Many countries are seeking to expand their use of solid biomass for electricity and heat generation. Nigeria, too, is exploring its own potential energy crops and indigenous residues. The use of this biomass for energy production is, however, limited by factors such as high moisture content, low bulk and low energy density. This study examines the torrefaction and combustion properties of four readily available Nigerian woody biomass, Gmelina arborea, Terminalia superba, Nauclea diderrichii, Lophira alata and a residue, palm kernel expeller (PKE). They are considered for their suitability for use in large scale power stations, especially as pulverized fuels.

The Fuels were torrefied at 270 and 290 °C for either 30 or 60 min, and assessed for pyrolysis and combustion characteristics in comparison to their untreated counterparts. Energy densities of the woods improved from 19.2 to 21.2 MJ/kg for the raw fuels to 21.5–24.6 MJ/kg for the torrefied fuels. The milling behaviour of the torrefied fuels improved upon torrefaction, especially for Nauclea; however, torrefaction had very little effect on the grindability of PKE. The apparent first order kinetics for pyrolysis were determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). After torrefaction, the fuels become less reactive; Nauclea and Gmelina were the most reactive fuels, whilst PKE was the least reactive. The combustion behavior of selected fuels was visually examined in a methane air flame. This showed that torrefaction resulted in shorter ignition delay, shorter duration of volatile combustion and longer duration of char burn out.

许多国家正在寻求扩大其固体生物质用于发电和供热的用途。尼日利亚也正在探索自己的潜在能源作物和本地残留物。然而，这种生物质用于能量生产的方法受到诸如高水分含量，低体积和低能量密度等因素的限制。这项研究检查了四种容易获得的尼日利亚木质生物量，Gmelina arborea，Terminalia superba，Nauclea diderrichii，Lophira alata和残渣，棕榈仁排出器（PKE）的烘焙和燃烧特性。人们认为它们适用于大型电站，尤其是粉状燃料。

将燃料在270和290°C下烘干30或60分钟，并与未处理的同类燃料进行热解和燃烧特性评估。木材的能量密度从原燃料的19.2提高到21.2 MJ / kg，到焙烧燃料的21.5–24.6 MJ / kg。焙干后，特别是对于Nauclea，焙烤后的燃料的研磨行为得到了改善。但是，焙干对PKE的可磨性影响很小。热解的表观一级动力学通过热重分析（TGA）确定。焙干后，燃料的反应性降低。Nauclea和Gmelina是反应性最高的燃料，而PKE是反应性最低的燃料。在甲烷空气火焰中目视检查所选燃料的燃烧行为。这表明焙干导致较短的点火延迟，较短的挥发性燃烧持续时间和较长的炭烧尽时间。