Moisture Measurements in Biofuels - controlling combustion and reducing emissions

Biofuels are a key source of renewable energy and wood sourced products such as

 

  • woodchips
  • pellets
  • sawdust

 

are widely used to fuel powerstations and municipal heating systems.

Frequently the woodchips are stored outdoors resulting in wide seasonal variance in their water content . Moisture directly affects the calorific value of the biomass, so knowledge of the water content prior to combustion is critical to the efficient regulation of the airflow in the furnace. If this can be adjusted optimally depending on the moisture content of the bio mass, then combusion becomes more efficient and emissions are reduced.

Traditional gravimetric methods of determing the moisture content (and therefore the calorific value) of the biomass require weighing and then slow heating of samples, then reweighing and then calculating the weight loss to show the moisture content.

With an NDC CM710e on-line moisture gauge, it is possible for operators to receive this information in real time enabling the operator to adjust the airflow to the furnace to optimize combustion.

To contact your local distributor to asses how the CM710e could be incorporated into your process, please visit NDC Worldwide.

 

 Biomass Woodchip Moisture Measurement with CM710e
CM710e measuring moisture in woodchips, range
25 - 50% (with thanks to Verdo in Randers, Denmark)

 

To view available downloads, please click on the links below:

NDC Industrial Processes Brochure