NEW PARAMETERS FOR THE FOREST BIOMASS WASTE ECOFIREWOOD MANUFACTURING PROCESS OPTIMIZATION

Abstract

Biomass has a large share in the energy generation matrix, due to the regional economic benefits. This work has as main objective to evaluate the parameters used in the manufacture of briquettes produced with forest residues and the economic engineering for the manufacturer. The forest residues were: wood chips and chips of Eucalyptus spp. and barks of Pinus taeda. The evaluations were the chemical characterization of forest residues and the costs involved in the briquetting process. The forest residues presented extractive chemical composition and lignin. The production costs of the briquettes were affected mainly by the equipment, being the Pinus taeda barks the one that presented higher production cost. However, the production costs obtained in this study are approximately 20% lower than the production costs using traditional methods for forest firewood. The energy value from biomass allows the reduction of the dependence of energy, which can be used for the generation of steam or electricity, for subsistence. A fact for energy conversion is to evaluate the material moisture. It is suitable to burn residues with moisture between 45 to 55%. The consumed electric energy is important to evaluate the total costs. The energy required depends on the quality of raw material and the system employed. Forest residues is an important source for eco firewood production, contributing to energy generation and decreasing of the solid waste stored at the company. In this way, the new parameters for briquetting biomass forest wastes shown in this work, which is an important stage of the process, make economically viable and environmentally suitable the eco firewood production.