Co-firing is the simultaneous burning of two or more fuel sources to generate heat or electricity. It can increase efficiency, reduce pollution, and use non-renewable fuels less. Governments incentivize this practice, and it can be done in existing plants without large investments.
Co-firing is a practice in which two or more fuel sources are burned simultaneously to generate heat or electricity. There are a number of reasons companies might choose this method over other power generation techniques, including environmental concerns and fuel quality issues. One of the most common uses of this technique is in a coal/biomass-fired plant that uses both coal and biomass as fuel sources. When a plant is managed correctly, efficiency can be very high and pollution can decrease.
One reason for using this method is the need for better burning of fuels. Landfill gas, for example, can be trapped rather than wasted, except it doesn’t burn very efficiently or well for power generation applications. By mixing it with another fuel, a plant can create efficiently produced electricity or heat. Co-firing can also have environmental benefits, as it can reduce dependence on non-renewable fuels and fuels known to be highly polluting, such as coal.
In direct cofiring activities, the fuels are burned together in a boiler room. A technician monitors conditions to increase efficiency and minimize pollution by maintaining adequate airflow. Filtration can limit the release of particulate matter during combustion. The waste products can also be used in the production of components such as cement, depending on what the boiler contains after combustion.
The other version of this approach is indirect cofiring, where a fuel is driven through an intermediate stage before being introduced into the boiler. This can be seen with tools such as biomass gasification, which is used to convert certain materials into gas. Biomass by itself is not as clean burning as gasified biomass products, so a business can use a gasifier to create clean, efficient gas for use in the boiler. Many other indirect methods are available for use with a variety of fuels that may require processing or treatment before they are ready for use.
Several governments provide incentives to energy companies that use this practice to generate electricity. The goal is to facilitate the production of electricity from cleaner, more independent and more renewable sources to meet the needs of the population. Companies can hire energy consultants to assist with the development of a cofiring program. One of the other advantages of this method is that it does not require new plants, as the two fuels can be burned together in an existing plant. Therefore, a large investment is not required to switch to co-firing for power generation.
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