Ash effects during combustion of lignite/biomass blends in fluidized bedsAsh effects during combustion of lignite/biomass blends in fluidized beds Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-10-272009enAiming at investigating the role of minerals in evaluating co-firing applications of low rank coals and biomass materials, agricultural residues characteristic of the Mediterranean countries, one lignite and their blends with biomass proportions up to 20% wt, were burned in a lab-scale fluidized bed facility. Fly ashes and bed material were characterized in terms of mineralogical, chemical and morphological analyses and the slagging/fouling and agglomeration propensities were determined. The results showed that combustion of each fuel alone could provoke medium or high deposition problems. Combustion of raw fuels produced fly ashes rich in Ca, Si and Fe minerals, as well as K and Na minerals in the case of biomass samples. However, blending of the fuels resulted in a reduction of Ca, Fe, K and Na, while an increase of Si and Al elements in the fly ashes as compared to lignite combustion, suggesting lower deposition and corrosion problems in boilers firing these mixtures. The use of bauxite as an additive enriched bottom ash in calcium compounds. Under the conditions of the combustion tests, no signs of ash deposition or bed agglomeration were noticed.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Renewable Energy34122662-2671 Vamvouka Despoina Βαμβουκα Δεσποινα Pitharoulis M. Alevizos Georgios Αλεβιζος Γεωργιος Repouskou Eftychia Ρεπουσκου Ευτυχια Pentari Despoina Πενταρη Δεσποινα Elsevier Biomass Coal Blends Fluidized bed Ash