Assessment of Cow Dung Pellets as a Renewable Solid Fuel in Direct Combustion Technologies

Abstract

Recently, biomass application as a renewable energy source is increasing worldwide. However, its availability differs in dependence on the location and climate, therefore, agricultural residues as cow dung (CD) are being considered to supply heat and/or power installation. This paper aims at a wide evaluation of CD fuel properties and its prospect to apply in the form of pellets to direct combustion installations. Therefore, the proximate, ultimate composition and calorific value were analyzed, then pelletization and combustion tests were performed, and the ash characteristics were tested. It was found that CD is a promising source of bioenergy in terms of LHV (16.34 MJ·kg−1), carbon (44.24%), and fixed carbon (18.33%) content. During pelletization, CD showed high compaction properties and at a moisture content of 18%, and the received pellets’ bulk density reached ca. 470 kg·m−3with kinetic durability of 98.7%. While combustion, in a fixed grate 25 kW boiler, high emissions of CO, SO2, NO, and HCl were observed. The future energy sector might be based on biomass and this work shows a novel approach of CD pellets as a potential source of renewable energy available wherever cattle production is located.

Pelletization of Biomass Feedstocks: Effect of Moisture Content, Particle Size and a Binder on Characteristics of Biomass Pellets

“…HHV of 23.36 MJ/kg and 22.88 MJ/kg for FRPs made from particles 0.25-0.5 and 0.5-1.41 mm were found very close to each other. HHV of corresponding pellets were found similar to the previous studies, for example 22.93 MJ/kg for Caragana torrefied pellets[46], 16.34 for cow dung pellets[64] and 17.5-22.65 MJ/kg for torrefied pellets, depending on feedstock type and composition[65][66][67]. For SPs, HHV of 20.6 MJ/kg and 21.21 MJ/kg were found for particles of 0.25-0.5 and 0.5-1.41 mm, respectively.…”

Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Content in Ash from Solid Fuel Combustion in Low-Power Boilers

“…The combustion of solid fuels for the purpose of obtaining testing material, i.e., fly ash, was done three times in the Low-Emission Technology lab stand, which was described by Szmajda at al. [16]. In Figure 1, a pictorial diagram of obtaining the testing material and the analytic methodology of determining the PAH compounds in the fly ash samples are presented.…”

Properties of Animal-Origin Ash—A Valuable Material for Circular Economy

“…Animal-origin biomass is mainly a solid animal waste (manure) that is produced during animal breeding. Various types of animal biomass were under investigation when it comes to its energy potential and usability: cattle manure [1,2], poultry litter [3,4], turkey litter [5], goat dung [6], piggery waste [7,8], horse dung [9], deer manure [10] or even elephant dung [11].…”

“…Animal-origin biomass, similarly to plant-origin biomass and lignite, may be used in a processed form, for example, torrefied or as pellets and briquets [20][21][22]. Szymajda et al [1] determined the quality of cow manure pellets (kinetic durability, bulk density and particle density), as well as flue gas composition during their combustion.…”