Biomass fast pyrolysis liquid is a renewable fuel for stationary heat and power generation; however degradation of bio-oil by time, a.k.a. aging, has an impact on combustion performance and emissions. Moreover, the temperature at which bio-oil is stored has a strong effect on the degradation process. In this study, the same biooil-ethanol blends with different storage conditions are tested in a pilot stabilized spray burner under the same flow conditions. Measurements were made of the steady state gas phase emissions and particulate matter, as well as visual inspection of flame stability. The results confirm a relationship between room temperature storage time and storage at higher temperatures (accelerated aging). They also show that fuel aging increases the emissions of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon and the organic fraction of particulate matter. These emissions increase more rapidly as more time is allocated for aging. NOx emission shows a slight decrease with fuel aging.

Biomass fast pyrolysis liquid is a renewable fuel for stationary heat and power generation; however degradation of bio-oil by time, a.k.a. aging, has an impact on combustion performance and emissions. Moreover, the temperature at which bio-oil is stored has a strong effect on the degradation process. In this study, the same biooil-ethanol blends with different storage conditions are tested in a pilot stabilized spray burner under the same flow conditions. Measurements were made of the steady state gas phase emissions and particulate matter, as well as visual inspection of flame stability. The results confirm a relationship between room temperature storage time and storage at higher temperatures (accelerated aging). They also show that fuel aging increases the emissions of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon and the organic fraction of particulate matter. These emissions increase more rapidly as more time is allocated for aging. NOx emission shows a slight decrease with fuel aging.