Improving Energy Efficiency of Wastewater Residue Biomass Utilisation by Co-Combustion with Coal

The accelerated urbanisation that is occurring in many regions of the world is resulting in a corresponding increase in the volume of sewage sludge. This sludge is then stored in specialised landfills, the area of which is increasing annually. One of the methods of utilising this sludge is through i...

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Main Authors: Andrey Zhuikov, Tatyana Pyanykh, Mikhail Kolosov, Irina Grishina, Yana Zhuikova, Petr Kuznetsov, Stanislav Chicherin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2906
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author Andrey Zhuikov
Tatyana Pyanykh
Mikhail Kolosov
Irina Grishina
Yana Zhuikova
Petr Kuznetsov
Stanislav Chicherin
author_facet Andrey Zhuikov
Tatyana Pyanykh
Mikhail Kolosov
Irina Grishina
Yana Zhuikova
Petr Kuznetsov
Stanislav Chicherin
author_sort Andrey Zhuikov
collection DOAJ
description The accelerated urbanisation that is occurring in many regions of the world is resulting in a corresponding increase in the volume of sewage sludge. This sludge is then stored in specialised landfills, the area of which is increasing annually. One of the methods of utilising this sludge is through its combustion in power plants, where it serves to generate heat. However, due to the low calorific value of sewage sludge, it is recommended to combust it in conjunction with high-calorific fuel. To improve energy efficiency of sewage residue biomass utilisation by co-combustion with coal, it is necessary to determine the main combustion parameters and mass fraction in the mixture. The objective of this study is to estimate the primary parameters of combustion of sewage sludge and coal by employing the synchronous thermal analysis method, in addition to determining the concentrations of gaseous substances formed during the combustion process. A comprehensive technical and elemental analysis of the fuels was conducted, and their thermal properties were thoroughly determined. The inorganic residue from sewage sludge combustion was analysed by scanning electron microscopy for the content of trace elements and basic oxides. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of fuels was conducted in an oxidising medium, utilising a 6 mg suspension with a heating rate of 20 °C/min. The profiles of TG, DTG, and DSC curves were then utilised to determine the ignition and burnout temperatures, maximum mass loss rate, combustion index, and synergistic effects. The mixture of coal with 25% sewage sludge was found to have the most energy-efficient performance compared to other mixtures, with a 3% reduction in ignition temperature compared to coal. Concentrations of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur oxides were also determined.
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spelling doaj-art-6715cb8354c64b6a96cb4723cb72c8ec2025-08-20T03:11:19ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-06-011811290610.3390/en18112906Improving Energy Efficiency of Wastewater Residue Biomass Utilisation by Co-Combustion with CoalAndrey Zhuikov0Tatyana Pyanykh1Mikhail Kolosov2Irina Grishina3Yana Zhuikova4Petr Kuznetsov5Stanislav Chicherin6Polytechnic School, Siberian Federal University, 79, Svobodny Avenue, Krasnoyarsk 660041, RussiaPolytechnic School, Siberian Federal University, 79, Svobodny Avenue, Krasnoyarsk 660041, RussiaPolytechnic School, Siberian Federal University, 79, Svobodny Avenue, Krasnoyarsk 660041, RussiaPolytechnic School, Siberian Federal University, 79, Svobodny Avenue, Krasnoyarsk 660041, RussiaResearch School of High-Energy Physics, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, 30, Lenin Avenue, Tomsk 634050, RussiaPolytechnic School, Siberian Federal University, 79, Svobodny Avenue, Krasnoyarsk 660041, RussiaThermo and Fluid Dynamics (FLOW), Faculty of Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumThe accelerated urbanisation that is occurring in many regions of the world is resulting in a corresponding increase in the volume of sewage sludge. This sludge is then stored in specialised landfills, the area of which is increasing annually. One of the methods of utilising this sludge is through its combustion in power plants, where it serves to generate heat. However, due to the low calorific value of sewage sludge, it is recommended to combust it in conjunction with high-calorific fuel. To improve energy efficiency of sewage residue biomass utilisation by co-combustion with coal, it is necessary to determine the main combustion parameters and mass fraction in the mixture. The objective of this study is to estimate the primary parameters of combustion of sewage sludge and coal by employing the synchronous thermal analysis method, in addition to determining the concentrations of gaseous substances formed during the combustion process. A comprehensive technical and elemental analysis of the fuels was conducted, and their thermal properties were thoroughly determined. The inorganic residue from sewage sludge combustion was analysed by scanning electron microscopy for the content of trace elements and basic oxides. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of fuels was conducted in an oxidising medium, utilising a 6 mg suspension with a heating rate of 20 °C/min. The profiles of TG, DTG, and DSC curves were then utilised to determine the ignition and burnout temperatures, maximum mass loss rate, combustion index, and synergistic effects. The mixture of coal with 25% sewage sludge was found to have the most energy-efficient performance compared to other mixtures, with a 3% reduction in ignition temperature compared to coal. Concentrations of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur oxides were also determined.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2906co-combustionwastewater residuebrown coalbiomassTGAsynergy
spellingShingle Andrey Zhuikov
Tatyana Pyanykh
Mikhail Kolosov
Irina Grishina
Yana Zhuikova
Petr Kuznetsov
Stanislav Chicherin
Improving Energy Efficiency of Wastewater Residue Biomass Utilisation by Co-Combustion with Coal
Energies
co-combustion
wastewater residue
brown coal
biomass
TGA
synergy
title Improving Energy Efficiency of Wastewater Residue Biomass Utilisation by Co-Combustion with Coal
title_full Improving Energy Efficiency of Wastewater Residue Biomass Utilisation by Co-Combustion with Coal
title_fullStr Improving Energy Efficiency of Wastewater Residue Biomass Utilisation by Co-Combustion with Coal
title_full_unstemmed Improving Energy Efficiency of Wastewater Residue Biomass Utilisation by Co-Combustion with Coal
title_short Improving Energy Efficiency of Wastewater Residue Biomass Utilisation by Co-Combustion with Coal
title_sort improving energy efficiency of wastewater residue biomass utilisation by co combustion with coal
topic co-combustion
wastewater residue
brown coal
biomass
TGA
synergy
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2906
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AT mikhailkolosov improvingenergyefficiencyofwastewaterresiduebiomassutilisationbycocombustionwithcoal
AT irinagrishina improvingenergyefficiencyofwastewaterresiduebiomassutilisationbycocombustionwithcoal
AT yanazhuikova improvingenergyefficiencyofwastewaterresiduebiomassutilisationbycocombustionwithcoal
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