Effect of the Particle Size on Compaction of Elephant Grass Biomass

Abstract

Due to its high productivity and easy adaptation to different ecosystems, forage grass Pinnisetum purpureum, popularly known as elephant grass, has a potential use for biomass production. The objective of work was to verify the influence of the increase of elephant grass biomass density on the briquetting process as a function of two grain sizes of the material. After grinding and sieve analysis, the material was divided into two groups: (i) a portion between 61 and 200 mesh, and (ii) a fraction between 21 and 60 mesh. The apparent density and diametral compression test of the briquettes were studied as a function of the granulometry of the material. The results showed the best condition for the production of elephant grass briquettes occurred with the granulometry between 61 and 200 mesh producing briquettes with higher density and mechanical resistance when compared to briquettes produced with a particle size between 21 and 60 mesh.Keywords: Bulk density; strength; briquette. ResumoDevido a sua alta produtividade e fácil adaptação aos diversos ecossistemas, a gramínea forrageira Pinnisetum purpureum, conhecida popularmente por capim elefante, possui potencial para a produção de biomassa. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar a influência do aumento da densidade da biomassa do capim elefante no processo de briquetagem em função de duas granulometrias do material. Após moagem e análise granulométrica, o material foi dividido em dois grupos, a saber: (i) uma porção entre 61 e 200 mesh e (ii) uma fração entre 21 e 60 mesh. A densidade aparente e o ensaio de compressão diametral dos briquetes foram estudados em função da granulometria do material. Os resultados mostraram que a melhor condição para a produção de briquetes de capim elefante ocorreu empregando-se a granulometria entre 61 e 200 mesh, uma vez que produziram briquetes mais densos e com resistência mecânica maior se comparada aos briquetes produzidos com granulometria entre 21 e 60 mesh. Palavras-chave:Densidade; resistência; briquete.

Experimental Study on the Cutting Process of Single Triticale Straws

“…Recently, with the increase in the utilization of biofuel as an energy source, there has been rapid development of the machinery and devices necessary to carry out this process. In order to design a device that allows for obtaining biofuel with good energy characteristics, one needs to examine the characteristics of the briquette in order to determine the variables for the compaction process as well as the degree of fragmentation of the biomass for compaction [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Therefore, biomass cutting and fragmentation is an important process stage in the production of biofuel and food.…”