Abstract
This study investigated the combustion related properties of briquette for energy generation. Wood briquettes were successfully produced from air-dried <i>sawdust of three wood species (Terminalia superba, Triplochiton scleroxylon and Afzelia africana)</i> that were collected from Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) sawmill. The briquettes were produced at 66% weight of binder to wood. Combustion related properties of the briquettes viz: heating value, water boiling test, percentage volatile matter, percentage ash content and percentage fixed carbon were determined. The results show that briquettes made from <i>Afezila africana</i> boiled waterfaster than others as the result ranged from 3:59 min:sec for <i>Afezila Africana</i> to 5.02 min:sec for <i>Triplochiton scleroxylon</i>. Briquettes produced from <i>Afezila africana</i> has the highest calorific value <i>of 32268.50 kcal/kg followed by Terminalia superba with 26267.16 kcal/kg while Triplochiton scleroxylon</i> has the least calorific value. The analysis of variance showed that there was significant difference in % fixed carbon, % ash content and the heat of combustion. The use of wood residue for briquette production should be encouraged this would provide employment for the people and reduce deforestation by optimizing efficient use of exploited trees.
Highlights
IntroductionRenewable source of energy is the fastest-growing source of world energy, withconsumption increasing by 3.0 percent per year [1]
After air-drying, the briquettes were subjected to test for calorific value of product in kcal/g; the percentage ash content of the briquette was determined by the weight of Ash divided by the original weight of sample in percentage; the percentage volatile matter was determined with 2g of pulverized sample of selected wood species which was weighed into crucible before transferred into muffle furnace at 550°C
The percentage ash content ranged from 1.93% to 2.98% for Terminalia superba with least mean percentage ash content which is a good combustion characteristic and Triplochiton scleroxylon respectively
Summary
Renewable source of energy is the fastest-growing source of world energy, withconsumption increasing by 3.0 percent per year [1]. The other sources of energy include natural gas 5.2%, hydroelectricity 3.1%, and petroleum products 41.3% [3].As further researches are conducted for a futuristic possible global energy crisis resulting from total exhaustion of fossil energy resources and global warming due to high carbon emission, decliningavailability of fuel wood and menace of desertification and deforestation drew our attention to the need to consider alternative sources of energy for industrial, domestic and cottage level industrial use Such energy sources should be renewable and should be accessible to low income class of society [4]
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