{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/43039"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/43039","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Study of biomass combustion characteristics for the development of a catalytic combustor/gasifier","abstract":"The research reported here explored, a \"new\" approach to biomass energy conversion for small-scale process heat-applications. The conversion process uses close-coupled catalytic. combustion to burn combustibles in effluent generated by primary combustion or gasification of biomass fuels. Computer control of primary and secondary air flow rates allow control of the devices output power while maintaining fuel-lean or stoichiometric conditions in the effluent entering the catalytic combustion zone. The intent of the secondary combustion system is to ensure \"clean\" exhaust (i.e., promote complete combustion). A small-scale combustor/gasifier was built and instrumented. Characteristics of combustion were studied for three biomass fuels so that primary and secondary air flow control strategies could be devised. A bang-bang type controller was devised for primary air flow control. Secondary air as controlled based on feedback signals from an inexpensive automobile exhaust gas oxygen sensor. The control strategies and catalytic combustion were implemented on prototype combustor/gasifier and the device was tested with good results. Power turn down ratios of 4 to 1 and 3 to 1 were achieved. The zitconia-type automobile exhaust gas oxygen sensors adapted well to the combustion environment of biomass fuel, at least for short periods (long term durability tests were not conducted). The secondary air control system was able to maintain fuel-lean flows for the most part and, the secondary combustion system provided reductions of approximately three fourths in carbon monoxide emissions.","abstract_html":"The research reported here explored, a "new" approach to biomass energy conversion for small-scale process heat-applications. The conversion process uses close-coupled catalytic. combustion to burn combustibles in effluent generated by primary combustion or gasification of biomass fuels. Computer control of primary and secondary air flow rates allow control of the devices output power while maintaining fuel-lean or stoichiometric conditions in the effluent entering the catalytic combustion zone. The intent of the secondary combustion system is to ensure "clean" exhaust (i.e., promote complete combustion). A small-scale combustor/gasifier was built and instrumented. Characteristics of combustion were studied for three biomass fuels so that primary and secondary air flow control strategies could be devised. A bang-bang type controller was devised for primary air flow control. Secondary air as controlled based on feedback signals from an inexpensive automobile exhaust gas oxygen sensor. The control strategies and catalytic combustion were implemented on prototype combustor/gasifier and the device was tested with good results. Power turn down ratios of 4 to 1 and 3 to 1 were achieved. The zitconia-type automobile exhaust gas oxygen sensors adapted well to the combustion environment of biomass fuel, at least for short periods (long term durability tests were not conducted). The secondary air control system was able to maintain fuel-lean flows for the most part and, the secondary combustion system provided reductions of approximately three fourths in carbon monoxide emissions.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Dody, Joseph W."],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Mechanical Engineering","degree_department":"Mechanical Engineering","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Jaasma, Dennis R."],"committee_members":["Leonard, Robert G.","Reinholtz, Charles F."],"year":1985,"date_issued":"1985-10-05","date_published":"1985-10-05","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:41Z","subjects":[],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-06102012-040156"],"render_values":[{"text":"etd-06102012-040156","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/43039","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Jaasma, Dennis R."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Leonard, Robert G.","Reinholtz, Charles F."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Mechanical Engineering"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Dody, Joseph W."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2014-03-14T21:37:39Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2014-03-14T21:37:39Z","2012-06-10"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["1985-10-05"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.dcmitype","label":"Dc Type Dcmitype","values":["Text"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Mechanical Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-06102012-040156"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/43039"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The research reported here explored, a \"new\" approach to biomass energy conversion for small-scale process heat-applications. 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The control strategies and catalytic combustion were implemented on prototype combustor/gasifier and the device was tested with good results. Power turn down ratios of 4 to 1 and 3 to 1 were achieved. The zitconia-type automobile exhaust gas oxygen sensors adapted well to the combustion environment of biomass fuel, at least for short periods (long term durability tests were not conducted). 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The control strategies and catalytic combustion were implemented on prototype combustor/gasifier and the device was tested with good results. Power turn down ratios of 4 to 1 and 3 to 1 were achieved. The zitconia-type automobile exhaust gas oxygen sensors adapted well to the combustion environment of biomass fuel, at least for short periods (long term durability tests were not conducted). 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