HIGH QUALITY FUEL BY STEAM EXPLOSION

Sustainable biomass combustion provides ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Utilization of biomass can also reduce dependence of imported (fossil) fuel and provides local welfare. Standard white woody pellets are an alternative, but produce dust that increases fire hazard and risk for dust explosion. White wood pellets are also hydrophilic and adsorb/absorb easily water. Advanced biofuels can substitute fossil fuels in a financially feasible way. The steam explosion process, known from mechanical wood pulping, produces excellent raw material for durable pellets. Not only clean wood raw material but forest residues and bark are suitable raw materials for pellets. Equipment used in the pulp and paper industry provide a commercially proven platform for continuous production of thermally treated pellets. The steam exploded "black" pellets offer cost savings in the logistics chain and significantly reduce capital expenditures at coal fired boiler retrofits. Steam exploded pellets are durable, water resistant, easy to grind, and they have a higher energy density compared to white pellets.