Title:
Effect of Starch Addition on Physical Quality and Thermogravimetric Behaviour of Pellets from Different Biomass Raw Materials
Author(s):
Castellano, J.M., Gómez, M., López, J.M., Esteban, L.S., Carrasco, J.E.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Additives are frequently used for raising ash melting temperatures or improving physical quality characteristics of biomass pellets. Starch is in fact the most widely used additive for biomass pellets production Pellets from three different raw materials with five different concentrations of corn starch ranging 0-4% by weight were produced utilising a flat die bench scale press (Khal 14-175) equipped with a die of 24 mm compression and 6 mm diameter holes. Pellets were produced at the same operation conditions to obtain comparable results. Durability and particle density as representative parameters of physical quality were determined for the different batches. In addition, thermogravimetric (TG-DTG) analysis (in air atmosphere) for pellets with minimum (0%) and maximum (4%) concentration of starch was performed. For durability and particle density analysis comparisons, statistical analysis with Statgraphics 5.1 Analysis of Variance (One-Way ANOVA), multiple range and simple regression tests were performed. Results with pine sawdust and poplar, revealed an improvement of the durability when adding starch. The results indicated that positive effects on durability for these two materials are more evident at low starch concentrations. Oats straw pellets did not improve their durability when adding starch. Poplar pellets increased slightly their particle density with starch supplementation while pine sawdust and oats pellets even decreased theirs. Thermogravimetric analysis showed slight differences between batches with 0 and 4% starch for all the raw materials suggesting similar combustion behaviour.
Keywords:
additives, combustion, pelletization, quality, solid biofuel, pelletisation
Topic:
Processes for Fuels from Biomass
Subtopic:
Pellet production from wood and alternative biomass
Event:
19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
OC2.2
Pages:
1862 - 1865
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-55-4
ISBN-10:
88-89407-55-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-OC2.2
Price:
FREE
