BRIGE: Second Generation Sustainability: Pyrolysis and Combustion of Locally-Sourced Biomass-Coal Blends

PI：Goldfarb，Jillian L.提案编号：1125754将我们对化石燃料的依赖转变为碳中性能源是一个渐进的过程。在现有的燃煤发电厂中混合燃烧生物质是增加可再生燃料在能源市场中的份额的一个有吸引力的选择。为这些混合物设计设备需要了解热解和燃烧特性，以最大限度地提高能量输出，减少排放和优化燃料比。本研究的目的是：获得特定区域的煤-生物质混合物的热演化曲线（动力学和脱挥发分化合物），并探讨加热速率，颗粒尺寸和煤与生物质混合比对热解和燃烧行为的影响。对当地现有的第二代原料（农业废物-木材、小麦和玉米杆，以及当地制造业废物-可可壳、大麦、啤酒花、果核）与区域发电厂使用的煤混合进行系统研究，将为将当地来源的有机垃圾纳入发电提供知识，并对优化这种混合物用于发电有更广泛的了解。拟议的工作旨在弥合化石燃料依赖和绿色能源未来之间的差距，同时为代表性不足的群体的学生扩大机会，以确保我们未来的工程劳动力与它所服务的人口一样多样化。智力优点：鉴于煤炭的基础设施已经到位，生物质利用在不久的将来最有可能的途径是作为燃煤电厂的混合原料。煤-生物质混合有可能限制发电厂燃料的总成本，假设处理生物质的成本（运输，干燥，研磨等）。比煤炭低，同时降低能源生产的碳足迹。该提案探讨了煤-生物质混合燃烧背后的热力学和动力学，以最大限度地提高工艺效率，同时监测脱挥发分化合物，以确保生物质和煤的共燃烧代表排放情况的改善。从这项工作中获得的知识立即适用于国家空气资源许可机构，并直接解决了美国环保署在未来三年内关于如何监管生物质排放的辩论。拟议的工作还提供了有关美国-特定的生物质-煤混合物，以协助从化石燃料过渡到替代能源;设计一个有效的热化学转化装置需要了解的化学成分，热行为，和燃料的反应性问题。更广泛的影响：改变我们的劳动力，以更准确地反映我们的社会构成是一个渐进的过程，需要强有力的导师和榜样。如果我们具有广泛的包容性--从各个角度寻求贡献--我们就能为子孙后代解决能源和环境问题。拟议项目对社会的潜在好处有两个方面：首先，通过研究生物质与煤炭的混合，我们可以在保持现有能源生产的同时降低温室气体排放。其次，通过积极寻求学生（研究生和本科生）从传统上代表性不足的群体，我们更好地利用我们的人力资本，以促进多元化，竞争力和全球参与的劳动力。由于许多UNH学生选择在毕业后留在新英格兰，一个专门解决当地能源需求的项目使他们在就业市场竞争时了解地区问题。为了让公众和工业界参与进来，学生和PI将在学术会议和同行评审的出版物中展示这项研究的结果，并在技术报告中协助政策制定和工业能源生产计划。作为扩大参与计划的一部分，PI建议在UNH的科学和工程界实施一系列名为“参与你的未来”的研讨会，与学生一起克服他们作为代表性不足的群体所面临的挑战，建立简历，并确定职业机会。作为一名残疾妇女，PI处于一个独特的地位，通过建立一个今天直接适用的研究议程，指导传统上代表性不足的群体的学生？能源和环境的挑战。

PI: Goldfarb, Jillian L.Proposal Number: 1125754Shifting our dependence from fossil fuels to carbon-neutral sources is a gradual process. Co-combustion of biomass in existing coal-fired power plants is an attractive option to increase the share of renewable fuels in the energy market. Designing equipment for these blends requires knowledge of pyrolysis and combustion characteristics to maximize energy output, reduce emissions and optimize fuel ratios. The objectives of this research are to: obtain thermal evolution profiles (kinetics and devolatilized compounds) of region-specific coal-biomass blends and probe the effect of heating rate, particle size, and coal to biomass blend ratios on pyrolysis and combustion behavior. A systematic study on locally available second generation feedstocks (agricultural wastes - woods, wheat and corn stalks, and local manufacturing wastes - cocoa shells, barley, hops, fruit pits) blended with coal used by regional power plants will provide knowledge for the incorporation of locally-sourced organic refuse into power generation, and a broader understanding of optimizing such blends for energy generation. The proposed work aims to bridge the gap between fossil fuel dependency and a green energy future while expanding opportunities for students from underrepresented groups to ensure our future engineering workforce is as diverse as the population it serves.Intellectual Merit: Given infrastructure already in place for coal, the most likely avenue in the immediate future for biomass utilization is as a blended feedstock in coal-fired power plants. Coal-biomass blending has the potential to limit the overall cost of fuel for a power plant, assuming the costs to process the biomass (transportation, drying, milling, etc.) are lower than the coal while lowering the carbon footprint of energy production. This proposal explores the thermodynamics and kinetics behind coal-biomass blend combustion to maximize process efficiency, while simultaneously monitoring devolatilized compounds to ensure the co-combustion of biomass and coal represents an improvement in the emissions profile. The knowledge garnered from this work is immediately applicable to state air resource permitting agencies, and directly addresses the EPA's debate over the next three years on how to regulate biomass emissions. The proposed work also provides fundamental data on the behavior of U.S.-specific biomass-coal blends to assist in the transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources; the design of an effective thermochemical conversion unit requires knowledge of the chemical composition, thermal behavior, and reactivity of the fuel in question.Broader Impacts: Altering our workforce to more accurately mirror the composition of our society is a gradual process, requiring strong mentors and role models. If we are broadly inclusive -seeking out contributions from all perspectives - we can solve issues surrounding energy and the environment for future generations. The potential benefits of the proposed project to society are twofold: first, by investigating the blending of biomass with coal we can potentially lower greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining current energy production. Second, by actively seeking students (graduate and undergraduate) from traditionally underrepresented groups, we better leverage our human capital to facilitate a diverse, competitive and globally engaged workforce. As many UNH students choose to remain in New England after graduation, a project that specifically addresses local energy needs prepares them to understand regional issues when competing on the job market. To engage the public and industry, the students and PI will present findings from this research at academic conferences and in peer-reviewed publications, and in technical reports to assist in policy-making and industrial energy production schemes. As part of her Broadening Participation Plan, the PI proposes to implement a seminar series called "Engaging Your Future" to the science and engineering community at UNH to work with students on overcoming challenges they face as underrepresented groups, building a resume, and identifying career opportunities. As a woman with a disability, the PI is in a unique position to mentor students from traditionally underrepresented groups through building a research agenda with direct applicability today?s challenges in energy and the environment.