Investigation of mechanical properties of briquette product of sawdust-charcoal as a potential domestic energy source

Tk Ajiboye,A.O.Y Anibijuwon,S Abdulkareem

doi:10.4314/jasem.v20i4.34

Abstract

This research investigated the relaxed densities of biomass briquettes produced from combination of sawdust and charcoal. Cassava starch gel and orange waste were used as binder for briquetting. Five sizes; 0.2 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm and mixing ratios 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, 80:20 and 90:10 of biomass materials, sawdust and charcoal were used with 16.6% binder. The ignition time, water boiling test, afterglow time and shattered index of the briquettes were analyzed. Descriptive tools were used to determine the optimum sizes and mixing ratios for effective production of briquette biomass. The results showed that the relax density of 663.33 kg/m3 and 589.31 kg/m3 were obtained for Cassava starch gel binder and orange waste at size 1.0 mm and mixing ratio of 90:10 while Ignition time of 12 sec and 19 sec were obtained for cassava starch gel and orange waste at size 0.2 mm and mixing ratio 50:50 respectively. Also water boiling time of 18.05 minutes and 15.00 minutes were obtained for cassava starch gel and orange waste at size 0.2 mm and mixing ratio 50:50 while the afterglow time of 321.00 sec and 318.00 sec at size 0.2 mm and mixing ratio 60:40 were obtained for cassava starch gel and orange waste respectively. The highest retention of shattered index of 98.21% and 96.71% were respectively recorded for cassava starch gel and orange waste at size 0.2 mm and mixing ratio 50:50.Keywords: Biomass, Terminalia superb, Briquette, Cassava starch gel, Orange wastes, Afterglow time, Shattered index.

Highlights

Forests and other tree systems in Africa constitute an important component of household livelihood (Sene, E.H., 2000)
Produced with smaller particle size; the relaxed density increases with an increase in the ratio of Effects of binders, mixing ratios and sizes on ignition sawdust and decrease in ratio of charcoal using time: Figures 11 and 12 show the results of ignition sample A and the same happens when sample B was time for sample A and sample B
This study examined the effect of particle sizes, mixing ratios and binders on relaxed density, ignition time, water boiling, afterglow time and shattered index of fuel briquettes

Summary

Introduction

Forests and other tree systems in Africa constitute an important component of household livelihood (Sene, E.H., 2000). It has a potential to substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions since nearly zero net gain CO2 can be achieved when sustainable production and utilization are implemented (Sajjakulnukit B, etal, 2005). Some agricultural wastes such as woodchips can be directly utilized as fuels. The majority of them are bulky, uneven, fluffy and dusty They have low energy density and high moisture content as compared to fossil type fuels. It is unfortunate that farmers still practice “slash–andburn” agriculture These agricultural wastes which were encounter during clearing of land for farming or during processing of agricultural produce are usually burnt off. The effect of particle size, mixing ratios and binder on relaxed density, ignition time, water boiling time, afterglow time and shattering index was investigated

Methods

Results

Conclusion