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

BRIGE：第二代可持续性：本地生物质-煤混合物的热解和燃烧

• 批准号: 1414535
• 负责人: Jillian Goldfarb
• 金额: $ 2.43万
• 依托单位: Trustees of Boston University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-08-01 至 2014-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1414535&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: BRIGE; Second; Generation; Sustainability; Pyrolysis

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.

将我们对化石燃料的依赖转向碳中性能源是一个渐进的过程。现有燃煤电厂的生物质共燃是增加可再生燃料在能源市场份额的一个有吸引力的选择。设计用于这些混合物的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，减少排放并优化燃料比。本研究的目标是：获得特定地区煤-生物质混合物的热演化曲线（动力学和脱挥发化合物），并探索加热速率、颗粒大小和煤与生物质混合比对热解和燃烧行为的影响。对当地可获得的第二代原料（农业废料-木材、小麦和玉米秸秆，以及当地制造业废料-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，并更广泛地了解如何优化这种混合物用于发电。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，同时扩大来自代表性不足群体的学生的机会，以确保我们未来的工程劳动力与其所服务的人口一样多样化。知识价值：考虑到煤炭的基础设施已经到位，在不久的将来，生物质利用最有可能的途径是作为燃煤发电厂的混合原料。假设处理生物质的成本（运输、干燥、碾磨等）低于煤炭，同时降低能源生产的碳足迹，那么煤-生物质混合有可能限制发电厂燃料的总体成本。该提案探讨了煤-生物质混合燃烧背后的热力学和动力学，以最大限度地提高过程效率，同时监测脱挥发化合物，以确保生物质和煤的共燃烧代表了排放剖面的改善。从这项工作中获得的知识立即适用于州空气资源许可机构，并直接解决了美国环保署在未来三年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生物质-煤混合物行为的基本数据，以帮助从化石燃料向替代能源过渡；设计一个有效的热化学转换装置需要了解所讨论的燃料的化学成分、热行为和反应性。更广泛的影响：改变我们的劳动力以更准确地反映我们社会的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围绕能源和环境的问题。拟议项目对社会的潜在好处是双重的：首先，通过研究生物质与煤的混合，我们可以在保持当前能源生产的同时潜在地降低温室气体排放。其次，通过积极从传统上代表性不足的群体中招收学生（研究生和本科生），我们可以更好地利用我们的人力资本，促进形成多元化、有竞争力和全球参与的劳动力队伍。由于许多UNH学生在毕业后选择留在新英格兰，一个专门针对当地能源需求的项目使他们在就业市场竞争时能够了解地区问题。为了吸引公众和工业界的参与，学生和PI将在学术会议和同行评审的出版物以及技术报告中介绍这项研究的结果，以协助决策和工业能源生产计划。作为她扩大参与计划的一部分，PI建议在UNH的科学和工程社区实施一个名为“参与你的未来”的系列研讨会，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。作为一名残疾女性，PI处于一个独特的地位，通过建立一个直接适用于今天的研究议程，来指导传统上代表性不足的群体的学生。美国在能源和环境方面的挑战。