Solid fuels are one of the oldest and traditional methods of obtaining energy. As a results, they are still in use today alongside with liquid fuels in many industrial systems, including boilers. This article will focus on the benefits of using biomass solid fuels in boilers and heaters.
What are Solid Fuels?
Any material which provides energy as a result of combustion can be termed as “solid fuel”. Since solid fuels are prone to burn with smoke, they might be prohibited in smoke controlled areas. However, smokeless solutions do exist and can be quite beneficial if used right.
Advantages of Biomass Fuels:
- Safe Storage:
Unlike flammable liquid fuels which can start a fire in case of minor sparks or ignition, biomass fuels generally require a higher power source for them to burn. As a result, they do not require specifically designed tanks or containers for storage. Switches, light bulbs, plugs and temperature controls all count as ignition sources for liquid fuels but have little to no impact on solid fuels. Hence, the safety features required in solid fuels storage areas are relatively less as compared to liquid fuels. While using solid fuels, you do not need to worry about spillage, friction and pressure build-up with time. All of which, in other fuels, can lead to high risks of explosions and fire.
- Easy Transportation:
Although biomass fuels might take up large space, they are generally more stable to transport from one place to another, with minimal safety risks. As a company, you do not require fuel trucks having specialized material to keep the fuel from causing harms. There is no problem of leaks. In case of an accident, there is substantially lower chance of destruction and explosions. Plus, if the solid fuel trucks have any mishap and end up with the material on the roads, the company can retrieve most of it. As a result, solid fuels are still usable in case of spillage, which is not the case with other types of fuels.
Also, biomass fuels rarely expand, and if they do, there is little to no risk of them igniting due to friction or small sparks. Hence, the solid fuel containers can be filled to the brim and taken to faraway places.
- Low Cost:
Biomass fuels are marginally cheaper than other types of fuels. With the world moving towards green solutions, most of the solid fuels utilized are waste or renewable energy sources. Such sources are readily available and require minimum investment to acquire. On the other hand, liquid fuels are present underground and their acquirement require drilling, pumping, pipelines and costly safety equipment, leading to raised prices. In case of solid fuel boilers, industries can not only clean up the waste from landfills, for example, manure and garbage, but can also utilize the waste produce in their own plants as an energy source.
Examples of such green fuels involve rice husks, corn cobs, cassava waste, briquettes, RDF and wood waste. Most of these materials have low moisture and high LCV, meaning easy and efficient combustions.
- Fewer Odors:
The major problem the general public has with the industries is the environmental impacts they product, and one of them is the odor. Fuels other than solids have a sharp smell associated with them, making the surroundings areas unpleasant and stinky; for example, oil distillation can lead to bad smells. If the neighbors raise complains, you might get orders to shut down or relocate.
- Does not thicken with climate
Liquid fuels, for example, diesel, carries paraffin. At temperatures around 0 degrees Celsius, it begins to solidify, making diesel thick. It can clog up pipes and tank filters at temperatures lower than 0 degree Celsius, leading to a process called “gelling”. Similarly, other types of fuels can also become thick in cold climates for example in the northern of Thailand, causing maintenance problems. Biomass fuels are free of such temperature impacts. They may expand or shrink a little, however, they do not require special treatment or extra maintenance in extreme climates.
- Flexible Boilers:
With the advancement in technology, most of biomass fuel boilers now come with the multi-fuel technology. That means one can easily shift them from biomass fuel to liquid and gas fuels. Sometimes, it also means that they can utilize different types of biomass fuels.
Multi-fuel boilers helps industries to use the cheapest, most efficient fuel available in the market, and easily jump from one fuel to another when the supplies dry up.
