briquettes, is manufactured by high compression
at moderate temperatures, and this alternative
fuel has been investigated in the present study.
BIC has high mechanical strength, is able to withstand
the compressive stress in melting furnaces,
and has been shown to be a potential alternative
to coal coke. BIC can be manufactured in a wide
range of sizes, large dimensions (48 mm in diameter
and 85 mm in length in this study) and densities
higher (1300 kg/m3) than ordinary wood
pellets (600 kg/m3) [5]. This means the combustion
time of the fuel enables a longer heat release
with a smaller number of fuel loadings, resulting
in a better overall performance compared with
existing biomass fuels. Additionally, BIC has relatively
low transport and storage costs because of
its high volumetric calorific value and mechanical
strength, and this new fuel is expected to be used
in melting furnaces, stoves, and boilers.
As biomass fuel is a popular topic in the field
of combustion, many researchers have investigated
the combustion characteristics of biomass
fuel [6–9], but few studies are available on the
steady combustion mechanism of large blocks of
biomass. In the combustion process of a large fuel
block, steady combustion is defined as the steady
regression rate of the fuel block during combustion.
Discussing the mechanism of steady combustion
is an important topic, and allows us to gain a
better understanding of the combustion characteristics
of the newly developed biomass fuel and
improve the knowledge of combustion furnace
design. Steady combustion can be obtained only
when a steady temperature distribution inside
BIC is achieved. The temperature distribution
inside the fuel was assumed to be dependent on