CFD Analysis on Stoker Boiler Cofiring Sugarcane Bagasse Biomass

Biomass cofiring has emerged as a promising approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coalfired power plants. This study employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyze the thermal and emission performance of cofiring coal with sugarcane bagasse in a stoker-type boiler. Simulations were conducted using ANSYS Fluent to evaluate combustion characteristics at sugarcane bagasse biomass percentages of 0%, 35%, and 70%. The results show that increasing the proportion of bagasse reduces furnace temperature and CO₂ emissions, attributed to the biomass's lower carbon and higher oxygen content. Specifically, the average furnace temperature drops from 963.94 K to 862.47 K. Correspondingly, CO₂ emissions decrease due to the lower carbon content of bagasse, while the mass fraction of O₂ in the flue gas increases, reflecting reduced demand for excess air. These findings support the viability of sugarcane bagasse as a co-firing fuel to enhance combustion sustainability and minimize environmental impact.