Emission Characteristics for Wood Pellet Boilers - Domestic and Industrial Boilers

Wood fuels (such as wood pellets and wood chips) and woody biomass energy are one of the leading renewable energy sources, along with solar power, wind power, and so on. Coal, a representative fossil fuel, is known to increase carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere. Wood fuel is classified as renewable energy because trees can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while they grow for 20 to 50 years. When wood fuel is burned, carbon dioxide absorbed as it grew is released into the atmosphere, thus maintaining a short-term carbon neutrality. In this study, emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOSUBx/SUB), and particulate matter from combustion of wood fuels in domestic, industrial boilers were quantified through experimental measurements and literature reviews. In the case of domestic wood pellet boilers and stoves, NOx was emitted 57 ~ 66 ppm and dust was emitted 2 ~ 21 mg/S㎥. In the case of industrial wood pellet boilers, NOSUBx/SUB was emitted 27 ~ 88 ppm and dust was emitted 20 ~ 58 mg/S㎥ with a cyclone dust collector and 1 ~ 3 mg/S㎥ with a cyclone and a bag filter type of dust collector