Sunflower petals billowing from a power plant, symbolizing sustainable energy.

Sunflower Power: Can Co-firing Sunflower Husk Pellets with Coal Reduce Pollution?

Avery Sinclair in Climate & Environment December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore how co-firing sunflower husk pellets with coal in boilers impacts flue gas composition and offers a sustainable energy solution."

As the world urgently seeks sustainable energy solutions, the practice of co-firing biomass with coal has emerged as a promising strategy. Co-firing not only offers an ecological approach to energy use but also avoids the costly overhauls required by new energy systems. Among various biomass options, sunflower husk pellets stand out due to their high caloric value and relatively low chlorine content, making them an attractive alternative for power generation.

However, integrating biomass into existing coal-fired power plants presents unique challenges. Biomass materials often vary significantly in composition, moisture content, and physical properties compared to coal. These differences can lead to operational issues such as slagging, fouling, and corrosion, potentially offsetting the environmental benefits if not carefully managed.

To address these challenges, researchers are increasingly turning to advanced modeling techniques. Numerical simulations offer a powerful way to predict and control the emission of undesirable pollutants resulting from co-firing. By understanding how different fuels interact within a boiler, engineers can optimize combustion conditions to minimize harmful emissions, improve efficiency, and extend the lifespan of power plant equipment.

How Does Co-firing Sunflower Husk Pellets Affect Flue Gas Composition?

Sunflower petals billowing from a power plant, symbolizing sustainable energy.

A detailed study examined the impact of co-combustion of coal and sunflower husk pellets in a 125 MW power plant boiler. The research team used CHEMKIN-PRO software to simulate the chemical reactions and predict the composition of the flue gas. The simulations considered factors such as combustion temperature, air and fuel flow rates, and the elemental composition of the fuels.

The CRECK Modeling Group's chemical mechanism, which includes 134 compounds and 4169 chemical reactions (including chlorine compound formations), was employed to ensure a comprehensive analysis. By comparing the simulation results with real-world measurements, the researchers validated the accuracy of their model and gained valuable insights into the co-firing process.

Data Collection: Comprehensive data was collected from a real-world power plant, including combustion temperature, reagent fluxes (air, coal, and biomass), and the elemental composition of the fuels.
Numerical Simulations: Computer simulations were performed using CHEMKIN-PRO software to determine the chemical composition of the flue gas.
Chemical Mechanism: The CRECK Modeling Group's chemical mechanism, consisting of 134 compounds and 4169 chemical reactions, was used for accurate simulation of the combustion process.
Parameter Analysis: The impact of selected parameters, such as temperature, on the chemical composition changes of the combustion products was analyzed.
Model Verification: The developed calculation model was verified against data collected from real-world conditions to ensure reliability and accuracy.

The simulations revealed that the composition of biomass significantly influences the resulting flue gas. Notably, the model accurately predicted the formation of key pollutants and provided insights into how to mitigate their impact. For example, the study highlighted the importance of managing chlorine content in the biomass to reduce the risk of chloride corrosion, a common issue in biomass-fueled power plants.

Turning Insights into Action: Practical Applications and Future Directions

The findings from this study have practical implications for power plant operators and engineers. By using numerical simulations to optimize co-firing processes, they can reduce emissions, prevent corrosion, and improve overall plant efficiency. This approach is particularly valuable for analyzing the risk of chloride corrosion and evaluating the production of unburned hydrocarbons, leading to better operational decisions and reduced environmental impact. As the demand for sustainable energy solutions grows, these insights pave the way for wider adoption of biomass co-firing in existing power plants.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1051/e3sconf/20171402021, Alternate LINK

Title: The Impact Of Co-Firing Sunflower Husk Pellets With Coal In A Boiler On The Chemical Composition Of Flue Gas

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: E3S Web of Conferences

Publisher: EDP Sciences

Authors: Monika Zajemska, Paweł Urbańczyk, Anna Poskart, Dariuszs Urbaniak, Henryk Radomiak, Dorota Musiał, Grzegorz Golański, Tomasz Wyleciał

Published: 2017-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What does it mean to co-fire sunflower husk pellets with coal?

Co-firing sunflower husk pellets with coal involves burning both materials together in a boiler to produce energy. Sunflower husk pellets serve as a biomass component, offering a more sustainable alternative to burning coal alone. This process aims to reduce emissions and leverage the high caloric value of sunflower husks. However, variations in composition and physical properties between the two fuels require careful management to prevent issues like slagging and corrosion. Numerical simulations, such as those using CHEMKIN-PRO software, help optimize combustion conditions and minimize harmful emissions.

Why are numerical simulations important when co-firing biomass and coal?

Numerical simulations are significant because they allow engineers to predict and control the emission of pollutants resulting from co-firing. These simulations help in understanding how different fuels interact within a boiler, enabling the optimization of combustion conditions. By accurately modeling chemical reactions using tools like the CRECK Modeling Group's chemical mechanism, engineers can minimize harmful emissions, improve efficiency, and extend the lifespan of power plant equipment. This proactive approach is essential for addressing the challenges associated with integrating biomass into existing coal-fired power plants.

How does co-firing affect the composition of flue gas?

Flue gas composition is affected by the co-firing process because burning sunflower husk pellets alongside coal introduces different chemical elements and combustion dynamics. Simulations using CHEMKIN-PRO, incorporating mechanisms like the CRECK model, help predict how these changes will manifest in the flue gas. Specifically, factors like temperature and fuel ratios influence the formation of pollutants. Managing the chlorine content in sunflower husks is crucial to mitigate chloride corrosion, a common problem in biomass-fueled power plants. By understanding and controlling these factors, power plant operators can optimize the co-firing process to minimize harmful emissions and improve overall plant efficiency.

What is the CRECK Modeling Group's chemical mechanism and why is it used?

The CRECK Modeling Group's chemical mechanism is a detailed set of chemical reactions used in numerical simulations to accurately model the combustion process during co-firing. It includes 134 compounds and 4169 chemical reactions, accounting for chlorine compound formations and other critical interactions. This mechanism is essential for a comprehensive analysis of flue gas composition and pollutant formation. By incorporating such detailed chemistry, simulations can provide valuable insights into how to mitigate emissions and optimize combustion conditions, improving the overall efficiency and environmental impact of co-firing sunflower husk pellets with coal.

Why is data collected from real-world power plants important?

Data from real-world power plants are important for the verification and validation of numerical models used in co-firing studies. Comprehensive data on combustion temperature, reagent fluxes (air, coal, and biomass), and the elemental composition of fuels provide a baseline for comparison with simulation results. By ensuring that the models accurately reflect real-world conditions, engineers can have confidence in their predictions and use them to optimize co-firing processes, reduce emissions, and improve overall plant efficiency. This iterative process of data collection, simulation, and verification is crucial for the successful implementation of sustainable energy solutions.