Biomass fuel is a renewable clean energy. For the heat transfer design of burning and decomposition devices of raw materials, including crop straw, wood chips, sawdust, peanut shells, corn cobs, husks, branches, leaves, as well as the combustion kinetics calculations, thermophyscial properties, especially the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of biomass powders, are of great importance to the researchers and engineers.

In fact, biomass material is generally in a state of loose powder. The measured thermal conductivity is actually an apparent thermal conductivity of the biomass as a function of a certain moisture content, porosity, bulk density and temperature. Especially for biomass with high moisture content, the measurement should be finished quickly in several seconds and a lower heat power to make sure there is no change of the components.

The thermal conductivities of several biomass materials were measured by the TC3000 meter and listed in table 1. The results show that there is a significant difference of the thermal performance for different sample. Besides, the non-destructive TC3000 shows its advantages in moisture sample and liquids.

      Table 1. Thermal conductivity of biomass powders

For more information about THW and thermal conductivity meter, please visit TC3000 .