Biomass Residue Briquetting and Characterization
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 2
Abstract
All kinds of biomasses pull carbon out of the air as they grow. Waste biomass can be made into usable fuel by densification. These biomasses can then replace some coal in power plants, which will reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gas effects. Densification of low-density biomass (agricultural and agro-industrial waste) is called biomass briquetting. The briquette form facilitates easy transportation, enables better handling and storage, and is efficient to use as an alternative fuel to coal and firewood. The high temperature developed during the high-pressure densification process assists the inherent lignin, which is the binder in the biomass, to bind the biomass and form a densified fuel called briquettes. In this paper, four kinds of biomasses (mango leaves, eucalyptus leaves, wheat straw, and sawdust) were briquetted. Physicochemical and thermochemical characterization of the biomass residues was carried out by using standard methods. A hydraulic press and an automatic compression testing machine were used for the briquetting and testing. The effect of various parameters, such as compression pressure, pressure application rate, holding time, particle size, and moisture content, on the density of the briquettes was studied. The impact resistance test was carried out by using the standard ASTM method. All the briquettes prepared from the biomass studied in this paper have more heating value than half of Indian coal; thus, they can be used as an alternative to coal and firewood.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
ASTM. (1993). Annual book of ASTM standards, Philadelphia.
Bhattacharya, S. C. (2001). “Commercialization options for biomass energy technologies in ESCAP countries.” United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand.
Bhattacharya, S. C., Bhatia, R., Islam, M. N., and Shah, N. (1985). “Densified biomass in Thailand: Potential, status and problems.” Biomass, 8(4), 255–266.
Chin, O. C., and Siddiqui, K. M. (2000). “Characteristics of some biomass briquettes prepared under modest die pressures.” Biomass Bioenergy, 18, 223–228.
Fasina, O. O., and Sokhansanj, S. (1996). “Storage and handling characteristics of alfalfa pellets.” Powder Handling Process., 8(4), 361–365.
Kaminiski, T. (1989). “Investigation of the feasibility of collection, densification, storage, transportation, and marketing of agriculture biomass.” SRC publication 0829-9455, Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Lehtikangas, P. (2001). “Quality properties of pelletised sawdust, logging residues and bark.” Biomass Bioenergy, 20(5), 351–360.
Li, Y., and Liu, H. (2000). “High pressure densification of wood residues to form an upgraded fuel.” Biomass Bioenergy, 19, 177–186.
Mani, S., Tabil, L. G., and Sokhansanj, S. (2004). “Evaluation of compaction equations applied to four biomass species.” Canadian Biosyst. Eng., 46(3), 355–361.
Richards, S. R. (1990). “Physical testing of fuel briquettes.” Fuel Process. Technol., 25, 89–100.
Tavares, J. L. M., Ortiz, L., Granada, E., and Viarc, F. P. (2000). “Feasibility study of energy use for densificated lignocellulosic material (briquettes).” Fuel, 79, 1229–1237.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 22, 2009
Accepted: Oct 29, 2010
Published online: Nov 2, 2010
Published in print: Jun 1, 2011
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.