Abstract
The study estimated the amount of energy required for grinding palm kernel shell and groundnut shell using laboratory hammer mill and also characterize their ground physical properties. The material type and hammer mill screen aperture significantly influenced the energy requirement for grinding the two materials. For a given screen aperture size, groundnut shell consumed more energy than palm kernel shell. The energy relationship with hammer mill screen exhibited a second order polynomial form. Within the same hammer mill screen aperture range, the energy requirements for palm kernel and groundnut shell were considerably lower than most grass based biomass or straw. The bulk and particle density of groundnut shell decreased with increased geometric mean diameter while that of palm kernel shell increased with geometric mean. The two materials ground exhibited a lognormal particle size distribution at hammer mill screen of 5 and 3 mm, while 0.8 mm screen aperture exhibited a normal size distribution. The total particle and surface area estimate in a charge was sensitive to the screen sizes. Energy equations: Ratzinger’s, Kicks and Bond’s were used to investigate the results of the biomass comminution with Ratzinger’s equations showing a higher R2 value for palm kernel shell while Kick’s equation showed a higher R2 value for groundnut shell. Key words: Milling, energy consumption, groundnut shell, palm kernel shell, grinding.
Highlights
The thermo-chemical treatment step in the biomass conversion process of plant materials or crop residues requires preliminarily size reduction to increase gas yield and reaction rates (Repellin et al, 2001)
The specific energy consumption for grinding palm kernel shell with the hammer mill screen sizes is inversely related to the screen aperture
Where: E = specific energy consumption, x = the aperture sizes, t = time for grinding for one test run, a and b are regression coefficients shown in Table 1; c is constant
Summary
The thermo-chemical treatment step in the biomass conversion process of plant materials or crop residues requires preliminarily size reduction to increase gas yield and reaction rates (Repellin et al, 2001). Better digestibility and increased efficiency of biomass in biorefineries has been reported when they are subjected to size reduction than when used in bales bales (Wu et al, 2007; Hess et al, 2008). In the compaction process during densification, particle size reduction will increase the inter-particle bonding by increasing the particle surface area, pore sizes and contact points (Mani et al, 2004).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
