Evaluation of fodder bean waste utilization for energy purposes

Abstract

The present paper provides the research results of fodder beans, which were grown in the Lithuanian climatic zone, cultivation, harvesting, after harvesting and threshing received waste utilization for energy purposes. Investigations were carried out in the fields and laboratories of the Aleksandras Stulginskis University (ASU) in 2015-2017; the technological-technical means of these plants processing, biofuel pellet production and usage for energy purposes were investigated at the Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety (ASU), and, at the Lithuanian Energy Institute, the pellet physical and thermal properties, when plant pellets were burned - the pellet calorific value, ash content and harmful emissions to the surrounding atmosphere - were determined. The research results of technological-technical parameters of fodder bean waste preparation for pressed (granulated) solid biofuel and produced chaff, and mill quality were presented in justice of the use of the drum chopper and hammer milling equipment preparing mill fractional composition and mill pelleting quality. The physical-mechanical properties of the investigated fodder bean waste pellet moisture content, density, ash content and pellet calorific value were determined and presented. Investigated pellet moisture content ranged from 8.9 % to 9.8 %, and the determined pellet density was very high and reached 1311.40 ± 64.67 kg·m-3 DM (dry matter). The determined ash content varied from 3.9 to 7.0 % and the average dry mass calorific value reached 17.0 MJ·kg-1. Also, harmful emissions, when these fodder bean waste pellets were burned, were investigated. The received concentration of carbon monoxide was 1900-2020 ppm; the quantity of carbon dioxide varied from 4.1 to 5.2 %; emissions of nitrogen oxide varied from 146.1 ppm to 164.1 ppm.