Assessment of Slagging and Fouling Indicators for Ashes from Vine Shoots Regent Cultivar

The article attempts to assess the degree of fouling and slagging of boilers when burning shoots of the Regent grape variety grown on the 101-14 and 125AA root-stocks and with own roots as a control. The study used an indicators assessment based on a proximate and ultimate analysis of the biofuel. A LECO TGA 701 thermogravimetric was used to incinerate the biomass samples. The content of elemental oxides in the ash was determined using the EDXRF method using the RIGAKU NEX QC+ QuantEZ elemental analyzer. The content of elements in the form of oxides was determined in the ash, i.e.: SiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3, CaO, MgO, P2O5, Na2O, K2O and Ti2O. Based on the chemical composition of ash expressed in oxides, the slagging and pollution indicators were determined, i.e. Base to Acid index (Rb/a), Slagging index (Sulfur ratio) (Rs), Fouling ratio (Fu), Alkali Index (AI), Sintering index (SI), Iron to calcium ratio (IC), Slag viscosity index (Sr). Research has shown that cultivation on rootstock does not reduce the potential for fouling and slagging of the boiler. Nevertheless, all indicators except SI and IC showed an extremely high probability of boiler fouling and slagging.