CO2 emission during the combustion of Orhaneli lignite coal

Abstract

Purpose In Turkey, dependence on foreign countries for energy is a problem which upsets all economic balances. Turkey’s biggest fossil energy source is lignite coal. Therefore, energy conversion of lignite in thermal plants, causing minimum environmental effect is extremely important. The basic problem in terms of the combustion technology is to improve the combustion technology that can burn the low-qualified fuels that do not have standard fuel features (lignite, peat, schist). The most suitable technology today for the efficient and clean combustion of nonstandard low-qualified fuels is the combustion at fluidized-bed technology. In this study, CO2 emission that occurs during the combustion of Orhaneli coal that is one of our native low-qualified lignite, has been investigated according to the experimental study. Design/methodology/approach For this combustion experiment, laboratory-scaled circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) process that exists at TÜBITAK-MAM Energy Institute which has been designed and used before has been used. The effect of excess-air coefficient, combustion type and bed temperature to the greenhouse gas formation and CO2 emission has been investigated experimentally. In terms of flue gas emissions, it has been detected that the decrease of the amount of CO2 that has occurred has no positive effects on combustion efficiency, water vapor, SO2, NOx, CO and other gases which occur during deficient combustion must be thought as a whole and each reaction affects each other similar to complex reactions. Findings As a consequence of measuring CO2 emissions over 10 minute periods, CO2 emissions are 12.43 percent average, CO2 decreases at different air coefficient values; Often form undesirable side reactions such as CO, NOx with back and forth reactions. Originality/value The importance of aerodynamic structure of the system, and the losses and leakages forming in the system has been observed experimental and affected parameters are evaluated.