What is Co-Firing?

Definition

If we look at some of the definitions for co-firing, then usually most of the
statements will refer to it as a process of combustion of two types of fuels. This
kind of combustion, which is the burning of different materials at the same time,
is related mainly to a biomass being burned with a fossil fuel. The most common
fossil fuel used in co-firing is coal.

In simple terms, co-firing is a method of supplementing coal in a coal-fired boiler

with a different type of fuel, such as biomass materials*.

Method

Presently, there are two different types of co-firing, direct and indirect.

For direct co-firing, two different methods have been developed. The first method
is blending the biomass and coal in the fuel handling system and feeding the
blend to the boiler. The second method is a separate fuel handling and separate
special burners for the biomass, which thus have no impact to the conventional,
coal delivery system.

On the other hand, indirect co-firing is a process concept, which is based on

thermal conversion of biomass or waste to gaseous or liquid fuel and the co-firing
of these converted fuels together with the main fuel.

Three different types of indirect co-firing exist. These are ‘indirect co-combustion
with pre-gasification’, ‘indirect co-combustion in gas-fired power plants’, and
‘parallel co-combustion (steam side coupling)’.

Co-Firing Benefits

Co-firing can reduce the emission of a number of gases. It has already been
established that these gases pollute the environment and can cause global
warming. Co-firing, therefore, can be beneficial in a number of ways. The most
important benefit we obtain from the co-firing system is CO2 reduction, usually
associated with global warming. In addition to the above, we can benefit in the
reduction of NOx as well as reduction in flame temperature. Also, co-firing with
biomass can reduce the emission of SOx, due to the lower sulphur content in
biomass materials.

Others important beneficial factors can be in cost saving, as a variety of biomass

materials are much cheaper than fossil fuels and under no threat of exhausting
the reserve, such as with fossil fuels. For this reason, co-firing can increase
sustainability of energy supplies from power production, as well as producing less
by-product than burning coal on its own (clearly that depend on the type of
biomass being used in the co-firing system).
Finally, co-firing improves combustion due to the higher volatile content of
biomass. In addition, increasing the use of biomass materials as a fuel may help
in the creation of new jobs.

Challenges for Co-firing

There are a number of factors which can affect co-firing in one way or another.
Some of these factors are purely technical, others are non-technical.

Many of these challenges do not apply to fossil fuels, and that is what makes co-
firing with biomass a more challenging area, trying to establish itself in a more
competitive environment where a number of systems and fuels are being tested
and marketed at the present time. Co-firing, therefore, will need more support
and more time to smooth out its various problems before it can compete
commercially with fossil fuels.

Factors which may give rise to problems are usually related to fuel preparation,
storage, delivery and fuel flexibility (quality and quantity) [2]. Also, ash
deposition (increased need for soot blowing, more intensive cleaning of heat
transfer surfaces in revisions may be required etc.), remains a problem [3].

In addition to the above, other issues such as pollutant formation, increased

corrosion rates of high temperature components, the number of bed material
changes per day increases (in Fluidised Bed combustion), fly ash utilization (un-
burnt carbon, contamination) [4], higher in-house power consumption, difficulty
for complete combustion as well as the difficulties in mixing coal and biomass in
the boiler, remain [5].

Fouling and corrosion of the boiler (alkalis, chlorine) are other negative aspects of
co-firing. Finally and as part of the technical challenges, the negative impact on
flue gas cleaning (SCR DeNOx).

Concerning non-technical factors, these may range from economic aspects (lack
of financial incentives, uncertain fuel prices, open market) to legislative aspects
(utilization of fly ash in cement, determining green share, emission legislation),
as well as the public perception of co-firing of biomass/waste.

Conclusion

Co-firing is one of the methods used in power generating companies as a way to

reduce unwanted gaseous emissions, which can be the cause of global warming,
as well as a health risk to humans, plus polluting the environment.

In addition to the above, co-firing is one of the methods used to reduce the
dependency on fossil fuels.

Generally speaking, co-firing can be used to reduce the cost of energy production,
as the use of biomass materials for generating energy tend to be cheaper than
the use of fossil fuels.
References

1. Perry M., Rosillo-Calle F. (2006) Co-firing Report - United Kingdom.

International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Task40, Imperial College 2006.
2. US Dept. of Energy (2006) Biomass Energy Data Book. Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy.
3. NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) (2006) Biomass Research. USA.
4. Hills Emergency Forum (2007) Biomass Management - Fuel Removal and
Mulching. Biomass Management Working Paper.
5. DTI (2007) Engineering Report. Guidance document on biomass co-firing on
coal fired power stations. DTI Project 324-2.

Najib Altawell

© Altawell 2008

*Co-firing should not be confused with multiple fuel boilers. Multiple fuel boilers are designed to burn
a wide range of fuels. Co-firing on the other hand is carried out in a boiler specifically designed to
burn only a specific type of coal [1].