ESTIMATING CALORIFIC VALUES OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS FROM VOLATILE AND FIXED SOLIDS

Abstract

The gross calorific value (GCV) is the most important property of any fuel, which shows its energy content. The experimental determination of GCV of solid fuels is a cost intensive process, as it requires exceptional equipment and high skills. To streamline the task, many equations were developed in past for determining GCV from proximate and ultimate analysis of solid fuels. In present study two empirical equations were developed to predict the GCV of lignocellulosic biomass using their volatile solids (VS) and fixed solids (FS) with and without ash contents in specified range of VS (60.84–82.64 %), FS (17.36–39.16 %) and ash (1.59–21.76 %) as percentage dry mass basis. The experimental data was analyzed through multiple regression analysis and least square method. The empirical equations were developed and their mean errors were determined. The developed empirical equations are simpler, economical, less time consuming and are more accurate compare to the equations based on the proximate analysis. Keywords: Calorific Value (CV), Lignocellulosic Biomass, Volatile Solids (VS), Fixed Solids (FS)