Replacing coal with biofuels in lime kilns not as ‘green’ as previously thought

“The infiltration of ash slag that settles in the protective inner walls of the furnace is more extensive from biomass fuel than from coal fuel due to the different chemistry of the fuels,” Naresh Kumar Wagri, a scientist at Umeå University, explained.

Kumar Wagri pointed out that in industrial furnaces, boilers and incinerators where high-temperature processes take place, an internal shell is needed to protect against high temperatures and chemical attacks. These linings are usually made from bricks of ceramic materials that can withstand high temperatures. Typical industries where these refractory liners are used are metallurgy, quicklime production, cement production, glass production and the petroleum and energy sectors.

One problem is that the high temperatures and chemical interactions in some industrial processes cause the refractory materials to degrade. If molten fuel ash enters the refractories through pores and small cracks, corrosion can occur. When the refractory materials wear out, the lining has to be replaced, causing the whole process to be shut down for several days. These stoppages result in production losses and expensive maintenance, including new lining materials.

Limestone is burned to lime in lime kilns at temperatures above 1,000°C. Kumar Wagri, thus, investigated how the conversion to biofuels in lime production kilns affects the lining material. The overall goal of the research was to develop knowledge about what happens to refractory materials in lime kilns when fossil fuels are replaced by renewable fuels.

Biomass fuels can come from bio-based waste streams from industries or be grown specifically for combustion. However, the ash content and properties of bio-based fuels tend to be problematic from an ash chemistry perspective. Therefore, before introducing a new fuel source, it is important to investigate its potential effects on the furnace lining material.

Kumar Wagri’s results show that infiltration of ash slag into the lining material changes the microstructure of refractory materials, causing degradation. The problem is more widespread than when using coal fuel because of the different chemistry of the fuels.

“The next step could be extended to other types of biomass fuels and other qualities of refractories,” the researcher said.