Combustion of wood hydrolysis residue in a 150 kW powder burner

A combustion test has been made with residues from hydrolysis of wood for fuel ethanol production. A 150 kW powder burner was used. Fuel feeding and combustion were stable. The average concentration of CO in the stack gas was 8 mg/MJ, the average concentration of NOx was 59 mg/MJ and the average total hydrocarbon concentration was below 1 ppm, at an average O2-concentration of 4.6%. The low contents of potassium and sodium in the hydrolysis residue make the material attractive as a gas turbine fuel and the conclusion of this test is that direct combustion may be a feasible approach for gas turbine applications.