Empirical Studies on Biomass Briquette Production: A Literature Review

Abstract

The densification of raw material into fuel briquettes is one of the routes to convert biomass into energy. This method provides uniformity to the solid fuel, better physical and energy properties, facilitating its storage and transport, in addition to more homogeneous combustion. Given the importance of these characteristics, this work presents a literature review, emphasizing the experimental levels of the variables of the briquetting process, as well as on the most relevant quality parameters for obtaining briquettes. We also carry out a survey of the main technologies used in the production of briquettes, as well as the experimental methodologies and statistical analysis used in the planning and validation of processes. It was observed among the studies that the raw material granulometry, followed by pressure, initial moisture, compaction time and binder are the most used process variables for the production of briquettes. Other factors, such as the proportion of biomass, process temperature and thermal pre-treatments are used to obtain greater energetic and physical responses. Among the works, divergences were observed regarding the relevance and interaction of some process variables on the quality variables of the briquettes, indicating the need for the experiments to be mathematically modeled.

A Review of Biomass Briquette Binders and Quality Parameters

“…A number of densification systems are employed in the production of briquettes and they include hydraulic piston presses, mechanical piston and ram presses, roller presses, manual presses, and screw extruders [10,11]. A detailed review of biomass briquette production processes and the various accompanying briquetting machines has recently been carried out [12]. While biomass pellets (Figure 1b) are also products of the densification process, they are relatively smaller compared to briquettes.…”

“…This data is based on the location of the authors of the publications. A number of studies have broadly reviewed different aspects of densification technology, including production processes and briquetting machines [12], devices used for the measurement of various solid fuel properties [7], biomass feedstock, processing characteristics, and the economics of densifying biomass [16], briquetting process variables and combustion [11], and the economics of biomass briquetting [17]. However, recent reviews on the current state of research on biomass briquette binders and briquette quality parameters is lacking in the literature.…”

Statistical Appreciation of Pellets Quality for Measured Characteristics

“…The special levels S3 and S4 are used when it is possible to analyse only small herd samples, but relatively high risks must be tolerated, due to the less consistent information provided by the sample. In the general mode, the choice can be graded, i.e., first the value of AQL is chosen, then the actual sample and only in the last place the limit quality (LQ) [11][12][13][14][15].…”

Dispersed Power Production in Terms of the Potential of Briquettes Made from Straw and Willow as Renewable Sources of Energy

“…One of the key advantages of briquettes is that they are produced naturally and they do not produce any harmful substances to the environment. As indicated by Marreiro et al in 2021 [ 6 ], briquetting ensures solid fuel homogeneity, it facilitates more homogenous burning, it enhances physical and energetic properties, and also facilitates its transport and storage. In addition, biomass briquetting can lower the risk of fires [ 7 ].…”

“…An extensive literature review of the process of briquetting was presented by Marreiro et al in 2021 [ 6 ]. The authors analysed the results of empirical studies in terms of briquetting process variables and quality parameters of briquette production.…”