Abstract
Particle size is a physical property that sometimes limits the quality of briquettes, so it is recommended to use different sizes in mixtures for their manufacture. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of different particle sizes of sawdust in mixtures on some physical, mechanical, and energetic properties of briquettes made from Pinus durangensis sawdust, as well as set the ranges within the appropriate values found to obtain desired values. Three particle sizes were established (large, medium, and small), and 10 mixtures were prepared using different percentages of each particle classification. The particle density, volumetric swelling, compressive strength, impact resistance index (IRI), and gross calorific value of the briquettes were evaluated. For the determination of optimal mixtures, the surface response methodology was used under a three-factor simplex-lattice model. The particle density values were in the range 0.92 to 1.02 g cm−3 and the volumetric swelling was 0.96 to 3.9%. The highest resistance to compression was 37.01 N mm−1, and the IRI was found in the range of 53 to 107%. The gross calorific values were from 19.35 to 21.63 MJ kg−1. The selection of different particle sizes for the mixtures increases the quality of the briquettes.
Highlights
Sawdust and other by-products generated in forest industries are often considered a problem in work areas and woodlands, since disposal can create wildfires during periods of intense heat, generating dust in the air, and block areas in production facilities [1,2].Regarding biomass availability, the genus Pinus in Mexico represents the most important forest resource, reaching 5.0 million m3 year−1 of rolled wood in the last decade [3]
Cruz-Contreras [5] and Nájera-Luna et al [6] calculated that 43.7 ± 5% of residual biomass in the state of Durango comes from a forest industry, of which 7.95% corresponded to sawdust from conifers
The values of particle density and compressive strength increased with the addition of small particle sizes to the mixtures, contrary to the impact resistance index (IRI) and volumetric swelling values, in which no trend was observed
Summary
Sawdust and other by-products generated in forest industries are often considered a problem in work areas and woodlands, since disposal can create wildfires during periods of intense heat, generating dust in the air, and block areas in production facilities [1,2].Regarding biomass availability, the genus Pinus in Mexico represents the most important forest resource, reaching 5.0 million m3 year−1 of rolled wood in the last decade [3]. Cruz-Contreras [5] and Nájera-Luna et al [6] calculated that 43.7 ± 5% of residual biomass in the state of Durango comes from a forest industry, of which 7.95% corresponded to sawdust from conifers. These aforementioned by-products may appear in the form of sawdust, bark, or chips, and are considered biomass with ideal potential for thermal energy production through briquette densification with applications in generators of steam, boilers, and turbines [7]
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