Abstract
As the largest amount of biomass residues produced from the palm oil industry, the oil palm frond (OPF) is a promising solid fuel resource for gasification. However, the difficulty in processing OPF into solid fuel may affect the solid fuel production rate and consequently the gasifier operation. To ensure a continuous gasifier operation unaffected by the shortage of OPF fuel, empty fruit bunch (EFB), palm mesocarp fiber (PMF) and palm kernel shell (PKS) were introduced as a pairing fuel with OPF for co-gasification. The potentials of the fuel mixes and the effects of the fuel blending ratio on syngas higher heating value, specific syngas yield, carbon conversion efficiency and cold gas efficiency were studied. The experiments concluded that all fuel mixes of all blending ratios satisfied all the syngas quality indicator requirements and that all the tested fuel mixes can be utilized for downdraft co-gasification to produce results similar to the downdraft gasification of 100% OPF.
Highlights
Malaysia is currently the world’s second largest palm oil producer, accounting for 39% of world palm oil production and 44% of world palm oil export
There are over 5.4 million hectares of oil palm plantation and more than 400 palm oil mills in the country, with annual production and processing capacities of more than 90 million tons of fresh fruit bunch (FFB) [1,2]
oil palm trunks (OPT) are only produced during replanting season, while oil palm fronds (OPF) are produced during FFB harvesting and regular maintenance and are available throughout the year
Summary
Malaysia is currently the world’s second largest palm oil producer, accounting for 39% of world palm oil production and 44% of world palm oil export. There are over 5.4 million hectares of oil palm plantation and more than 400 palm oil mills in the country, with annual production and processing capacities of more than 90 million tons of fresh fruit bunch (FFB) [1,2]. In 2014, the country’s palm oil industry produced around 19.96 million tons of CPO [4], and the biomass residues generated were estimated to be more than 180 million tons on a wet basis. Oil palm plantation produces two types of residues: oil palm trunks (OPT) and oil palm fronds (OPF). Palm oil mill produces three types of residues on a daily basis as a result of the CPO extraction processes from the FFB: empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm mesocarp fiber (PMF) and palm kernel shell (PKS).
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