Small scale screening tests to assess the self-heating potential of wood pellets

• The use of biomass pellets is increasing. As a consequence, large indoor storage facilities are needed along the transportation chain. A number of fire incidents due to spontaneous ignition in wood pellets have been reported. The aim of the present work is to provide methods for estimating risks for self-heating from pellets stored in bulk quantities. The experimental work ranges from small-scale characterizations to medium-scale storage tests and includes different types of pellets. One aim has been to develop small scale screening methods to assess the propensity for self-heating, thereby trying to define the specific type of “activity” occurring in the pellets as well as characterising it. Isothermal calorimetry (micro calorimeter) has been used as small scale screening test method and the results has then been validated with crossing point tests and in medium scale tests (1 m3). Thirteen samples from different types of pellets have been ranked relative to each other in micro calorimeter tests and two pellet types; one “reactive” and one “less reactive” were also tested for validation in crossing point and medium scale. The results clearly reveal that different activity levels of the pellets can be measured using small scale screening methods.

Nyckelord

Energy- and Environmental Engineering

energi- och miljöteknik

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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