance and gaseous emissions of CO2, NOx, and SOx. The power generation system considered is a typical pulverized coal-fired steam cycle system, while four biomass fuels (rice husk, pine sawdust, chicken litter, and refuse derived fuel) and two coals (bituminous coal and lignite) are chosen for the analysis. System performance is evaluated in terms of important performance parameters for different combinations of fuel at different co-firing conditions and for the two cases considered. The results indicate that plant energy and exergy efficiencies decrease with increase of biomass proportion in the fuel mixture. The extent of decrease in energy and exergy efficiencies depends on specific properties of the chosen biomass types. The results also show that the increased fraction of biomass significantly reduces the net CO2 emissions for all types of selected biomass. However, gross CO2 emissions increase for all blends except bituminous coal/refuse derived fuel blend, lignite/chicken litter blend and lignite/refuse derived fuel blend. The reduction in NOx emissions depends on the nitrogen content of the biomass fuel. Likewise, the decrease in SOx emissions depends on the sulphur content of the biomass fuel. The most appropriate biomass in terms of NOx and SOx reduction is sawdust because of its negligible nitrogen and sulphur contents. / UOIT

This research examines the physical and economic feasibility of 5% biomass co-firing in the coal-fired power plants of Utah. Transportation models is used to find out the physical feasibility of 5% biomass co-firing, as well as locate the supply zone for each power plant that would minimize the transportation cost. Additional cost required for 5% biomass co-firing and the economic benefits associated with biomass co-firing are calculated. The additional cost required for 5% biomass co-firing is estimated to be $34.84 million. Previous studies on CO2 emission reduction are used to compute the economic benefit attain from CO2 reduction by selling carbon credits in the carbon trading market. Based on 2010 emission record in Utah, 5% biomass co-firing might reduce 0.71~2.13 million metric tons of CO2 and, in turn, bring the annual economic benefit of $11.37~$34.10 million assuming $16/ton of CO2 in the emission trading market. The regression model is used to find the relationship between PM emission and the human health damage. The regression results show that decreases in 1% of PM25 emission improves the human health in U.S. by 0.65%~0.67% in value. Five percent biomass co-firing generates annual economic benefits of $6.72~$9.93 million in Utah depending on the emission reduction scenarios. Note that these might not be the precise economic benefit from the biomass co-firing in Utah because elasticities estimated in the regression are expected to be lower in Utah. This is because most of power plants in Utah are located in open areas. Altogether, the economic benefit from 5% biomass co-firing is estimated to be $38.55 million assuming the medium emission reduction scenario, moderate carbon price ($16/ton of CO2) which is higher than the additional cost of biomass co-firing to generate electricity ($34.84 million). The benefit cost ratio is calculated as 1.107. Five percent biomass co-firing is economically feasible when benefits from all the positive externalities are included. The findings of the research suggest that in order to make 5% biomass co-firing physically and economically feasible, Utah needs cooperation from Idaho and the price of carbon and biomass would have to be $16 and $20, respectively.

Ammonia and hydrogen are two alternative fuels that can help decarbonization as they can be produced using renewable energy. Ammonia has transportation, handling, and storage advantages over hydrogen even though its combustion characteristics are worse. One intermediate strategy to use ammonia or hydrogen as a fuel is to co-fire it with hydrocarbons. However, co-firing with hydrocarbons may emit harmful pollutants such as NOx and soot. This study investigates the effects of ammonia and hydrogen addition on soot formation in laminar coflow nitrogen-diluted-ethylene normal diffusion flames using experimental techniques. Ammonia and hydrogen were added separately to the fuel flow. Flame conditions from 0 to 50 vol% of the added species (ammonia or hydrogen) were tested. Laser diagnostics for measuring the distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soot volume fraction (SVF), and intrusive measurements (using a thermocouple and probe sampling) were performed. Based on the results, ammonia addition suppressed soot formation while hydrogen addition enhanced it. In conditions with ammonia addition, the temperature measurements with a Type S thermocouple and adiabatic flame temperature simulations using CHEMKIN PRO showed similar temperature profiles and negligible adiabatic flame temperature differences respectively. The qualitative PAH measurements using planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) showed that the concentration of PAHs of four or larger rings reduced with ammonia addition. Soot volume fraction (SVF) measurements using planar laser induced incandescence (PLII) showed that the peak SVF decreased exponentially with ammonia addition. Particle size distributions showed that the incipient particles were formed, however growth to mature primary particles was limited with 25% or higher ammonia addition in the flame. Based on similar temperature profiles and decreasing trends in the distribution of PAHs and SVF, soot suppression with ammonia addition was linked to chemical effects. PLIF measurements with hydrogen addition could be affected by the temperature difference between the flames, therefore further investigation is needed. PLII measurements, however, showed that the soot volume fraction increased linearly with hydrogen addition.

Hemp, eucalyptus, coal, hemp and coal blended fuel, and eucalyptus and coal blended fuel were ashed and then heat treated for 1 hour at temperatures from 600-1100°C. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated reactions between the phases present after initial ashing of the fuel showed biomass-biomass, biomass-coal and coal-coal interactions. Two phase systems were identified as dominant in the biomass and coal ash blends, these were CaO-MgO-SiO2 and CaO-Al2O3-SiO2. The phases identified in these systems have also been identified in ceramics produced at high temperatures which have similar compositions to the ash matrix of the laboratory synthesised ash; this indicates that phase diagrams can be powerful tools in phase formation prediction. Structures identified as trichomes (phosphate-silicate structures with melting points above 1100°C) from the hemp fuel which had not decomposed were present in both the hemp ash and the hemp and coal ash. The composition determined by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis of laboratory synthesised ashes was also in agreement with the phases identified through X-ray diffraction. Hemp and coal, eucalyptus and coal, and eucalyptus ash samples (deposited, quenched, cyclone, and bottom ash) removed from a full scale 1MWth combustion rig were analysed. Phase composition of the fly ash samples are similar to those identified in the analagous samples produced in the laboratory with several of the same phases present; confirming that laboratory testing is useful for the predictions of phases present on the industrial scale combustion rig. Particle morphology is one of the largest differences between the laboratory scale tests and combustion rig samples. The dominant particle shape of fly ash particles removed from the combustion rig is spherical. These particles of characteristic shape are often referred to as plerospheres and cenospheres and were first identified in coal fly ash. The presence of the spheres in the combustion rig when only biomass (eucalyptus) is present indicates the formation mechanism of the particles is similar to that of coal. There are similarities between the chemical composition of the spheres which are solely of biomass origin and co-fired; it is likely that phase composition of the sphere and not the fuel origin contributes to the formation of the spheres. Phases identified in the bottom ash are similar to those identified in the fly ash. High temperature phases such as (e.g. Ca9MgK(PO4)7) ocur in the bottom ash suggesting that higher temperatures are reached in the bottom of the rig than in the flue gas. Analysis of 15Mo3 alloy corrosion coupons with fly ash deposited onto the surface, alongside the interactions between gas phases and coupons, deposits and coupons, and gas phases and deposits, showed that some oxidation/reduction of the metal had occurred. The presence vi of metal oxide flakes indicated corrosion. Oxidation of 15Mo3 alloy was observed in hemp and coal, and eucalyptus and coal combustion trials, likely due to the observed deposition of potassium chloride which has caused detachment of several scales. Between the metal-deposit interface, hematite whiskers were observed; magnetite octahedra were also present on the surface of scales. The phases present in the coupon deposit ash differ from those observed in the laboratory and fly ash due to the length of time spent in the high temperature environment. This indicates that some phases will not form until the deposits have built up and are in the furnace for an extended period of time. When the coupon samples were coated, fewer metal scales were observed meaning that the coatings are an affective method of corrosion reduction leading to an increased lifetime of boiler components. The dominant particle morphology present in the combustion rig is the cenospheres and plerospheres. The phases formed can be broadly catergorised into CaO-MgO-SiO2, CaO-Al2O3-SiO2, and K2O-Al2O3-SiO2 phases. Potassium chloride is observed in the laboratory ash and combustion rig ash indicating, alongside the presence of metal oxide scales, that the fuel blends are likely to lead to corrosion during combustion.

Abstract It has been over a century since the Curie brothers discovered the piezoelectric effect. Since then our knowledge about this phenomena has been constantly growing, accompanied by a vast increase in its applications. Modern piezoelectric devices, especially those meant for use in personal equipment, can often have complicated shapes and electric circuits; therefore, a suitable and cost effective packaging method is needed. The recent introduction of self-constrained Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) characterized by virtually no planar shrinkage has pushed the limits of this technology a step further. The practical lack of dimension change between “green” state and sintered ceramic has not only improved the design of multilayer smart packages but also allowed the embedding of other bulk materials within the LTCC and their co-firing in one sintering process. This thesis introduces a novel method of seamlessly embedding piezoelectric bulk structures in LTCC by co-firing or bonding with adhesive. Special attention is paid to the multistage lamination and post-firing poling of the piezoelectric ceramics. Examples of several structures from the main areas of piezoelectric applications are presented as proof of successful implementation of the new technique in the existing production environment. The performance of the structures is investigated and compared to structures manufactured using other methods. Integration of bulk piezoelectric structures through co-firing is a new technique with a wide area of applications, suitable for mass production using existing process flow. / Tiivistelmä Curien veljekset havaitsivat pietsosähköisen ilmiön jo yli sata vuotta sitten. Ilmiöön liittyvä tutkimustieto ja erityisesti siihen perustuvien sovellusten määrä on nykyisin valtava. Uusissa pietsosähköisissä komponenteissa ja varsinkin niissä, jotka on tarkoitettu henkilökohtaisissa laitteissa käytettäviksi, muodot samoinkuin elektroniikapiirit voivat olla monimutkaisia. Siksi tarvitaan tarkoituksenmukaista ja hinnaltaan edullista laitteen pakkausmenetelmää. Hiljattain kehitetyt itseohjautuvat matalan lämpötilan yhteissintattavat keraamit (LTCC), joiden planaarinen kutistuma on lähes olematon, ovat lisänneet LTCC-teknologian sovellusmahdollisuuksia. Muotoon valmistetun sintraamattoman ja lopullisen sintratun keraamin dimensioiden yhtäsuuruus ei ole ainoastaan parantanut älykkäiden monikerrospakkausten suunnittelua, vaan mahdollistanut myös erilaisten materiaalien ja komponenttien upottamisen LTCC-rakenteisiin ja niiden yhteissintrauksen. Väitöstyössä esitetään uusi menetelmä pietsosähköisten bulkrakenteiden upottamiseksi saumattomasti LTCC-rakenteisiin yhteissintrauksella tai liimaliitoksella. Erityistä huomiota on kiinnitetty monivaiheiseen laminointiin ja sintrauksen jälkeiseen pietsosähköisten keraamien polarisointiin. Työssä on esitetty esimerkkejä useista rakenteista pietsosähköisten sovellusten pääalueilta osoituksena uuden tekniikan onnistuneesta käyttöönottamisesta nykyisessä valmistusympäristössä. Tutkittujen uusien rakenteiden ja muilla menetelmillä valmistettujen rakenteiden ominaisuuksia on verrattu keskenään. Pietsosähköisten bulkrakenteiden integroiminen yhteissintrauksella on uusi tekniikka, joka mahdollistaa lukuisia sovelluksia ja soveltuu massatuotantoon olemassa olevilla prosseintilaitteistoilla.

This thesis focuses on enhancing knowledge on co-firing oxy-combustion cycles to boost development of this valuable technology towards the aim of it becoming an integral part of the energy mix. For this goal, the present work has addressed the engineering issues with regards to operating a retrofitted multi-fuel combustor pilot plant, as well as the development of a rate-based simulation model designed using Aspen Plus®. This model can estimate the gas composition and adiabatic flame temperatures achieved in the oxy-combustion process using coal, biomass, and coal-biomass blends. The fuels used for this study have been Daw Mill coal, El Cerrejon coal and cereal co-product. A parametric study has been performed using the pilot-scale 100kWth oxy-combustor at Cranfield University and varying the percentage of recycle flue gas, the type of recycle flue gas (wet or dry), and the excess oxygen supplied to the burner under oxy-firing conditions. Experimental trials using co-firing with air were carried out as well in order to establish the reference cases. From these tests, experimental data on gas composition (including SO3 measurement), temperatures along the rig, heat flux in the radiative zone, ash deposits characterisation (using ESEM/EDX and XRD techniques), carbon in fly ash, and acid dew point in the recycle path (using an electrochemical noise probe), were obtained. It was clearly shown during the three experimental campaigns carried out, that a critical parameter was that of minimising the air ingress into the process as it was shown to change markedly the chemistry inside the oxy-combustor. Finally, part of the experimental data collected (related to gas composition and temperatures) has been used to validate the kinetic simulation model developed in Aspen Plus®. For this validation, a parametric study considering the factor that most affect the oxy-combustion process (the above mentioned excess amount of air ingress) was varied. The model was found to be in a very good agreement with the empirical results regarding the gas composition.

In the electronics the quality, reliability, operational speed, device density and cost of circuits are fundamentally determined by carriers. If it is necessary to use better material than plastic carrier, it has to be made of ceramics or glass-ceramics. This study dealt with the ceramic based carrier production system. The types of the raw ceramics fired at low temperature (below 1000&deg / C) are called Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramics (LTCC). In this study, a comprehensive thermal model is described for the high temperature oven which belongs to a Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) substance production line. The model includes detailed energy balances with conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer mechanisms, view factor derivations for the radiative terms, thermocouple balances, heating filaments and cooling mechanisms for the system. Research was conducted mainly on process development and production conditions along with the system modeling of oven. Temperature control was made in high temperature co-firing oven. Radiation View Factors for substrate and thermocouples are determined. View factors between substrate and top-bottom-sides of the oven are calculated, and then inserted into the energy balances. The same arrangement was made for 3 thermocouples at the bottom of the oven. Combination of both expressions gave the final model. Modeling studies were held with energy balance simulations on MATLAB. Data analysis and DOE study were held with JMP Software.

Manure-based biomass (MBB) has the potential to be a source of green energy at large coal-fired power plants and on smaller-scale combustion systems at or near confined animal feeding operations. Although MBB is a low quality fuel with an inferior heat value compared to coal and other fossil fuels, the concentration of it at large animal feeding operations can make it a viable source of fuel. Mathematical models were developed to portray the economics of co-firing and reburning coal with MBB. A base case run of the co-fire model in which a 95:5 blend of coal to low-ash MBB was burned at an existing 300-MWe coal-fired power plant was found to have an overall net present cost of $22.6 million. The most significant cost that hindered the profitability of the co-fire project was the cost of operating gas boilers for biomass dryers that were required to reduce the MBB's moisture content before transportation and combustion. However, a higher dollar value on avoided nonrenewable CO2 emissions could overrule exorbitant costs of drying and transporting the MBB to power plants. A CO2 value of $17/metric ton was found to be enough for the MBB co-fire project to reach an economic break-even point. Reburning coal with MBB to reduce NOx emissions can theoretically be more profitable than a co-fire project, due to the value of avoided NOx emissions. However, the issue of finding enough suitable low-ash biomass becomes problematic for reburn systems since the reburn fuel must supply 10 to 25% of the power plant?s heat rate in order to achieve the desired NOx level. A NOx emission value over $2500/metric ton would justify installing a MBB reburn system. A base case run of a mathematical model describing a small-scale, on-the-farm MBB combustion system that can completely incinerate high-moisture (over 90%) manure biomass was developed and completed. If all of the energy or steam produced by the MBB combustion system were to bring revenue to the animal feeding operation either by avoided fueling costs or by sales, the conceptualized MBB combustion system has the potential to be a profitable venture.

Co-firing of biomass with coal in fluidized bed combustors is a promising alternative which leads to environmentally friendly use of coal by reducing emissions and provides utilization of biomass residues. Therefore, effect of biomass share on gaseous pollutant emissions from fluidized bed co-firing of various biomass fuels with high calorific value coals have extensively been investigated to date. However, effect of co-firing of olive residue, hazelnut shell and cotton residue with low calorific value lignites having high ash and sulfur contents has not been studied in bubbling fluidized bed combustors to date. In this thesis study, co-firing of typical Turkish lignite with olive residue, hazelnut shell and cotton residue in 0.3 MWt METU Atmospheric Bubbling Fluidized Bed Combustion (ABFBC) Test Rig was investigated in terms of combustion and emission performance and ash behavior of different fuel blends. The results reveal that co-firing of olive residue, hazelnut shell and cotton residue with lignite increases the combustion efficiency and freeboard temperatures compared to those of lignite firing with limestone addition only. O2 and CO2 emissions are not found sensitive to increase in olive residue, hazelnut shell and cotton residue share in fuel blend. Co-firing lowers SO2 emissions considerably while increasing CO emissions. Co-firing of olive residue and hazelnut shell has no significant influence on NO emissions, however, reduces N2O emissions. Co-firing cotton residue results in higher NO and N2O emissions. Regarding to major, minor and trace elements partitioning, co-firing lignite with biomasses under consideration shifts the partitioning of these elements from bottom ash to fly ash. No chlorine is detected in both EDX and XRD analyses of the ash deposits. In conclusion, olive residue, hazelnut shell and cotton residue can easily be co-fired with high ash and sulfur containing lignite without agglomeration and fouling problems.

No description available.