Performance of Steam Production by Biomass Combustor for Agro-industry

Abstract

This research paper aims to particularly raise the issue how optimization of steam production produced by a biomass combustor is regarded to agricultural industry, for the produced steam will consequently be applied to sterilization or even drying process. The most optimal level of steam production will be explored as to how to optimally achieve flow rate of air, rate of fuel input, the rate of steam production, and steam production in compliance with the given 100 kg/h capacity and the required temperature of between 90-100 O C . Biomass steam production incorporates 3 major parts: 1) biomass combustor, 2) heat exchanger system (coiled tube), and 3) control system, administered the whole process, located at the School of Renewable Energy Technology, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok. A combustion system was tested through the implementation of eucalyptus charcoal as the main source of energy. The research finding revealed that the combustion system could generate steam at 100 kg/h which consumed eucalyptus charcoal at the temperature value of Heating value of fuel (HHV) was 30.0 MJ/kg. This was conducted within the biomass combustor, engaged with a coil tube, at the flow rate of 172.8 kg/h, the value of feed rate of fuel at 15 kg/h, and a steam production rate at 100 kg/h respectively. The efficiency of steam production was at 58.25 %. When the taken result was brought to compare with a mathematical model with experiment result of steam production, it was found out that the error value was 0.9997 which could usefully be used to predict steam production in the system. With reference to the economical benefit, when compared to steam production produced by LPG fuel at 100 kg/h production rate, it was obvious that steam production generated by biomass could redeem the spent investing cost with less than one year. This would greatly be interesting and applicable to industry particularly agriculture that steam production by biomass combustor with helical coiled boiler technique will be used to energy backup for drying system. However steam production will be supported drying system after utilization in another thermal process the temperature not more than 100 O C within industrial or industrial house hold.

Framework to Assess Eco-Efficiency Improvement: Case Study of a Meat Production Industry

“…For the alternative fuel integration, the former observation is not verified, although the considerable (but not significant) higher potential is associated to biomass use over biogas and this may be attributed to route for the utilisation of each of these energy sources. While estimated efficiencies of biogas for electricity production are o 8%-54% (Hakawati et al, 2017), steam production from biomass is associated to 58.25% efficiencies (Prasit and Maneechot, 2014). This may be considered roughly proportional to the potentials presented in Table 6.…”