Objectif THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DOMESTIC, INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF BOTH THE RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF SCOTLAND THROUGH A PROGRAMME OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LEADING TO THE AVAILABILITY OF IMPROVED HEATING FACILITIES UTILIZING A CHEAP INDIGENOUS FUEL WITH ACCEPTABLY LOW ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION. The information on the general distribution and current status of the Scottish peat resource, is held within the National Peatland Database for Scotland.The suitability of peat as a fuel was assessed from samples from 20 undeveloped sites and 42sites where dried peat was produced and marketed as a fuel. The properties tested such as decomposition values, fibre and wood content and ash content, indicated that the peat was suitable for use as a fuel. However, high concentrations of ash and sulphur content were found at certain depths in the profile at certain sites which adversely affect quality. Also, the smoke emission rates were too high for peat to be considered for authorization as a smokeless fuel.The mean calorfic value of peat marketed for fuel in Scotland was 12.9 MJ kg{-1} (wet basis) at a mean moisture content of 42% (wet basis). Tests on experimental briquettes of sod peat showed that the moisture content, bulk density and calorific value were rather variable.The rate of postharvest drying of sod peat outdoors was related to whether it had been crushed or not and the pressure of a cover and lateral ventilation.A laboratory study of the drying of peat in thin layers in the absence of solar radiation demonstrated that the drying rate could be evaluated from a knowledge of peat size and the relative humidity of the air when the flow rate was not limiting.The resistance to air flow through beds of peat 0.5 m in depth was strongly dependent on the peat size.Several commerically available combustion appliances were capable of burning peat but any automatic feeding mechanisms required that the peat fuel be first crushed.A feeding system was then developed which was capable of handling uncrushed sod peat with automatic controls.The use of peat in domestic appliances designed for coal was found to be unsatisfactory whereas appliances designed for wood and waste fuels were found to have adequate combustion volume capacity, although adjustme nt to the combustion controls was necessary for smoke control.THE PROJECT WILL CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS : - TO EXAMINE THE COMPOSITION, PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND COMBUSTION CHARACTERISTICS OF A WIDE RANGE OF TYPES OF SCOTTISH PEAT; - TO EXAMINE THE SUITABILITY OF COMBUSTION APPLIANCES DESIGNED FOR BITUMINOUS AND OTHER TYPES OF COAL WHEN USED WITH PEAT OF DIFFERENT COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE UK CLEAN AIR ACT (1956); - TO DEVELOP TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING AND FEEDING FUEL PEAT OF DIFFERENT TYPES INTO COMBUSTION APPLIANCES FOR DOMESTIC AND SEMI-INDUSTRIAL/INSTITUTIONAL USE IN AN EFFICIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE WAY; - TO DRAW UP PROPOSED STANDARDS FOR FUEL PEAT AND PEAT COMBUSTION APPLIANCES WHICH CAN BE USED AS AN ACCEPTABLE BASIS FOR THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION, SALE AND UTILIZATION OF FUEL PEAT WHITHIN THE UK. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE RESULTS OF THIS RESEARCH PROGRAMME WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON THE TECHNICAL COMBUSTION CHARACTERISTICS OF SCOTTISH FUEL PEAT TO PERMIT ITS ACCEPTANCE, UNDER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS, AS A LEGALLY APPROVED SMOKE-FREE FUEL WITHIN THE PROVISIONS OF THE UK CLEAN AIR ACT (1956).THE SPECIFIED COMBUSTION CONDITIONS WILL BE EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF CERTAIN APPLIANCE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH WILL BE DEFINED IN THE LIGHT OF THE COMBUSTION TESTS UNDERTAKEN ON FULL SCALE APPLIANCES OF CONTRASTING TYPE. BECAUSE OF THE CONSIDERABLE VARIABILITY OF COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FUEL PEAT, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH BOTH THE WHITHIN SITE AND BETWEEN SITE VARIABILITY ASPECTS OF SCOTTISH FUEL PEAT. THE PROBLEM OF FEEDING FUEL PEAT INTO MODERN APPLIANCES WILL BE EXAMINED AND RELATED TO THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FUEL PEAT. IT IS HOPED THAT EXISTING OR NEW FEED MECHANISMS CAN BE EVALUATED WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON OPERATION UNDER AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEMS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT A SET OF SPECIFICATIONS FOR FUEL PEAT AND ASSOCIATED COMBUSTION APPLIANCES CAN BE DRAWN UP FOR USE BY THOSE INVOLVED IN THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION, HANDLING AND UTILIZATION OF FUEL PEAT. Champ scientifique engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcontrol systemsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energycoalnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesmeteorologysolar radiationnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollutionagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry Programme(s) FP1-ENNONUC 3C - Research and development programme (EEC) in the field of Non-Nuclear Energy, 1985-1988 Thème(s) Data not available Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinateur Scottish Institute of Agricultural Engineering Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Bush Estate EH26 0PH Penicuik Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (2) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire MACAULAY LAND USE RESEARCH INSTITUTE Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Craigiebuckler AB15 8QH ABERDEEN Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Scottish Peat and Land Development Association Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée
