Modelling and Optimization the Best Parameters of Rice Husk Drying and Carbonization Using Taguchi Method with Multi Response Signal to Noise Procedure

Abstract

The goal of this study is to optimize parameters the rice husk drying and carbonization process in terms a calorific value and proximate analysis simultaneously. The independent variables are the drying temperature (A) at 100; 105, or 110 °C; the drying time (B) at 12, 18, or 24 h; the carbonization temperature (C) at 450; 550, or 650 °C; and the carbonization holding time (D) at 60; 90, or 120 mins. The methods of the research are Taguchi and multi-response signal-to-noise(MRSN) procedure. The results show that simultaneous optimization of the drying and carbonization of rice husk in terms of the proximate analysis and calorific value, is determined by using the MRSN procedure, and it yields a result of 2.042. The best parameters are a drying temperature of 100 °C; a drying time of 24 h; a carbonization temperature of 650 °C; and a carbonization holding time of 120 mins. The optimal estimated calorific value, fixed carbon, moisture, volatile matter, and ash content are 5665 cal/g, 83.2, 0.06, 3.1 and 6.86 %, respectively. The resulting models are valid and feasible. The advantages of this work compared to previous studies are models and the simultaneous parameter optimization of multi-response variables, which have different quality characteristics into a single best parameter.