MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF CHEMICAL REACTION WITH PROPANE

The main goal of the present study is to promote a more effective use of agricultural residues as an alternative renewable fuel for cleaner energy production with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The complex experimental study and mathematical modelling of the processes developing during the co-firing of biomass pellets with gaseous fuel were carried out. The experimental study of the effect of co-firing on the main gasification and combustion characteristics was carried out by varying the propane supply and additional heat input into the pilot device with an estimation of the effect of co-firing on the thermal decomposition of pallets. The mathematical model is developed using the environment of MATLAB (2-D modelling) and MATLAB package “pdepe” (1-D modelling) with account variations of supplying the heat energy and combustible volatiles into the bottom of the combustor. The dominant exothermal chemical reactions were used to evaluate the effect of co-firing on the main combustion characteristics and composition of products CO2 and H2O. The results prove that the additional heat from the propane flame allows control of the thermal decomposition, the formation of volatiles, and the development of combustion dynamics, thus completing the combustion of biomass and leading to cleaner heat energy production.