Ash transformation and deposition behavior during co-firing biomass with sewage sludge

In the present work, the ash transformation and deposition behavior during wheat straw and wood waste combustion were investigated by combustion experiments in an entrained flow reactor. The influence of sewage sludge addition on ash chemistry and deposition tendency was also studied. During combustion wheat straw, fine fly ash particles smaller than 2.5 μm are mainly formed due to vaporization, nucleation and condensation of K, Cl, S and P species.

Large fly ash particles consist of condensed potassium chloride crystals and molten/partial molten spherical particles rich in Ksilicates and K-Ca-silicates. The deposits formed on a well-controlled sampling probe are dominated by molten particles rich in K silicates. Over 70% of K in the fly ash is water soluble.

The fine fly ash from wood waste combustion consists of mainly KCl and NaCl. Both ash clusters and molten spherical particles are found from the ash deposits, which mainly contain K-silicates, K-Al-silicates and K-Ca-silicates. The sewage sludge addition significantly reduced the water soluble K and Na in the fly ash from wheat straw and wood waste combustion.

Compared to pure wheat straw and wood waste, the ash deposition rates were increased due to sewage sludge addition. However, the ash deposition propensity decreased significantly. In addition, the content of water soluble K and Cl in the deposits reduced as a result of sewage sludge addition. The results from present work suggest co-firing of sewage sludge could alleviate deposit formation during suspension firing of risky biofuels.