CFD analysis of combustion characteristics for fuel switching to bioliquid in oil-fired power plant

•Palm based bioliquid (BL) was burned in a 100MWe heavy fuel oil (HFO) boiler.•Combustion characteristics of HFO and BL were studied by CFD.•BL firing led to lower radiation and more uniform temperature in the burner zone.•Heat transfer rate became lower on the membrane wall but higher in the downstream.•A major reduction in SOx and NOx emissions was achieved by the fuel switching.