Research & Analysis
Yang Shuzhen, Jiang Lüxiao, Sheng Changdong
Size and morphology evolution during combustion of pulverized rice husk, wheat straw and corn stalk of 250-300 μm were studied, while the influences of pyrolysis and combustion conditions were investigated. Results show that the morphology of pulverized biomass particles is significantly different even for the same kind of biomass, and the morphology changes at different degrees after pyrolysis and combustion. Shrinkage and fragmentation of the pulverized biomass particles during pyrolysis lead to the reduction of the equivalent diameter by 9%-59%, depending on the biomass category and combustion conditions. The variations of the parameters describing the particle morphology, such as the aspect ratio, circularity and roundness, are relatively small by only 2%-28%, which are affected by the biomass species as well as the particle fragmentation, melting and conglomeration during pyrolysis and combustion. The influence of pyrolysis temperature on the variation of particle size is greater than that on the variation of morphology, and the influence of combustion temperature and environment on the variation of each parameter is realized through their actions on the particle fragmentation, melting and conglomeration.