Stoker-fired laboratory boiler as a tool for optimising the solid fuel combustion process

Przemysław Rompalski, Department of Solid Fuels Quality Assessment, Central Mining Institute – National Research Institute (Katowice, Poland)Follow
Justyna Guzy-Proc, Department of Solid Fuels Quality Assessment, Central Mining Institute – National Research Institute (Katowice, Poland)
Mariusz. Kieczek, Independent contributor

Author ORCID Identifier

Przemysław Rompalski: 0000-0001-9213-8186

Abstract

This paper presents the results of quality testing performed on a stoker-fired laboratory boiler to present the technical potential of the boiler as a tool for optimising the combustion process of prepared solid fuels (granulate, energy blend) in the context of current demands related to the decarbonisation policy. The comprehensive testing of such fuels at a laboratory scale makes it possible to gain deep insights into the quality parameters of the fuel, flue gas and combustion waste, as well as to determine the combustion process parameters before the fuel is introduced for combustion in broader power engineering and household boilers. The emissivity measurements presented in the paper were conducted on a granulate sample and two energy blends. Furthermore, after the combustion experiment was concluded, the combustible component contents in the obtained combustion waste were determined to confirm the correct course of the combustion process. The stoker-fired laboratory boiler makes it possible to precisely reproduce the combustion process conducted in professional power engineering, but at a laboratory scale. This is thanks to the option of changing the settings by means of a computer system. The boiler can be used to test various types of solid fuels (solid biofuel, solid recovered fuel, blends, granulates).

Recommended Citation

Rompalski, Przemysław; Guzy-Proc, Justyna; and Kieczek, Mariusz. (2026) "Stoker-fired laboratory boiler as a tool for optimising the solid fuel combustion process," Journal of Sustainable Mining: Vol. 25 : Iss. 2 , Article 8.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.46873/2300-3960.1497