The combustion of wood, mainly as assessed by fluidised-bed differential thermal analysis, with particular reference to rubber wood

The combustion characteristics of Rubber wood were studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA) carried out in fluidised-beds. Test samples up to 10 mm in diameter and fluidising gas of different oxygen concentrations were used. A number of tropical hardwoods were included in the study for comparison. Prior to the above study, investigations on the thermal behaviour of Rubber wood in an inert environment, in particular, the effect of particle size, were carried out. The particle sizes used ranged from smaller than 150 mesh to 19 mm diameter. The yields of the various degradation products and the temperature range within which they were formed were noted. The liquid and gaseous products were analysed, the former qualitatively (by proton and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy) and the latter quantitatively (by GLC). Thermogravimetric analyses of the test materials were performed in both inert and oxidative environments to provide information complementary to those obtained from DTA, in particular, char yield and burning time in a stationary bed. The ash contents of the wood species under study were determined. The adverse effect of ash on wood combustion was demonstrated in combustion experiments carried out in a down-draught incinerator using 5 cm thick blocks. Besides Rubber wood, three other species were used, including radiate Pine