An investigation into a laboratory scale bubble column humidification dehumidification desalination system powered by biomass energy

The objective of this research was to investigate the quality of hybrid briquettes developed from corncobs (CC) and oil palm trunk bark (OPTB) under a low-pressure densification technique. The materials were combined in varying ratios of CC to OPTB (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) and wastepaper pulp (10% by weight) was added to each mixture as a binder. The briquettes were produced using a manually operated 20-tonne hydraulic piston press at 28 °C temperature and ≤7 MPa compaction pressure. The mechanical strength of the briquettes was determined by the drop test and compression test methods, while a bomb calorimeter was used to determine the calorific values. The results showed that the physical properties of hybrid briquettes ranged from 9.24–10.00% moisture content, 0.38–0.40 g/cm3 density, and 87.60%–92.00% water resistance. Mechanical strength showed a 98.28%–99.08% shatter index and 18.47–21.75 MPa compressive strength, while calorific values ranged from 16.54–16.91 MJ/kg. The hybrid briquettes fared better than the CC briquettes. The significance of this study lies in the production of briquettes with suitable physical, mechanical and thermal properties by utilizing OPTB which have hitherto not been used, mixed with corncobs. This could bring substantial environmental and socio-economic benefits to rural communities of the developing countries.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/6/2468/pdf

Production and Characterization of Hybrid Briquettes from Corncobs and Oil Palm Trunk Bark under a Low Pressure Densification Technique

Low energy spent coffee grounds briquetting with organic binders for biomass fuel manufacturing

Bean straw briquettes exhibited high quality in terms of density, impact resistance and compressive strength. The impact resistance was above 96% for a particle size up to 4 mm and pressures as low as 100  MPa at a compacting temperature of 80 °C. Reducing the compacting temperature required higher pressure and smaller particles to obtain similar quality briquettes. There were strong interactions between briquetting parameters with the pressure × temperature interaction significantly affecting both density, impact resistance and compressive strength. Adding bean straw significantly improved the mechanical properties of maize cob briquettes produced at low pressure and from larger particle size. From a practical and energy point of view, a temperature of 80 °C should be used for briquetting to reduce energy inputs (pressure and grinding) as this low temperature could be obtained directly from industrial waste heat.

Briquetting characteristics of bean straw-maize cob blend

Mixing different types of biomass materials to achieve better pelletizing properties is a potential method to improve the biomass pelletizing process. In this study, experiments were carried out with a single pellet unit to obtain the pelletizing properties of wheat straw blending with rice straw. The effects of the temperature, pressure, moisture content, blending proportion, and particle size on specific energy consumption, pellet density, and compressive strength were investigated. The experimental data were processed by the methods of regression analysis and variance analysis, and regression models were finally built. On the basis of these models, effects of each factor on specific energy consumption, pellet density, and compressive strength were studied considering the interaction between other factors. Finally, optimal conditions for the pelletizing process presented in this study were obtained.

Pelletizing Properties of Wheat Straw Blending with Rice Straw

This paper discusses the performance of the sawdust and neem powder briquette and its blends. In the first set of experiments, the sawdust and neem powder briquettes are produced by manually operated hydraulic pelletizer in the pressure range of 7–33 MPa. The strength of briquettes is investigated by the shatter index, impact resistance, durability index and water resistance test. The calorific value and water boiling tests have been also conducted to study the performance of the briquettes. The result shows that the neem powder briquette has significantly higher strength, but lower calorific value compared with the sawdust briquette. Also the performance of the briquettes increases with increase in pressure. Thus the maximum pressure of 33 MPa is used for the second set of experiments. In the second set of experiments, the neem powder is blended with the sawdust in the ratio of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100 (Sawdust:Neem powder). The study shows that the sawdust with neem powder as binding agent has considerably increased the strength of the briquette with a little reduction in burning rate.

G. Syed Mohamed Qadir

Papers

An investigation on the performance of sawdust briquette blending with neem powder