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Advances in Efficient Thermal Conversion of Carbon-Based Fuels
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Advances in Efficient Thermal Conversion of Carbon-Based Fuels

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B: Energy and Environment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 18 February 2025 | Viewed by 6254

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaobin Qi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11 North Fourth Ring Road West, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
Interests: circulating fluidized bed; pyrolysis; mild gasification; activated carbon; dense-phase pneumatic conveying; reverse combustion
Dr. Mingxin Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Engineering Research Center of New Energy Power Generation, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Interests: waste composites recovery; waste wind turbine blade recovery; pollutants control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since inception, humans have continuously obtained the energy and materials necessary for survival and development from carbon-based resources in nature, to then discharge the  carbon-containing waste back into nature. Although we have lived peacefully in this world composed of carbon elements for nearly a million years, we have never as alarmed about the potential threat posed by the imbalanced carbon cycle to human life under today’s severe environmental pressures. Faced with the adverse situation of the extensive use of carbon-based fuels, sufficient attention should be devoted to this issue in order to reverse the traditional extensive utilization of carbon-based fuels.

By establishing this Special Issue, we hope to explore the thermal conversion characteristics and advanced utilization technologies of various carbon-based fuels, as well as the pollutant emissions and prevention measures in the thermal conversion process, thus providing a reference for the clean, low-carbon, and efficient utilization of carbon-based fuels.

This Special Issue will focus on the recent advancements and developments regarding the thermal conversion and pollution control for various carbon-based fuels, including coal, biomass, solid waste, etc. Related research regarding technical economic evaluation and policy analysis are also welcomed.

Dr. Xiaobin Qi
Dr. Mingxin Xu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomass
  • coal
  • solid waste
  • combustion
  • gasification
  • pyrolysis
  • pollution control

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1694 KiB  
Article
Effect of Changes in Mains Voltage on the Operation of the Low-Power Pellet Boiler
by Grzegorz Zając, Jacek Gładysz and Joanna Szyszlak-Bargłowicz
Energies 2025, 18(3), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18030498 - 22 Jan 2025
Viewed by 557
Abstract
Modern low-power boilers with automatic burners require electricity for proper operation. The electricity voltage in the network is not constant and is subject to fluctuations. Variations in voltage will have the most significant impact on the operation of electric motors since their speed [...] Read more.
Modern low-power boilers with automatic burners require electricity for proper operation. The electricity voltage in the network is not constant and is subject to fluctuations. Variations in voltage will have the most significant impact on the operation of electric motors since their speed is controlled by changing the voltage. The purpose of this research was to assess the impact of supply voltage deviations within the range allowed by the EN 60038:2012 standard (230 V ±10%, i.e., 207 V and 253 V) on boiler operation. This study analysed the effects of these variations on flue gas and dust emissions during boiler operation at full load, as well as on the boiler firing process. Tests were conducted on a boiler with a nominal output of 25 kW. Changes in voltage significantly influenced the blower fan speed. For the nominal boiler output, at 253 V the speed increased by 17.6%, and at 207 V it decreased by 20.4%. Variations in voltage affected the volume of air supplied to the combustion chamber, altering the excess air ratio (λ): 1.8 at 230 V, 2.1 at a higher voltage, and 1.4 at a lower voltage. Changes in voltage translated into changes in exhaust gas temperature and flue gas and dust emissions. Boiler operation at 253 V increased CO emissions by 77.2%, NOx by 31.2%, and dust by 12.5%. In contrast, at 207 V, emissions were lower, with CO decreasing by 17.3%, NOx by 11.7%, and dust by 18.8%. Fluctuations in voltage further influenced the boiler’s ignition time; the ignition process was four times longer at a higher voltage and twice as long at a lower voltage. The results of these studies underscore the necessity of adapting boiler designs to fluctuating voltage conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Efficient Thermal Conversion of Carbon-Based Fuels)
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22 pages, 4814 KiB  
Article
A Study on Bio-Coke Production—The Influence of Biochar Addition to the Coking Blend on Bio-Coke Quality Parameters
by Michał Rejdak, Michał Książek, Małgorzata Wojtaszek-Kalaitzidi, Anna Rodź, Bartosz Mertas, Sten Yngve Larsen and Piotr Szecówka
Energies 2024, 17(24), 6425; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17246425 - 20 Dec 2024
Viewed by 894
Abstract
Carbon dioxide is emitted in several industrial processes and contributes to global warming. One of the industries that is considered a significant emitter is metallurgy. Therefore, it is necessary to search for and implement methods to reduce its emissions from metallurgical processes. An [...] Read more.
Carbon dioxide is emitted in several industrial processes and contributes to global warming. One of the industries that is considered a significant emitter is metallurgy. Therefore, it is necessary to search for and implement methods to reduce its emissions from metallurgical processes. An alternative option to the use of conventional coke, which is produced solely from fossil coal, is the utilization of bio-coke. The production of bio-coke involves the use of coking coal and the incorporation of biomass-derived substances such as biochar (charcoal). The article presents the results of the research on the influence of the biochar addition on the structural, textural, and technological properties of produced bio-coke. Research on the production and analysis of the properties of the obtained bio-coke aimed at assessing the potential possibilities of applying it in the process of a carbothermal reduction of manganese ore in order to smelt ferroalloys. Studies have shown that biochar addition to the coking blend in an amount of up to 20% allows a bio-coke characterized by properties enabling the mentioned use to be obtained. Bio-coke was characterized by higher CO2 reactivity index (CRI), lower post-reaction strength (CSR), and higher reactivity to synthetic manganese ore than regular metallurgical coke. In the context of industrial applications of bio-coke, it is necessary to verify its production and use on a pilot and industrial scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Efficient Thermal Conversion of Carbon-Based Fuels)
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24 pages, 5807 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Biochar Obtained by Pyrolysis of Residual Forest Biomass at Different Process Scales
by Márcia Santos, Ana Carolina Morim, Mariana Videira, Flávio Silva, Manuel Matos and Luís A. C. Tarelho
Energies 2024, 17(19), 4861; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17194861 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 830
Abstract
In this work, the pyrolysis process and the characteristics of biochar produced using a bench-scale fixed-bed reactor and a prototype-scale auger reactor were studied. Residual forest biomass (RFB) from acacia, broom, gorse, and giant reed was used as feedstock. Besides information on pyrolysis [...] Read more.
In this work, the pyrolysis process and the characteristics of biochar produced using a bench-scale fixed-bed reactor and a prototype-scale auger reactor were studied. Residual forest biomass (RFB) from acacia, broom, gorse, and giant reed was used as feedstock. Besides information on pyrolysis characteristics of these specific biomass species from the Iberian Peninsula, new knowledge on the understanding of how results from small-scale reactors can be used to predict the behavior of higher-scale and continuous-operation reactors is offered. Batch pyrolysis was carried out using 40 g of biomass sample in a fixed-bed reactor with a heating rate of 20 °C∙min−1, pyrolysis temperature of 450 and 550 °C, and a residence time of 30 min, while for the continuous process it was used a prototype of an auger reactor with continuous operation with a biomass flow rate up to 1 kg/h, with temperatures of 450 and 550 °C, and a solids residence time of 5 min. The biochar yield was in the range of 0.26 to 0.36 kg/kg biomass dry basis, being similar for both types of reactors and slightly lower when using the auger reactor. The proximate analysis of the biochar shows volatile matter in the range 0.10 to 0.27 kg/kg biochar dry basis, fixed carbon in the range 0.65 to 0.84 kg/kg biochar dry basis, and ash in the range 0.04 to 0.08 kg/kg biochar dry basis. The carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen content of the biochar was in the range of 0.71 to 0.81, 0.09 to 0.22, and 0.02 to 0.03 kg/kg biochar dry basis, respectively. The results show that the up-scaling of the reactor and regime of operation does not have an important influence on the yield and characteristics of the biochar produced. The biochar obtained in the two types of reactors has characteristics appropriate for environmental applications, such as an additive to improve soil properties. It is possible to see that the characteristics of the biochar are influenced by the type of biomass and the conditions and parameters of the process; therefore, it is of major importance to control and know of these conditions, especially when considering upscaling scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Efficient Thermal Conversion of Carbon-Based Fuels)
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22 pages, 7673 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on the Thermal Reduction of CO2 by Activated Solid Carbon-Based Fuels
by Siyuan Zhang, Chen Liang, Zhiping Zhu and Ruifang Cui
Energies 2024, 17(9), 2164; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17092164 - 1 May 2024
Viewed by 2133
Abstract
For achieving CO2 thermal reduction, a technology combining solid carbon activation and high-temperature CO2 reduction was proposed, named as activated-reduction technology. In this study, this technology is realized by using a circulating fluidized bed and downdraft reactor. Reduced agent parameters (O [...] Read more.
For achieving CO2 thermal reduction, a technology combining solid carbon activation and high-temperature CO2 reduction was proposed, named as activated-reduction technology. In this study, this technology is realized by using a circulating fluidized bed and downdraft reactor. Reduced agent parameters (O2/C and CO2 concentration) greatly affect the reduction effect of CO2. In addition, the effect of the activation process on different carbon-based materials can help to broaden the range of carbon-based materials used for CO2 reduction, which is also an important issue. The following three points have been studied through experiments: (1) the influence of the characteristics of the reduced agent (CO2 concentration and O2/C) on CO2 reduction; (2) the performance of different chars in CO2 reduction; and (3) the activation effect of solid carbon. The activation process can develop the pore structure of coal gasification char and transform it into activated char with higher reactivity. The CO concentration in the tail gas is a crucial factor limiting the effectiveness of CO2 reduction, with an experimentally determined upper limit of around 55% at 1200 °C. If CO concentration is far from the upper limit, temperature becomes the significant influencing factor. When the reduced agent O2/C is 0.18, the highest net CO2 reduction of 0.021 Nm3/kg is achieved at 60% CO2 concentration. When the reduced agent CO2 concentration is 50%, the highest net CO2 reduction of 0.065 Nm3/kg is achieved at 0.22 O2/C. Compared with CPGC, YHGC has higher reactivity and is more suitable for CO2 reduction. The activation process helps to reduce the differences between raw materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Efficient Thermal Conversion of Carbon-Based Fuels)
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15 pages, 3718 KiB  
Article
Performance Characteristics and Optimization of a Single-Stage Direct Air Capture Membrane System in Terms of Process Energy Intensity
by Kamil Niesporek, Janusz Kotowicz, Oliwia Baszczeńska and Izabella Maj
Energies 2024, 17(9), 2046; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17092046 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1046
Abstract
The increase in emissions and concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere necessitates the implementation of direct carbon dioxide capture technologies. The article presents the characteristics of a single-stage membrane unit for the direct capture of carbon dioxide from the air. A membrane [...] Read more.
The increase in emissions and concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere necessitates the implementation of direct carbon dioxide capture technologies. The article presents the characteristics of a single-stage membrane unit for the direct capture of carbon dioxide from the air. A membrane with a selectivity of αCO2/N2=70 and permeability PCO2=108m3(STP)(m2·h·bar) is chosen as the reference variant. It is demonstrated that increasing the pressure difference in the system by reducing the pressure of the permeate stream results in an improvement of all analyzed parameters. Manipulating both the membrane surface and its CO2 permeability yields similar results. With an increase in permeability or membrane surface area, the proportion of CO2 in the retentate and permeate decreases, while the degree of carbon dioxide recovery increases. However, the energy intensity of the process is a complex issue due to the presence of a local minimum in the obtained characteristics. Therefore, a relationship between the constants of energy intensity values for the separation process on the surface area field and CO2 membrane permeability is presented. The minimum energy intensity of the process obtained is 22.5 kWh/kgCO2. The CO2 content in the retentate for all analyses did not exceed 280 ppm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Efficient Thermal Conversion of Carbon-Based Fuels)
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