Modelling and Simulation

Scope of Services Area 4:

Simulation of thermal conversion of solid biomass (combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, torrefaction)

• Simulation of grate furnaces with detailed 3D CFD packed bed model; modelling the principal processes in the fuel bed, simulation of pulverised burners, optimisation of the geometry of biomass-fired boilers and furnaces, sensitivity analyses of the relevant influencing parameters on biomass combustion on the grate

Analysis of ash-related problems

• Investigation of the emissions of coarse fly ash particles (silicate and salt particles) and fine particles; simulation of deposit formation (condensation of ash-forming vapours, and fine and coarse particulate deposits); investigation of high-temperature corrosion in biomass-fired boilers

Gas phase reactions and emissions

• Simulation of gas emissions (e.g. CO and NOx) in biomass combustion systems; hybrid model for gas phase combustion (for laminar to highly turbulent flows with detailed reaction mechanisms), streak formation model for considering the effect of gas streaks raised from the fuel bed on mixing and the reaction rate; CFD models for the formation and destruction of PAH and soot; optimisation of injection system for secondary air and recirculated flue gas

Automation of CFD simulations

• Development of a tool for automatic execution of CFD-based parameter studies for optimising biomass furnaces (minimisation of volume of combustion chamber, reduction of excess air and the recirculation ratio (efficiency, operating costs), reduction of CO and NOx emissions, as well as temperature and flue gas velocity peaks)

Tailor-made software development and training

• Development of tailor-made software based on OpenFOAM and ANSYS FLUENT, as well as training at different levels