A comparison of the structure, pyrolysis and burning properties of Indonesian and Finnish peat

Martti Aho

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

    Abstract

    The composition, pyrolysis and burning properties of Indonesian and Finnish peats were compared to determine the feasibility of using Indonesian peat as fuel. The composition of Indonesian peat differs from that of Finnish peat in its low content of carbohydrates and high content of humic substances. This increased the initial temperatures and decreased reactivity in pyrolysis. The decomposition of long-chained hydrocarbons occurred between 400 and 500 °C with all the peats studied, and a part of the carboxylic groups even resisted a temperature of 600 °C. Infrared spectra recorded for the different particle-size fractions revealed greater variation in the chemical composition of the Finnish than the Indonesian fractions. Ash residue was low in Indonesian peat (about 1 %) and it contained more magnesium and less iron than Finnish peat. The temperatures indicating ash melting behaviour varied widely for the studied peats, but probably due to the low ash content no ash melting was observed with Indonesian peat in fixed bed combustion, even with a combustion intensity of 1.6 MW/m2. The conversion of fuel nitrogen to nitrogen oxides tended to be higher with Indonesian peat in fixed bed combustion but due to the low nitrogen content the amount of NO was not high in the flue gas. A low ash content, rather high calorific value and low contents of N and S make the Indonesian peat a fuel peat of high quality.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationResearch in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion
    EditorsA.V. Bridgewater, J.L. Kuester
    PublisherElsevier
    Pages203-214
    ISBN (Electronic)978-94-009-2737-7
    ISBN (Print)978-94-010-7728-6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1988
    MoE publication typeA4 Article in a conference publication
    EventInternational Conference on Research in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion - Phoenix, United States
    Duration: 2 May 19886 May 1988

    Conference

    ConferenceInternational Conference on Research in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityPhoenix
    Period2/05/886/05/88

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'A comparison of the structure, pyrolysis and burning properties of Indonesian and Finnish peat'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this