How do I estimate the higher

calorific value of biomass fuels?

A Combustion File downloaded from the IFRF Online Combustion Handbook
ISSN 1607-9116
Combustion File No:

105

Version No:

Date:

05 Nov - 2001

Author(s):

Jen Kovcs

Source(s):

See CF

Referee(s):

Peter Roberts

Status:

Approved

Sponsor:

EuroFlam

1. General
Biomass fuels follow the same sequence of pyrolysis, devolatilisation and combustion as
low rank coal. However, there are significant differences between coals and biomass
combustion:

Coal densities range typically from 1,100 kg/m3 for low rank coals to 2,330 kg/m3 for
high-density pyrolytic graphite.

Biomass densities range from 100 kg/m3 for straw to 500 kg/m3 for forest wood.

The typical volatile matter content of biomass is 60-80% while the coal consists of
10-50% volatile matter.

The calorific values of biomass fuels are appreciably lower than that of coals. [1]

2. Estimation - HCV
The higher calorific value (HCV) of coal is most precisely determined by using a bomb
calorimeter, as defined for example in the British Standard Methods (BS: 1016:part 5:
1977).
However, good estimates can be obtained using the results of the ultimate analysis of
the fuel. There are several relations; a commonly used relationship is Boies formula
which gives the following calculation method [ibid.]:

HCV (MJ/kg) = 35.16 C + 116.225 H 11.09 O + 6.28 N + 10.465 S.

where each elemental analysis is expressed as a mass fraction.

The given relation resulted in good agreement with the experimental results of 62 types
of biomass, reported in [2] referred in [1]. See also CF24.

Glossary terms
Biomass - Biomass comprises all growing organic matter, such as plants, trees, grasses,
peat and algae. Biomass is renewable fuel from organic origin, residues from forestry,
agriculture and energy crops
Calorific value - The quantity of energy released as heat when a unit of fuel is
completely combusted.
Combustion - The act or process of burning.
Devolatilisation - Thermochemical process where the volatile components of the fuel are
released.
Fuel - A fuel is the generic term describing the material - solid, liquid, gaseous, emulsion
etc. - which contains the carbon and/or hydrogen consumed in the industrial combustion
process.
Higher calorific value - Maximum amount of energy that can be obtained from the
combustion of a fuel, including the energy released when the steam produced during
combustion is condensed.
Ultimate analysis - Analysis that gives the elemental composition of the fuel.
Pyrolysis - Thermochemical process where the volatile components are released.
Stoichiometric oxygen - The quantity of oxygen required to completely combust a given
quantity of a fuel - may be expressed on a volume or a mass or a mixed volume/mass
basis.
STP - The standard temperature and pressure (STP) of the gas are 0oC or 273 K and 1
atmosphere or 760 mm mercury (101.3kPa).
Volatile matter - Those products given off by matter as gas or vapour.

Keywords
BioFuels, biomass; estimatation; higher calorific value.

Related Combustion Files

CF24 How do I characterise a BioFuel?
CF48 What is fuel characterisation?
CF106 What data is available on solid biomass fuel characteristics?

Sources
[1] Sami, M., Annamalai, K. & Wooldridge, M. Co-firing of coal and biomass fuel blends.
Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, Vol. 27, pp. 171-214. (2001)
[2] Ebling, J.M. & Jenkins, B.M. Physical and chemical properties of biomass. Transaction
ASAE, Vol. 23(3), pp.898-902. (1985)

Acknowledgements
None

File Placing
[Power Generation] [Fuels] [Characterisation]

Access Domain
[Open Domain]

The information contained in this Combustion File is derived from the IFRF Combustion
Handbook (http://www.handbook.ifrf.net)
IFRF 1999 - 2001