Use of Alternative Fuels from Synthesis and Hydrotreatment Processes for Domestic Heat Supply in Existing Heating Technology

The German government's targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions place ever greater demands on mobile and stationary applications in which fossil fuels are used. The provision of domestic heating for homes and small businesses offers considerable potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions can be further reduced by using regeneratively produced fuels. These include HVO, which is obtained from vegetable oils, and PtL fuels (Power-to-Liquid), which can be produced in the future from regenerative surplus electricity. One example of a PtL fuel is oxymethylene ether (OME), which has a considerable potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In previous research projects, the use of some alternative fuel mixtures of fuel oil EL, low-sulphur with HVO resulted in the formation of deposits. The aim of the project is to be able to make statements about the possible applications of HVO and PtL fuels (e.g. OME) in heating systems of the space heating market.

In this research project the use of alternative fuels as a substitute for heating oil in heating systems is examined. For this purpose, on the one hand, the friction-free long-term operational safety over the entire service life in heating systems has to be proven, on the other hand, the long-term storage stability of fuels has to be checked. Ageing products can potentially lead to system failure and negative effects on combustion. Therefore, within the project several fuel blends of fuel oil EL, HVO and OME will be produced, characterised and subsequently, based on the results of preliminary tests, two fuel blends will be selected and tested in long-term experiments with ~ 6000 h each in a blue burner with condensing boiler, a yellow burner with low temperature boiler and a system with pre-evaporation. In addition, long-term storage tests with different fuel blends are carried out to investigate undesired ageing products and negative effects on the system and to give recommendations for avoiding system failures.

DGMK Research Report 808 has been published.