Researchers at the University of Manitoba are confident sophisticated computer modeling will help ensure the emissions from biomass fuelled heating systems meet acceptable environmental standards. The two-stage greenhouse gas displacement system, developed by Vidir Biomass Systems, uses large straw bales as fuel and relies on primary combustion followed by secondary combustion to get a complete burn.
As part of 620 thousand dollar Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council sponsored project, researchers will be developing computer models designed to evaluate emissions from the unit. University of Manitoba industrial research chair Dr. Eric Bibeau says the goal is to create an automated system to maintain optimal conditions during operation to minimize gaseous emissions. Renewable CO2 is not an emission.
“The other important one is carbon monoxide and that’s accounted for by good mixing of air,” said Bibeau. “Next, is nox and that’s taken care of by keeping temperatures low. Then after that you have you’re sox and biomass tends not to have a lot of sulfur.”
He says if it has a lot of sulfur it’s because it captured sulfur from the air and often the sulfur in the air comes from coal plants but it tends to be minimal in biomass so you tend not to do anything about it. Then there’s particulate matter, unburned ash or unburned wood particles. This requires sedate handling of the fuel, meaning you don’t blow it into the fuel because that produces many airborne particles. Bibeau says work will be getting underway shortly and he expects the project to wrap up in about 18 months.