THE UTILIZATION OF SAWDUST AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY

Abstract

SUMMARY The usage of biomass for energy can bring a multitu de of social and economic benefits in the rural and urban areas. The lack of access to energy sources limits the quality of life for millions of peoples all over world, especially in p oor countries. This source of energy is inexhaustible, on medium and log range, the costs f or this type of energy being much diminished (almost with 40% in comparation with the conventional energy), knowing that the price for oil is in continuously rising. Romania has a big potential in biomass usage. This potential is evaluated at almost 7.594.000 tep/year (318 x 10 9 MJ/year), representing 19% from the total of prima ry energy sources. The sawdust from the technological process es can be used for burning or for wood briquettes or pellets. The researches were carried out at SC. Industrial Grup, TopliŃa, on a Uniconfort Glogal 300 wood thermal plant. This society is proc essing monthly 9000 m 3 wood logs and the wet sawdust is used in the burning processes. T he dry sawdust is used for pressed briquettes. In order to obtain warm water ant to heat the timbe r dryers, the plant uses 0,390 m 3 /h of sawdust. The plant uses daily a quantity of 9, 3 6 m 3 of sawdust.