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Energy Efficiency and Emissions of a Biomass Pellet Fired Hydronic Heater Using Multiple Fuels
Citation:
Kinsey, J., M. Hays, I. George, A. Holder, D. Tabor, E. Thompson, T. Yelverton, P. Kariher, Bill Linak, C. Singer, AND A. Brashear. Energy Efficiency and Emissions of a Biomass Pellet Fired Hydronic Heater Using Multiple Fuels. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-20/179, 2020.
Impact/Purpose:
This report characterizes the thermal performance and air pollutant emissions from a pellet-fired hydronic heater (PBHH) burning both premium hardwood and switchgrass fuels.
Description:
This report characterizes the thermal performance and air pollutant emissions from a pellet-fired hydronic heater (PBHH) burning both premium hardwood and switchgrass fuels. The PBHH was operated under three load conditions: 25% (minimum); 100%; and during a simulated load profile indicative of a typical 232 m2 house during the first two weeks in January in Syracuse, NY (i.e., Syracuse cycle). Duplicate test runs were conducted at each load condition with measurements made throughout each 6-hour run period. Measurements were made to determine thermal efficiency and quantify a variety of air pollutants including criteria and related gases, volatile organic compounds and carbonyls, gas-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic dibenzodioxins and furans, gaseous hydrochloric acid, total particulate matter, particle number and size, elemental/organic carbon, optical black carbon, particle morphology, particle elemental composition, and particle-phase semivolatile organics. Samples of both the fuel and bottom ash were also collected and analyzed for a variety of important parameters. The data from the study showed that hardwood provided the highest thermal efficiency of the two fuels tested. In addition, the emissions of most air pollutants were highest for hardwood combustion at 25% load whereas switchgrass combustion produced higher emissions for the Syracuse cycle and at 100% load. Comparison of these data to historical information for other appliances burning similar fuels indicated at least generally comparable results.