Gas-carrying enhances the combustion temperature of the biomass particles

Abstract As a clean and renewable energy, high-temperature combustion of biomass is the key to its application in large-scale industrial production. In this study, four different particle size ranges of sawdust i. e, 150–180, 181–250, 251–380 and 381–830 μm were employed to investigate the relationship between particle size and gas-carrying capacity and its influence on combustion temperature. The morphology and structure of the micropores of the sawdust were determined by ESEM and BET methods. The relationship between particle size and gas-carrying capacity was determined by a dissolved oxygen meter, the combustion experiment was conducted on a Hencken flat flame burner coupled with a high-speed camera. The results showed that smallest particle range (150–180 μm) had the largest pore volume (0.49 cm3/g). Smaller particles had a better gas-carrying performance, particles with a size of 150–180 μm could increase the dissolved oxygen (DO) content in water up to 7.84 mg/L. The gas-carrying capacity of sawdust particles had a huge promotion effect on the combustion temperature, the maximum combustion temperature of particles with a size of 150–180 μm was 1296 °C. This work provided a theoretical basis for the high-temperature combustion of biomass and makes it possible for its application in high-temperature industries.