Characterization of Briquettes Made from Low- and High-Density Wood Sawdust Mixed with Palm Kernel Shell
نویسندگان
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Elizade University, Ondo State, P.O.BOX: 340271, Nigeria.
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State, P.O.BOX: 220282, Nigeria.
doi
10.30501/jree.2025.465019.1971چکیده
The physical properties and energy contents of briquettes made from locally available low-density wood (LDS) and high-density wood sawdust (HDS), mixed with Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) were investigated. Standards methods were used to carry out proximate and ultimate analysis on the samples which were turned into char through a carbonization process in a fixed bed reactor. The LDS and HDS were mixed with PKS in different proportions and formed into briquettes, and the physical properties were determined using established procedures. The study compared briquettes made from raw samples with briquettes made from carbonized samples. PKS briquette had the highest energy content of 21.55 MJ/kg followed by HDS (18.83 MJ/kg) and then the LDS (18.40 MJ/kg), while carbonized samples had higher energy content than raw samples. As PKS was being added to the two sawdusts, the briquette energy content was increasing. Similarly, the compressed density, relaxed density, compressive strength, and burning rate increased as PKS was added for both raw and carbonized samples, while the relaxation ratio decreased as PKS was added. The results presented show that HDS briquettes will be a better fuel than LDS briquettes, while the effect of adding PKS on the energy content and physical properties proves PKS to be a good material to be added to sawdust to improve its usage as fuel.
