Biomass furnace flue gas emission control system (GECS) for greenhouse carbon dioxide enrichment - I2I phase I

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New technologies that use renewable energy sources and emit fewer pollutants are required to offset increasing energy prices and global environmental challenges. A promising solution is through the use of biomass as a replacement for fossil fuels. Greenhouses have a significant heat requirement that is mainly supplied by non-renewable fuels such as heating oil, natural gas and propane. They also use either propane or natural gas to elevate carbon dioxide levels to 1000 ppm for improved plant growth. This proposal addresses the commercialization of a prototype exhaust gas scrubbing system to recover heat and CO2 available in the flue gas of a biomass furnace for use in a greenhouse. The Biomass Furnace Flue Gas Emission Control System (GECS) designed, constructed and installed on the chimney of a wood pellet furnace (SBI Caddy Alterna) consists of a rigid box air filter followed by heating elements and catalytic converters. The air filter removes the particulates present in the flue gas while the heating elements and catalyzers transform the noxious gases into less harmful gases. Gas analysis showed the GECS and was able to reduce CO concentrations from 1100 ppm to less than 1 ppm, NOx from 70 to 5.5 ppm, and SO2 from 19 ppm to less than 1 ppm. These levels are satisfactory since they ensure human and plant safety after dilution into the ambient air of the greenhouse. The recuperation of the flue gas has several obvious benefits since it increases the heat usability of the furnace and it greatly improves the CO2 recovery of biomass heating systems for greenhouse plant growth.