Oxides of nitrogen emissions from burning wood

Oxides of nitrogen, NOx emissions, are one of the most carefully monitored contributors to air pollution in metropolitan areas. NOx is known to contribute to smog and ground level ozone as well as having the potential to make rain more acidic. Fuels burned in air all produce NOx, however, some sources are much worse than others. NOx emissions data from a wood-burning boiler are presented in this paper to show the level of emissions from burning wood and to publish the data as well as to show the effects of combustion parameters on NOx production. This paper presents variables such as excess air, air temperature and distribution and fuel moisture, size and combustion rate and the effect of each on the production of nitric oxide during the combustion of wood fuel. The results apply to many other biomass fuels including agricultural wastes, industrial solid wastes, shipboard solid wastes and municipal solid wastes fired under similar conditions.