Grindability Features of Torrefied Biomass

Economic and legal conditions of the European power industry enforce higher participation of biomass in the thermal energy mix per power unit, due to the necessity of carbon dioxide emission reduction. One of the most important features dictating the suitability of biomass fuel for utilization in pu...

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Main Authors: Mateusz Tymoszuk, Joanna Wnorowska, Sylwester Kalisz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1824
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author Mateusz Tymoszuk
Joanna Wnorowska
Sylwester Kalisz
author_facet Mateusz Tymoszuk
Joanna Wnorowska
Sylwester Kalisz
author_sort Mateusz Tymoszuk
collection DOAJ
description Economic and legal conditions of the European power industry enforce higher participation of biomass in the thermal energy mix per power unit, due to the necessity of carbon dioxide emission reduction. One of the most important features dictating the suitability of biomass fuel for utilization in pulverized fuel-fired boilers is its grindability. The grindability of biomass is a difficult parameter to estimate due to its non-uniform morphology and inhomogeneous character. Milling and co-milling of large amounts of biomass can deteriorate the mill output and make it difficult to ensure the proper particle size distribution of the pulverized fuel fed into the combustion chamber. The main objective was to determine whether torrefaction pre-treatments could increase the grindability features of various types of biomass. Investigations of raw and torrefied biomass grindability were performed with the use of a modified Hardgrove Index for alder chips, palm kernel shells, and willow chips. Additionally, semi-industrial scale milling tests were performed, which allowed for the evaluation of torrefied biomass suitability for continuous grinding installations equipped with vertical spindle mills. According to the analysis, an increase in the biomass grindability index after the torrefaction process was shown. Additionally, it was noted that for milling low-density materials (e.g., torrefied biomass), changes in the construction of the industrial mill classifier may be necessary for the proper grinding circuit operation.
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spelling doaj-art-b804a2a966ef436cbfc79fdd1146743e2025-08-20T02:09:22ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-04-01187182410.3390/en18071824Grindability Features of Torrefied BiomassMateusz Tymoszuk0Joanna Wnorowska1Sylwester Kalisz2Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandDepartment of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandDepartment of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandEconomic and legal conditions of the European power industry enforce higher participation of biomass in the thermal energy mix per power unit, due to the necessity of carbon dioxide emission reduction. One of the most important features dictating the suitability of biomass fuel for utilization in pulverized fuel-fired boilers is its grindability. The grindability of biomass is a difficult parameter to estimate due to its non-uniform morphology and inhomogeneous character. Milling and co-milling of large amounts of biomass can deteriorate the mill output and make it difficult to ensure the proper particle size distribution of the pulverized fuel fed into the combustion chamber. The main objective was to determine whether torrefaction pre-treatments could increase the grindability features of various types of biomass. Investigations of raw and torrefied biomass grindability were performed with the use of a modified Hardgrove Index for alder chips, palm kernel shells, and willow chips. Additionally, semi-industrial scale milling tests were performed, which allowed for the evaluation of torrefied biomass suitability for continuous grinding installations equipped with vertical spindle mills. According to the analysis, an increase in the biomass grindability index after the torrefaction process was shown. Additionally, it was noted that for milling low-density materials (e.g., torrefied biomass), changes in the construction of the industrial mill classifier may be necessary for the proper grinding circuit operation.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1824torrefied biomassgreen energygrindabilityHardgrove grindability index (HGI)semi-industrial scale mill
spellingShingle Mateusz Tymoszuk
Joanna Wnorowska
Sylwester Kalisz
Grindability Features of Torrefied Biomass
Energies
torrefied biomass
green energy
grindability
Hardgrove grindability index (HGI)
semi-industrial scale mill
title Grindability Features of Torrefied Biomass
title_full Grindability Features of Torrefied Biomass
title_fullStr Grindability Features of Torrefied Biomass
title_full_unstemmed Grindability Features of Torrefied Biomass
title_short Grindability Features of Torrefied Biomass
title_sort grindability features of torrefied biomass
topic torrefied biomass
green energy
grindability
Hardgrove grindability index (HGI)
semi-industrial scale mill
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1824
work_keys_str_mv AT mateusztymoszuk grindabilityfeaturesoftorrefiedbiomass
AT joannawnorowska grindabilityfeaturesoftorrefiedbiomass
AT sylwesterkalisz grindabilityfeaturesoftorrefiedbiomass