Replacement of fossil fuels with biomass is a viable means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the electric power generation sector. Co-combustion of biomass with fossil fuels is attractive because it utilizes existing infrastructure and can be implemented in ways that do not significantly decrease overall plant efficiency. The pine beetle epidemic in the Rocky Mountain Region has resulted in significant amounts of beetle kill pine that is a potential fuel for co-firing with coal. Raw biomass has several properties, including low energy density and high moisture content, which limit its potential for utilization in co-firing applications. Torrefaction pretreatment, in which biomass is heated in an inert environment, can improve these properties. This study examines the effect of torrefaction on the properties of biomass. Ultimate and proximate analysis of raw biomass, torrefied biomass and coal are presented. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to study the combustion characteristics of the pure components: coal, raw and torrefied biomass. Mass loss curves for these samples are presented, and future work is discussed.
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