Flame temperature estimation in sugarcane biomass combustion using visible wavelength spectrography Paulo Roberto Tazinazo Cândido, Carlos Teofilo Salinas Sedano

Abstract

Estimating the concentration of potassium released in combustion is important for the operation and maintenance of boilers that burn biomass to generate electricity. Estimating such requirements is the first step towards adopting measures aimed at reducing the corrosion triggered by this alkali metal and increasing the operational efficiency of the boiler. In Brazil, the biomass residue that is most used in power plants is sugarcane bagasse. A spectrometer in the visible light band was used to collect flame spectra during the combustion of sugarcane bagasse, making it possible to estimate the concentration of potassium released using radiation intensities of the emission lines characteristic of potassium. Average concentration obtained was 0.381ppm.