Combustion properties of straw briquettes

Abstract

The low bulk density of straw is one of the major barriers, which blocks the collection, handling, transportation and storage. Densification of biomass into briquettes/pellets is a suitable method of increasing the bulk density of biomass. Yet in the process, a tremendous amount of air is ejected from biomass grind, which brings substantial specific variation including combustion property. Among them, combustion property is critical for proper design and operation of burning facilities. Therefore, a series of tests about combustion properties of 75mm diameter corn briquettes were done. First, the combustion process (ignition, full flaming and glowing phases.), precipitation oftar were investigated by a heating stove, then, Some ash sample from the muffle burner was subjected to an ash melting characteristic test.The results show the combustion of briquettes takes more time than that of raw straw from ignition to complete combustion; in order to meet complete combustion in a short time, the raw straw needs more supply air volume than briquettes under the same α value; the temperatureof furnace chamber should been controlled under 900°C, which help to reduce the dark smoke, tar and slag. © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2013.