Experimental Investigation of Ash Deposit Behavior During Coal Cofiring With Palm Oil Waste

In order to meet the need for cleaner energy in the Green House Gas (GHG) emission reduction framework, the implementation of biomass cofiring in the coal-fired power plant (CFPP) is important. Cofiring of biomass and coal in CFPP is considered an alternative solution to answer the GHG emission problems and extend the life of power plants. Due to different characteristics of biomass compared to coal, however, the implementation of biomass cofiring in CFPP has faced many technical obstacles. It can increase the risk of slagging-fouling and corrosion due to the mineral ash and chlorine contents. This paper presents experimental investigations on the cofiring of palm oil waste with pulverized coal using a drop tube furnace. The characteristics of the composition of the ash particles were analyzed, Ash Fusion temperature (AFT), probe observation from DTF, also analyzed using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). The experiment results show that cofiring palm oil waste with coal during combustion affects ash due to various physical and chemical properties. Cofiring coal with 25% of the biomass, either with an empty fruit bunch or oil palm frond, increases the slagging observed from the probe's deposits. The addition of 25% biomass, a blend of EFB and frond with a composition of 50% each, is better from the slagging aspect than single biomass. Further research is required to investigate the effect of different biomass proportions by weight, fouling's risk, and additives' use to mitigate slagging risk.