Wood dust combustion

Article in the German trade journal: Holzkurier - Das international Wirtschaftsmagazin

Since 1910, the Dutch family business KARA Energy Systems active in the development, production, and installation of industrial biomass combustion systems for the wood and process industries. Over the years, KARA Energy Systems has increasingly specialized in the combustion of complex fuels – particularly wood and MDF dust. These fuels present a particular technical challenge.

Thanks to this focused specialization in these input materials, KARA Energy Systems now has extensive expertise in this field. Numerous installations from this Dutch manufacturer and leading specialist in pure wood dust combustion now run entirely on wood dust.

Combustion temperature is crucial

When burning biomass—and especially wood dust—it's essential to keep the combustion temperature as constant as possible. Small temperature fluctuations extend the system's lifespan and reduce the formation of thermal NOx.

KARA Energy Systems' technology is based on a grate combustion system combined with appropriate cooling and aeration. The goal of this technology is a natural and continuous combustion process, minimizing temperature fluctuations.

Focus on emission reduction

Reducing emissions plays a key role in wood dust combustion. This has been under development for years within the KARA Energy Systems technical team, with a particular emphasis on limiting NOx emissions.

Due to strict Dutch environmental regulations, the company has built up in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in this field. Effective measures are essential, especially when burning wood dust, which involves high temperatures.

KARA Energy Systems combines a controlled combustion process with smart steps to reduce emissions – always tailored to the type of biomass being burned.

Fine starting material – wood dust combustion

The wood dust burned in the systems—for example, MDF dust—is as fine as milk powder. This material is fed via a metering screw, which precisely applies the wood dust to the hydraulic grate. This ensures a stable and efficient combustion process.

In some installations, wood dust is mixed with other fuels. In such cases, homogeneous mixing is essential to ensure consistent combustion performance.

Depending on the requirements, KARA Energy Systems develops wood dust combustion systems in various sizes and designs. However, the basic principle always remains the same: a controlled process with precise wood dust supply and appropriate emission reduction technologies.

KARA Energy Systems delivers customer-focused solutions – fully turnkey and from a single source.