Coconuts in Prachuap Kirikhan Rev 1

8/8/2019 Coconuts in Prachuap Kirikhan Rev 1

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Energy Consulting Network APS (Ltd.), Heibergsgade 36, st., DK8000 rhus C, DenmarkCVR- DK 25 32 47 65

Assessment of availability of fibre residue as biomass fuelfrom

Coconuts in Prachuap Kirikhan, Chumporn and the Surat Thani provinces in Thailand.


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Background

The background for this preliminary assessment is to investigate the residues/products from coconut

plantations and coconut handling in the Prachuap Kirikan, Chumporn and Surat Thani provinces:

Whether the residue is enough to cover the demand for fuel to a biomass fired power plant.

Whether it is sustainable to collect, handle and burn the residue for electricity generation

Whether the price of the residue makes the use for electricity production feasible

The background for the calculations of the potential is based on information from

The Tabsakae and Bang Saphan District Agricultural Extension Offices, and Khun Chot

Nguenthang who have kindly supplied all the background information used for preparation of the

tables.

Preliminary Conclusion

The total average daily production of coconuts in the region indicates a possible daily production of

powder residue of around 900 ton.

It is not expected that the total 900-ton can be considered commercially available, but it is believed

possible to collect and utilize around 66%, If the powder starts being used in a larger scale it is

assessed that more suppliers will introduce themselves.

One analysis of the powder indicates a moisture % of 63% and a LHV of 1,498 kcal/kg, (or 6.27

MJ/kg). The content of Potassium (0.38%) and the content of Chlorine (0.43%) might cause

problems in a high temperature and high-pressure boiler. If the powder is burnt with other fuels this

might neutralize the effect from K and Cl. In DK chalk, normally added to fodder, has been added

to small boilers to neutralize negative effects from more different biomass fuels.

As only a minor part of the powder is being used today, there seems to be no reason to fear that the

use as biomass fuel will compete with other use. No negative impact on local farmers and

industries, and only a minimal price increase can be expected when the residue becomes a trade

able product.

Thailand has a political strategy aiming at increased production of oil from oil palm plantations. It

is expected that the cultivated oil palm plantation area is going to be increased by 1.8 million Rai.

As the soil conditions for oil palms are very different from the soil conditions for coconut palm

trees this is not expected to jeopardize investments in utilization of the powder residue.

If a new separate biomass fuelled power plant is established in the region it is recommended to

equip this plant for handling of more different types of biomass.

Production of 1 ton of Fresh Fruit Bunches for production of palm oil produces 1.9 ton of fresh

fronds from the oil palm tree. The yield from an oil palm plantation is 3 ton of FFB/Rai/year or 5.8

ton of fresh fronds/Rai/year. With an increased cultivation area of 1.8 million Rai there will be an

increase in the frond production at 10.4 million ton/year. The LHV of a fresh cut frond (69%

moisture) is 4.5 MJ/kg. The fuel energy content in the fresh fronds from the increased oil palm

plantation area would be 13,000 GWh/year. The Oil Palm fronds might be a good supplementary

fuel for a local biomass fired power plant.



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Compiled and Processed Data

Cultivation Area Rai Coconuts/year

Tapsakae 153,000 183,600,000

Average ton/year Average ton/day

Min. Coconut Production 367,200 1,006

Max. Coconut Production 459,000 1,258Total Fibre production min. 82,620 226

Total Fibre production max. 100,980 277

Fibre waste min. 55,080 151

Fibre waste max. 64,260 176

Inner shell min. 45,900 126

Inner shell max. 55,080 151


BangSaphan 170,000 204,000,000

Average ton/year Average ton/dayMin. Coconut Production 408,000 1,118

Max. Coconut Production 510,000 1,397

Total Fibre production min. 91,800 252




Inner shell min. 51000 140

Inner shell max. 61200 168


Chumporn 200,000 240,000,000


Min. Coconut Production 480,000 1,315

Max. Coconut Production 600,000 1,644

Total Fibre production min. 108,000 296




Inner shell min. 60,000 164

Inner shell max. 72,000 197


Surat Thani 200,000 240,000,000


Min. Coconut Production 480,000 1,315Max. Coconut Production 600,000 1,644Total Fibre production min. 108,000 296Total Fibre production max. 132,000 362



Inner shell min. 60,000 164Inner shell max. 72,000 197



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Summarized data for fibre waste for the investigated provinces

Powder/fibre waste production in ton Minimum/day Maximum/day

Total Prachuap 461 538Total Chumporn 197 230Total Surat Thani 197 230

Total for the region 856 998

Coconut processing mass balance

% Min. kg/nut % Max. kg/nut Price at site

Weight 100.0 2.00 100.00 2.50 1.4 THB/kgInner Shell 12.5 0.25 12.00 0.30 1 THB/kgCoconut water 20.0 0.40 20.00 0.50 5 THB/30 litreMeat 25.0 0.50 24.00 0.60 4 THB/kgTotal Fibre 22.5 0.45 22.00 0.55Fibre used 7.5 0.15 8.00 0.20 5 THB/kgFibre waste 15.0 0.30 14.00 0.35 0.3 THB/kgOuter hard shell 15.0 0.30 16.00 0.40Moisture loss 5.0 0.10 6.00 0.15

Average figures informed on March 05, 2003 and May 26, 2005.The size of coconuts may vary from 2-3 kg/nut, depending on soil, type of crop and water availabilityWe have used a conservative approach and expect the maximum size to be 2.5 kgProduction figures are based on 1200 coconut/Rai/year

Transportation Costs

On top of the price of the waste and the loading costs transportation of the residue to the power

station is needed.

Transportation by Railway

Railway Freight Charge is around 0.7 /km.-tonne

Transportation by ship

Transportation Bang Saphan/Rayong by ship/barge is expected to be around: ?? /tonne

Transportation by road

Unit: /km.-tonne

Distance, km. 10-wheel truck Trailer1 - 100 3.04 1.93101 - 400 1.18 1.22More than 401 1.15 0.93



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Coconut Processing

The major part of the produced coconuts is handled like shown in the diagram below; the

processing of the fibre, which is of special interest in relation to this assessment, is shown on the

next page.



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Handling of coconuts and some of the residues

At the mill the inner nut with shell, meat and coconut

water is removed from the outer shell (husk) and fibre.

This process is performed by manual labour.

After the removal of the outer shell the nuts are

transported by truck for further processing,

The processing can be for coconut oil production, it

can be for production of coconut cream or it can be for

production of shredded dried coconut meat.

Some local processing of the coconuts takes place, but

still a lot of coconuts are sent away for processing inareas as far away as Budda Monthorn in Nakorn

Pathom Province

The fibre (husk) in the outer shell is prepared locally.

The outer shells are prepared in a hammering mill

where fibre and other organic materials are separated.

The fibre fraction is used in more countries for

furniture cushion.

Removal of the outer shell and fibre

from coconuts

Coconut fibre fraction as it looks after preparation in the hammering mill.

The hammering mill is seen in the background.



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Approximately 15 % of the total weight of the coconuts comes out as

powder waste from preparation of fibre in the hammering mill

Baling of the fibre fraction Fibre bales ready for shipment. The

hydraulic press seen in the middle of

the picture is for baling of the powder

fraction



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The powder residue is to

some extent sold as growth

media used in plant

nurseries. But the

production is far above the

demand for the nurseries.

The powder has also beenmixed with pig manure to

increase the fertilizer value

when used as soil

conditioner.

Compressed/baled powder residue from the fibre production

The coconut shell

charcoal is used for

production of activated

carbon. The activated

carbon produced from

coconut shells has a

high quality and isused for gold refining,

for water purification

and in distilleries.

Charcoal production from coconut shells


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Coconuts in Prachuap Kirikhan Rev 1