Paper details

Title:

Physical Characterization of Brazilian Agricultural and Forestry Residues Aiming the Production of Energy Pellets

Author(s):

Missagia, B., Narra, S., Guerrero, C., Krautz, H.J., Ay, P.

Document(s):

Abstract:

Brazil is one of the world largest producers in sugar cane, coffee, and rice. These crops result in high amounts of agricultural residues such as rice and coffee husks and sugar cane bagasse. The residues are bulky (low density) in nature. The low density of the residues makes them difficult in transportation and storage. The densification of residues through pelleting processes enhances the storage and transport efficiencies. The present work investigates the implementation of pellet production for Brazilian conditions, taking into account the distribution of crops and residues around the country. This work also discusses the current utilization, socio­economic and environmental implications involved in pelleting the agricultural residues. The physical properties of the residues influence the quantity and quality of materials employed for obtaining suitable pellets. The densification behaviour of single residue samples of coffee, rice husks and sugar cane bagasse have been investigated considering visually noticeable mechanical parameters. Different moisture contents and particle sizes due to grinding of residues were employed. The results demonstrated that all the biomass residues could be compressed in the pelleting device, however presenting different mechanical properties. These results are the first appraisal of a series of foreseen research activities. Since technical and socio­economic data are scarce to allow the analysis of the overall process viability from residues to pellets in Brazil, the challenge is to assess and evaluate the implementation of energy pellet production for the future.

Keywords:

biomass residues, particle size distribution, pellet stability

Topic:

Fuels from biomass

Subtopic:

Economics/environmental effects for solid biofuels production

Event:

18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

OC2.3

Pages:

1570 - 1574

ISBN-13:

978-88-89407-56-1

ISBN-10:

88-89407-56-5

Paper DOI:

10.5071/18thEUBCE2010-OC2.3

Price:

FREE