FURI | Spring 2019

Measuring the Heat of Combustion of Biomass Pellets

Pellets have higher density and greater hardness than other types of biomass which enable easier transportation and storage. This research aims to investigate the amount of energy released and ash determination after combustion. Pellets from different types of crop residue will be experimented on using an oxygen bomb calorimeter and an ignition unit. The heating values of the various biomass pellets will then be compared with those of standard fossil fuels to establish their feasibility. Ash deposits on heating surfaces of boilers can also be described from results. Future work could be improving the design of pellet stoves for different types of biomass pellets based on their properties.