Evaluation of the biomass date stones as a fuel in furnaces: A comparison with coal combustion

The present investigation gives insight into the potential of the biomass fuel date stones as an energy source for furnaces. This is accomplished by comparing combustion and heat transfer characteristics obtained in a furnace fueled with both fuels: date stones and a type of coal. The analysis of the two fuels investigated and the combustion experiments conducted reveal that date stones contain much volatile material that is released during the pyrolysis process, and ultimately burned under diffusion or partially premixed flame conditions. Heterogeneous reactions are found to be of lower importance in this case; contrasting the case of coal combustion. The results obtained highlight superiority of the date stones. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.