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THE INFLUENCE OF PELLET LENGTH ON THE GENERATION OF PARTICULATE MATTER EMISSIONS
Abstract
Previous research has shown that the properties of biomass pellets (composition, moisture, density) have a significant impact on particulate matter emissions. However, pellet length has been investigated to a lesser extent, mainly for wood pellets. This study offers a new perspective, as it focuses on non-wood biomass (red fescue pellets) and systematically evaluates particulate matter emissions in relation to pellet length. Pellets were sorted into three categories: 0.15-1.65 cm (I), 1.65-3.15 cm (II), and over 3.15 cm (III) and burned in a 21 kW boiler. The recorded values showed a clear trend: shorter pellets produced fewer emissions, the middle category showed higher values, and the longest pellets reached the maximum (1622 mg/mN-). The study thus confirms that the geometry of the fuel affects the combustion process, the burning rate, and the quality of the air flow. The contribution of this work lies in pointing out a factor that has not been monitored so far, which can have practical impacts on reducing emissions. The findings are also important for the strategy of developing sustainable energy. Optimizing the length of pellets can contribute to increasing combustion efficiency, reducing dust generation during fuel handling, and better utilizing waste biomass. For a better interpretation of the results, it would be appropriate to supplement the data from other types of biomass and from the operating conditions of larger facilities in the future.
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