TORREFIED WOOD PELLETS FOR THE USE IN SMALL SCALE COMBUSTION APPLIANCES

The energy transition aims at increasing share of renewable energy in electricity, heat and fuel production of the total energy supply. A non-negligible contribution to this increasing demand represents the co-firing of biomass in already existing coal-fired power plants. Regarding the adjustment of the German energy system especially high efficient power generation systems, which are highly flexible in compensating the fluctuating power generation of wind and solar energy plants, stand in the focus of research, economy and politics. Particularly, suitable for that use are decentralized small scale combined heat and power systems (CHP) based on wood gasification. Besides, small scale biomass combustion appliances show great potential regarding high efficient heat supply. Next to optimised properties concerning transport, storage and milling torrefied wood pellets provide a unique opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of combustion processes combined with an enhanced combustion and emission behaviour. Therefore, several tests of torrefied and non-torrefied wood pellets have been conducted in a small scale combustion appliance to validate the suitability of torrefied biomass for heat generation.