[Stoves] Biomass Fuel

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

Dear Tom And Roger S

Roger and I were looking at the heat value of rice hulls and I recall the
silica level in the hulls being a lot higher than 20%. Perhaps it is in
different forms.

Roger can you comment as you are the one burning this fuel?

Thanks
Crispin



-----Original Message-----
From: stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Reed
Sent: December 23, 2007 3:20 AM

Dear Frank and All:

Rice hulls contain 20% fine silica.  If you try to burn them, the 
temperature is high enough to form a cocoon of solid siliica and prevent 
complete digestion.  It also heats the SiO2 above 800C and forms 
crystobalite which can cause silicosis.