Common reed briquetting modeling

Abstract

Removal of common reeds (Phragmites Australis) from the lake shorelines is also the lake restoration action and improving the water quality. The use of common reed as biomass for the production of solid fuels can significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels. Common reed is a freely available resource in the overgrown lakes of Latvia. Common reed solid biofuel production technology after grinding provides briquetting to required density. The purpose of the work is theoretically to determine the resistance characteristic for the pressing mechanism modelling. In laboratory experiments briquettes were produced from grinded common reed particles. The main tasks of the laboratory experiments were determination of the compacting force - displacement characteristics for compacting of different size common reed particles. On the basis of the results of the compacting experiments non-linear particle compression resistance characteristic with Mathcad programme was developed. The mechanical model contains a spring incorporated in the rhomboid mechanism. Comparing the results of experiments and modelling the maximal difference 4.96 % (screen size 1.5 mm), 1.98 % (screen size 6 mm), 8.45 % (screen size 12 mm) and 6.94 % (screen size 20 mm) was determined.