Low Pressure Binder-Less Densification of Fibrous Biomass Material using a Screw Press

Authors: Tsietsi J. Pilusa, Robert Huberts, Edison Muzenda

Abstract:

In this study, the theoretical relationship between pressure and density was investigated on cylindrical hollow fuel briquettes produced of a mixture of fibrous biomass material using a screw press without any chemical binder. The fuel briquettes were made of biomass and other waste material such as spent coffee beans, mielie husks, saw dust and coal fines under pressures of 0.878-2.2 Mega Pascals (MPa). The material was densified into briquettes of outer diameter of 100mm, inner diameter of 35mm and 50mm long. It was observed that manual screw compression action produces briquettes of relatively low density as compared to the ones made using hydraulic compression action. The pressure and density relationship was obtained in the form of power law and compare well with other cylindrical solid briquettes made using hydraulic compression action. The produced briquettes have a dry density of 989 kg/m3 and contain 26.30% fixed carbon, 39.34% volatile matter, 10.9% moisture and 10.46% ash as per dry proximate analysis. The bomb calorimeter tests have shown the briquettes yielding a gross calorific value of 18.9MJ/kg.

Keywords: Bio briquettes, biomass fuel, coffee grounds, fuelbriquettes

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1084145

References:

[1] A. Debdoubi, A. Elamarti & E.Colacio, "Production of fuel briquettes from esparto partially pyrolyzed". Energy Conversion and Management, vol.46, pp. 1877-1884, 2005.
[2] A.Demirbas and A.Sahin, "Evaluation of biomass residue: Briquetting waste paper and wheat straw mixtures". Fuel Processing Technology, vol.55: pp.175-183. 1997.
[3] M.O. Faborode and J.R. O-Callagham, "Theoretical analysis of compression of fibrous agricultural materials". Journal of Agricultural Engineering, vol.35, pp. 175-179. 1996.
[4] E. Granada, L.M. Lopez Gonzelez, J.L Miguez and J. Moran, "Fuel lignocellulosic briquettes die design and product study". Renewable Energy, vol. 27, pp. 561-573. 2002.
[5] Z. Husain, Z. Zainac and Z. Abdullah Z. "Briquetting of palm fibre and shell from the processing of palm nuts to palm oil". Biomass and Energy, vol. 22, pp.505-509. Jan 2002.
[6] S. Mani, L.G Tabil and S. Sokhansanj, "Specific energy requirement for compacting corn stover". Bioresource Technology, vol 97, pp.1420- 1426, 2006.
[7] H.J. O-Dogherty and J.A Wheeler, "Compression of straw to high densities in close cylindrical dies". Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 29: 61-71. 1984.
[8] http://www.engineersedge.com/gears/screw-axial-thrust-loadcalculations. htm, Accessed 26-01-2011