Miquel Moix

Use of biomass in the drying and firing of clay-based
building products

Photos/Fotos: Beralmar

»1 Example of a Puls+GB heat generation system at a brick plant in Bosnia. A hammer mill installed below the conveyor crushes the fuel pellets to enable their pneumatic handling

Photos/Fotos: Beralmar

»2 Example of a CSD+GB heat generation plant, in Morocco. Biomass residue from olive production – very inexpensive on the local market – serves here as biofuel

»3 Example of a model GBS heat generator at work in Spain. A pair of heat generators operating on almond shells help produce a dry, ready-to-use product of very good quality

»4 Closed fuel cycle in the firing zone of a kiln. Preheating is still done with hot gas burners, and the gas injectors in the firing zone are still in place

»5 The gas injectors in the firing zone have been modified to enable injection of a solid fuel mixture

Spanish one-stop supplier Beralmar produces a full-range of gas-fuelled firing equipment for the heavy clay industry. Beralmar also specializes in the use of biomass as fuel, particularly for drying purposes. This contribution cites a range of examples showing when and where the use of biomass is practical and expedient.

1 Introduction

The use of natural gas as fuel for firing is state of the art. Natural gas is easy to handle, and it yields very good production results.

However, regulatory pressure calling for reduced CO₂ emissions is on the rise now, so it appears expedient to consider the use of other fuels, as well. Biomass, for example offers a number of relevant advantages:

First of all, it is a quick way to dramatically reduce CO₂ emissions. According to EU Directive 2018/410 dated 19 March 2018, biomass continues to count as a CO₂-neutral fuel, at least for the period between 2021 and 2030. At the same...