BIOS and ABSTRACTS – MARCH 17, 2011

DR. FERNADO PRETO – CANMET ENERGY

BIO: Dr. Fernando Preto is a graduate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto and doctorate from Queen's University at Kingston. Following graduation, he joined the Canadian Combustion Research Laboratory to pursue research on reducing emissions from combustion systems. He has followed this up with research projects on fluidized bed combustion of biomass and waste fuels, small scale power generation from difficult fuels and thermo-chemical conversion of biomass. He is currently Group Leader for Biomass & Renewables at CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa.

ABSTRACT: Co-firing of Lignite with Wood (Pine) Residues and Peat: Emissions and Ash Deposition Assessment

This presentation will review the effects of fuel blending ratios, excess air, and moisture content on air emissions (CO, SO₂ and NO_x) from co-combustion of wood residues, peat with lignite.  Co-firing leads to significant differences in the concentrations of some major inorganic compounds (e.g. SiO₂, CaO, MgO, SO₃, etc.) in deposited ashes. The effects of fuel ash composition, principally alkali and alkaline earth metals and halogen elements on ash deposition rates and deposit properties (e.g. corrosivity) will also be reviewed.

DESMOND SMITH – BRUKS ROCKWOOD

BIO: Dr. Smith leads the materials handling equipment sales effort for BRUKS Rockwood in the western USA and Canada, with special emphasis on the industries of pulp and paper, solid wood, and engineered wood products.  He has been a member of the BRUKS Rockwood team since 2008.  Previously he served as VP-General Manager of Acrowood Corp., a company known for chipping and screening equipment. He holds a Ph.D. in Forestry, and an MS degree in Wood Science and Technology from the University of Missouri. He travels extensively, and has been around the world in pursuit of projects concerning chipping, screening, and materials handling.

ABSTRACT: Biomass handling and preparation prior to co-firing

Co-firing wood and biomass with coal in a suspension burning boiler requires that the fuel be prepared in specific ways to be effective in the way it performs. Conventional coal preparation machinery does not process biomass. It is necessary to control moisture to allow the machinery that grinds the organic fuel to produce a finely ground product that can be transported and injected pneumatically. Several natural factors that are inherent in biomass' natural state must be taken into consideration, and in some cases modified, for the entire process to proceed reliably and effectively.