Analysis of Karanja Seed Cake (Pongamia Pinnata) with the focus on Application of Pyrolysis oil as Fuel

Abstract

Fluidized bed pyrolysis experiments have been conducted on a sample of Karanja seed (de-oiled) cake to determine the effects of particle size, pyrolysis temperature and nitrogen gas flow rate on the products yield. The particle size, pyrolysis temperature and nitrogen gas flow rate were varied from 0.175 to 1.6 mm, 400°C to 500°C and 6 LPM to 10 LPM. The maximum oil yield of 65.56 wt % was obtained at a nitrogen gas flow rate of 8 LPM, particle size of 0.5–0.99 mm and pyrolysis temperature of 450°C. The maximum gas yield of 38.20 wt % was obtained at particle size of 0.175–0.5 mm, nitrogen flow rate of 8 LPM and at 500°C. The maximum char yield of 24 wt % was obtained at 400°C. The gas fractions were obtained using gas analyzer. The pyrolysis gas fractions were found to contain hydrocarbon, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Water content of crude bio-oil and upgraded bio-oil was found 56% wt and 40 wt % respectively. The calorific value of up-graded Karanja bio-oil was found to be 16.5 MJ/Kg. Density, Viscosity and pH of upgraded bio-oil were found 1023Kg/m3, 3.25cst and 4.6 respectively. So, bio-oil can be used as a source of fuel if the water content of bio-oil could be reduced. Here an attempt has made to study the feasibility of production of valuable fuels from natural but non edible seed cake (Karanja) by the method of pyrolysis. Here the production of the fuel can serve purpose of alternative fuels as biomass pyrolysis oil has potential to be used as fuel oil or its substitute