Test results from sugar cane bagasse and high fiber cane co-fired with fossil fuels

Cofiring tests were conducted in a boiler at the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar factory at Puunene, Hawaii. Three tests were conducted; a baseline test firing coal and fuel oil (Test 1) and two cofiring tests utilizing coal, fuel oil, and biomass. In the latter two tests, bagasse (Test 2) and a blend of bagasse and fiber cane (Test 3) were used as the biomass fuel. Biomass accounted for 62% and 50% of the total energy inputs for Tests 2 and 3, respectively. All three tests were conducted in a spreader stoker-type boiler operating at a steam flow rate of 46.5 tonne h−1 at 63.2 bar and 400 °C. Fuel properties, boiler efficiency, solids removed in the pollution control devices, and stack emissions of criteria pollutants were monitored during the test campaign and results are reported herein. In addition, a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy probe and a deposition probe were installed near the superheaters to characterize fire-side ash behavior under each of the test conditions.