Combustion of seaweed - A fuel design strategy

The high ash content and varying ash composition in algal biomass is often mentioned as problematic if to be used for thermal energy conversion. This paper suggests an approach where detailed information on ash composition and predicted ash formation reactions are basis for successful remedies enabling the use of fuels considered to be difficult. The procedure is demonstrated on seaweed (Saccharina latissima) cultivated for biorefinery purposes. The ash composition of the seaweed was found suitable for co-combustion with Miscanthus x giganteus, an energy crop high in alkali and silicon. Fuel mixtures were combusted in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor and ash samples were analyzed by SEM-EDS and XRD. The results showed that Ca from the seaweed was very reactive and thus efficient in solving the silicate melting problems. The fuel design approach was proven successful and the potential for using otherwise difficult seaweed fuels in synergetic co-combustion was demonstrated.