Production of a Biomass Briquette as a Boiler Fuel for Sustainable Steam Power Generation

Abstract

This work focused on the production of biomass briquette as a boiler fuel for sustainable steam power plant for electricity generation. Most existing power plants rely on fossil fuels, which are nonrenewable and hazardous to the environment. Biomass briquettes made with biomass materials, which are renewable can serve as a sustainable source of fuel for firing a boiler of a power plant. Producing biomass briquettes with improved characteristics is still a big challenge due to varying characteristics of the biomass materials. In this work, the physical, chemical (volatiles matter, Sulphur and ash contents), mechanical and combustion (energy values and burning rate etc.) characteristics of the un-carbonized and carbonized biomass briquettes produced with ground shells, sawdust and waste paper materials were determined to compare their suitability for use as a sustainable boiler fuel for steam production for power plants. The results indicated that the produced briquettes can serve as a viable source of fuel for firing the boiler of a power plant. The energy values of the produced briquettes are higher compared to others available biomass briquettes in the literature. The low Sulphur, moisture and ash contents of the produced briquettes also indicated their suitability for use as a boiler fuel.