Biomass gasification of candlenut shell and coconut coir with the updraft gasifier method being alternative fuel

Abstract

Lately, the use of fossil fuels has caused many environmental problems such as global warming as a result of greenhouse gas emissions, which has led to increased fuel prices and erratic availability. These encouraged the interest of researchers to find alternative fossil fuels sourced from renewable raw materials. Candlenut shells and coconut fiber are high-potential plantation and agricultural commodities in East Nusa Tenggara. Statistical data shows that candlenut production reached 1,262.38 tons, while coconut reached 68,496 tons in 2016. The by-products of shells and coir can be used as a good raw material for the gasification process into alternative fuels. One of the established gasification processes in the industry is updraft gasifier. This research has varied the use of candlenut shells and coconut coir in the range of 0-100% to study the characteristics of its gasification products. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of variations of candlenut shells and coconut coir on syngas ignition time; the effective time of the gasification process, remaining charcoal and ash, the efficiency of the gasification process and to find out the best variation between candlenut shells and coconut fiber on gas products (syngas) updraft gasifier. The results obtained indicate that the process of gasification of candlenut shells and coconut coir using updraft gasifier was very influential at the time of ignition of syngas, and the effective time of gasification. The highest syngas ignition time was obtained in a variation of 50% candlenut and 50% coconut husk which was 43.14 minutes and the lowest was a variation of 0% shells and 100% coconut husk which was 39.75 minutes. While the highest effective time of the gasification process was obtained by variations of 100% candlenut and 0% coconut husk which was 33.13 minutes and the lowest in variations of 75% shells and 25% coconut husk which was 37.40 minutes. The best gasification process was shown in a variation of 50% candlenut shells and 50% coconut husk.