Proximate and Ultimate Analysis: Biomass fuels are characterized by what is called the Proximate and Ultimate analyses. The proximate analysis gives moisture content, volatile content (when heated to 950 C), the free carbon remaining at that point, the ash (mineral) in the sample and the high heating value (HHV) based on the complete combustion of the sample to carbon dioxide and liquid water.
The ultimate analysis gives the composition of the biomass in weight percentage of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen (the major components) as well as sulfur and nitrogen.
Energy Crop (Closed-Loop) Fuel Analysis Summary: The below biomass fuel analysis (Laboratory ID Number
AC24135) was performed by the Southern Research Institute (the
engineering research arm of The Southern Company) for energy
crop
(closed loop biomass) eucalyptus fuel used at our co-firing test
burn at Lakeland Electric's McIntosh 3 Unit (a 365 MW pulverized
coal boiler).
Energy Crop Fuel Sized With a Montegomery Hog
Dry Basis
| Test Name:
|
Reference |
Result
|
Units |
|---|
| Ash |
ASTM D 5142 |
1.93 |
% By Weight |
| Heat of Combustion |
ASTM D 5865
| 8730 |
Btu/lb
|
| Carbon |
ASTM D 5373 |
51.32 |
% by Weight |
| Hydrogen |
ASTM D 5373 |
5.62 |
% by Weight |
| Nitrogen |
ASTM D 5373 |
0.23 |
% by Weight |
| Chlorine |
ASTM D 3761 |
499 |
mg/kg |
| Sulfur |
ASTM D 4239 |
0.08 |
% by Weight |
As Received
| Test Name:
|
Reference |
Result
|
Units |
|---|
| Moisture, Total |
ASTM D 2013 |
51.46 |
% By Weight |
| Ash |
ASTM D 5142
| 0.94 |
% by Weight
|
| Heat of Combustion |
ASTM D 5865
| 4238 |
Btu/lb
|
| Carbon |
ASTM D 5373 |
24.91 |
% by Weight |
| Hydrogen |
ASTM D 5373 |
2.73 |
% by Weight |
| Nitrogen |
ASTM D 5373 |
0.11 |
% by Weight |
| Chlorine |
ASTM D 3761 |
242 |
mg/kg |
| Sulfur |
ASTM D 4239 |
0.04 |
% by Weight |
Moisture Ash Free (MAF)
| Test Name:
|
Reference |
Result
|
Units |
|---|
| Heat of Combustion |
ASTM D 5865 |
8902 |
Btu/lb |
| Sulfur |
ASTM D 3180
| 0.092 |
lbs/mmBTU
|
|
The above Ultimate Analysis for Eucalyptus showing a carbon content (dry basis) of approximately 50% is consistent with other biomass wood fuels from Babcock and Wilcox's Steam/its generation and use (Chapter 5, page 22):
Ultimate Analysis (Dry Basis)
| Component:
|
Pine |
Oak
|
Eucalyptus |
|---|
| Carbon |
53.4% |
49.7% |
49.0% |
| Hydrogen |
5.6%
| 5.4% |
5.87%
|
| Oxygen |
37.9% |
39.3% |
43.97% |
| Nitrogen |
.1% |
.1% |
.3% |
| Sulfur |
.1% |
.1% |
.01% |
An additional source for both fuel and air emission data can be found in the Tampa Electric Energy Crop Co-firing Report on their Polk Power IGCC Unit.
Tampa Electric's Ultimate Analysis
| Component:
|
Units |
Eucalyptus
|
|---|
| Moisture |
Wt. % |
46.8%% |
| Ash |
Wt. % (Dry Basis)
| 5.32% |
| Carbon |
Wt. % (Dry Basis)
| 49.18% |
| Hydrogen |
Wt. % (Dry Basis)
| 5.78% |
| Nitrogen |
Wt. % (Dry Basis)
| 0.24% |
| Sulfur |
Wt. % (Dry Basis)
| 0.06% |
| Oxygen |
Wt. % (Dry Basis)
| 39.42% |
| Measured HHV |
Btu/Lb. (Dry Basis)
| 8,213 |
| Calculated HHV |
Btu/Lb. (Dry Basis)
| 8,419 |
Wood Derived Fuel/Yardwaste (Open-Loop) Fuel Analysis Summary: The below biomass fuel analysis was performed by Tampa Electric in April 2000 in association with biomass cofiring test burns (wood derived fuel mixed with coal) at the F.J. Gannon Station Unit No. 3 (a cyclone unit).
Example of Yardwaste Unsized for Fuel Use.
A couple of points on the below wood derived fuel/yardwaste should be noted. First, the analysis was performed on biomass fuel in April during Florida's dry season. An analysis performed on the same feedstock during the summer months rainy season (June through September/October) would yield much higher moisture levels (approaching 50%). Also, the significant difference in ash (entrained dirt) between the energy crops versus the yardwaste should be noted.
Dry Basis
| Test Name:
|
Coal (Baseline) |
Wood Chips
|
Units |
|---|
| BTU (MAF) |
13,599 |
8,830 |
Btu/Lb. |
| SO2(1)
|
1.65 |
0.53 |
Lbs/MMBtu |
| Ash |
9.75 |
12.1 |
% |
| BTU |
12,273 |
7,765 |
Btu/Lb. |
| Sulfur |
1.06 |
0.22 |
% |
| Carbon |
71.18 |
46.14 |
% |
| Hydrogen |
4.63 |
5.11 |
% |
| Nitrogen |
1.18 |
0.774 |
% |
| Oxygen(2)
|
12.1 |
35.5 |
% |
| Chlorine(3)
|
0.10 |
0.20 |
% |
| Volatiles |
41.55 |
69.88 |
% |
As Received
| Test Name:
|
Coal (Baseline) |
Wood Chips
|
Units |
|---|
| Total Moisture |
22.4 |
26.95 |
% |
| Ash |
7.57
| 8.82 |
%
|
| BTU |
9,524 |
5,635 |
Btu/Lb. |
| Sulfur |
0.82 |
0.16 |
% |
| Carbon |
55.24 |
33.74 |
% |
| Hydrogen |
3.59 |
3.74 |
% |
| Nitrogen |
0.916 |
0.567 |
% |
| Oxygen(2)
|
9.38 |
25.9 |
% |
| Chlorine(3)
|
0.08 |
0.14 |
% |
| Volatiles |
32.24 |
50.98 |
% |
(1) Common chemical reations of combustion. Sulfur to SO2. Moles 1+1=1. 32 lbs. + 32 lbs. = 64 lbs.
(2) Calculated.
(3) Bomb/IC. |
Forestry Waste (Open-Loop) Fuel Analysis Summary: Forestry wood derived fuel is a by-product/waste from operations that produce usable product for traditional fiber markets (tree tops, limbs, unusable trees).
The below biomass fuel analysis was performed by Hazen Research, Inc. in April 2007 for southern pine in north Florida.
As Received Green Basis
| Test Name:
|
Sample 1 |
Sample 2
|
|---|
| Moisture |
56.08% |
57.34% |
| Ash |
0.61%
| 0.49% |
| Sulfur |
0.02% |
0.01% |
| Btu/lb. (HHV) |
3,716 |
3,746 |
Dry Basis
| Test Name:
|
Sample 1 |
Sample 2
|
|---|
| Ash |
1.38%
| 1.14% |
| Sulfur |
0.04% |
0.03% |
| Btu/lb. (HHV) |
8,461 |
8,782 |
|
