Pellet Mill Fixed Dies Type for Production of Solid Fuel Pellets from Acacia mangium Bark

Abstract

Biomass pellet or pellets are bio solid fuel made from compacted sawdust and other bio waste. Pelletized processes consist of three major unit operations, i.e. drying, size reduction (grinding), and densification. Increasing biomass density needs a machine, to produce pellet with best quality. Pellet mill or pelletization machine in Indonesia still expensive because due to import duties, difficult maintenance process, and suitable for small and medium enterprise or industry. The purpose of this study was to design a prototype pellet mill integrated size reduction that encompasses size reduction as well as extrusion using the fixed dies type pelletizing method, and fabricated using locally available construction materials. Main features of the machine are hopper, gearbox, electric motor (2.23 kW, 1 phase, 3 hp rating), axial shaft, roller, and fixed dies. Material used in this research was A.mangium bark and the results of this study indicated the pellet mill has been able to produce pellets with a throughput capacity of 7.70 kg/h, with rotation speed 68.98 rpm, and load of machine range 0.44-0.51 kW.