Electric control of combustion and formation of polluting emissions by co-firing the renewable with fossil fuel

M. Zaķe¹ - I. Barmina¹ - A. Meijere^{1, 2}

¹ Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, 32 Miera str., Salaspils, LV-2169
² Riga Technical University, Kaļķu Street, 1, LV-1658, Latvia

Abstract
The DC field effect on the kinetics of wood biomass co-firing with a fossil fuel (propane) is experimentally studied with the aim to provide electric control of the wood biomass devolatilization, ignition and burnout of the volatiles, resulting in the electric control over the production of main polluting emissions - NO_x, CO₂. To find out the most important factors, determining the electric field effect on the co-firing of wood biomass with the propane flame flow, a kinetic study of field-induced variations of the flame shape, structure, temperature and composition was carried out at different stages of wood co-firing. The results show that the electric field-enhanced processes of heat and mass transfer inside the flame of volatiles give rise to local variations of the flame temperature and composition with direct influence on the rates of reactions, resulting in the formation of polluting emissions and depending on the bias voltage and polarity of the axially inserted electrode. Actually, the results presented in the current paper clearly show that the electric field effect on the co-firing can be used to control and restrict the release of the polluting gaseous emissions into the Earth atmosphere. Figs 13, Refs 16.