CO, NO<sub><i>x</i></sub>, PCDD/F, and Total Particulate Matter Emissions
from Two Small Scale Combustion Appliances Using Agricultural Biomass
Type Test Fuels
In
Germany, solid biomass fuels based on agricultural byproducts
are only used in marginal amounts for small scale combustion. This
is the consequence of several regulatory constraints, in particular
requirements defined in the first ordinance of the German emission
control act (1. BImSchV) including the mandatory utilization of dedicated
licensed boilers for such fuels. For the licensing, test fuels with
defined fuel composition representing straw and cereal grain like
fuels are demanded, and strict emission thresholds have to be met
both during type testing and during periodic chimney sweep measurements.
To facilitate the market introduction of the first licensed boiler,
agricultural biomass test fuels with characteristics being representative
for the composition of these assortments were produced and utilized
for combustion tests. Emission measurements (i.e., for CO, NO<sub><i>x</i></sub>, PCDD/F, and total particulate matter) were
performed by an accredited institute according to the relevant methods.
It was demonstrated that test fuels with dedicated fuel composition
can be produced on the bench scale. The results prove that compliance
with the strict emission thresholds of 1. BImSchV in Germany can be
realized even with challenging fuels if an appropriate boiler is combined
with an efficient dust separator. Accordingly, PCDD/F emission levels
and toxicity almost as low as for wood combustion were observed