Optimization Process of Biomass Combustion in the Advanced FBC Using Factorial Design and Response Surface Methodology

This paper studied the optimization process of the combustion of poultry waste material (i.e. poultry manure) in an advanced fluidized bed combustor (FBC) with the secondary air tangential injection. In order to test the influences of combustion parameters on the carbon combustion efficiency, factorial design (FD) and response surface methodology (RSM) were applied in the experimental process and data analysis. The parameters studied were moisture content, waste/natural gas ratio, excess air ratio, secondary/total air ratio, and the height levels of the secondary air injection. Using the 2⁵⁻¹ fractional factorial design, moisture content, excess air and secondary air injection height were found to be significant for the carbon combustion efficiency at the critical level of type-I error α = 0.1. The RSM was used to approach the optimal combustion condition. The optimal condition regarding the significant factors was found. Then the data from a validation experiment was compared with the computed combustion efficiency under the optimal condition. The result showed the combustion efficiency for poultry manure can reach up to 83%, which indicated that the poultry manure could be effectively burned in the advanced FBC.