Development of an Appropriate Briquetting Machine for Use in Rural Communities
Obi O. F.1, Akubuo C. O.2, Okonkwo W. I.3
1Obi O F., Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering Department, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria.
2Akubuo C.O, Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering Department, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria.
3Okonkwo W.I., Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering Department, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria.
Manuscript received on March 23, 2013. | Revised Manuscript received on April 18, 2013. | Manuscript published on April 30, 2013. | PP: 578-582 | Volume-2, Issue-4, April 2013. | Retrieval Number: D1465042413/2013©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: In this study, an appropriate commercial biomass briquetting machine suitable for use in rural communities was designed and constructed, and the performance evaluation carried out using sawdust. The physical and combustion properties of the briquette were determined at varying biomass-binder ratios of 100:15, 100:25, 100:35 and 100:45 using cassava starch as the binding agent. Both the physical and combustion properties of the briquette were significantly affected by the binder level (P < 0.05). The optimum biomass-binder ratio on the basis of the compressed density was attained at the 100:25 blending ratio having a compressed density of 0.7269g,cm3 and a heating value of 27.17MJKg-1 while the optimum blending ratio on the basis of the heating value was attained at the 100:35 blending ratio with a compressed density of 0.7028g,cm3 . It was concluded that the heating values at the optimum biomass-binder ratios were sufficient to produce heat required for household cooking and small scale industrial cottage applications. The biomass briquetting machine had a production capacity of about 43kg,hr.
Keywords: Appropriate technology, biomass, briquetting, binder level.