Effective energy exploitation from horse manure combustion

Area of Science:

• Energy Recovery
• Waste Management
• Combustion Science

Background:

• Horse manure is a potential biomass fuel source.
• Industrial opinion suggests manure combustion requires auxiliary fuel.
• Manure's high moisture content is a known challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate horse manure for energy recovery via combustion.
• Assess the impact of origin and management on combustion properties.
• Investigate methods to overcome moisture content limitations.

Main Methods:

• Elemental analysis and moisture content determination.
• Heating value and ash melting temperature measurements.
• Ignition tests to assess combustibility and reactivity.

Main Results:

• Manure origin and management had minimal impact on combustion potential.
• Ignition tests showed manure can combust without auxiliary fuel.
• High moisture content (approx. 60% w.b.) is the main combustion limitation.
• Moisture removal efficiency depends on manure composition and sample size.
• Drying reduced potential energy by 23% but greatly improved reactivity.

Conclusions:

• Horse manure is a viable fuel for energy recovery.
• Effective energy recovery hinges on managing high moisture content.
• Optimizing moisture removal is key to maximizing manure's energy potential.