PRETREATMENT OF BAGASSE TO IMPROVE FUEL QUALITY VIA TORREFACTION

Noorfidza Yub HarunMuhammad T Afzal

Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB

CSBE Annual Conference, Brudenell River Resort, Prince Edward Island, July 12-15, 2009

Contents

Project Background1

Objectives2

Methodology3

Results and Discussion4

Conclusion5

INCREASE IN CRUDE OIL

PRICE

PROJECT BACKGROUND

CURRENT ISSUES

GLOBAL WARMING“….. biomass has a great potential today and in the future, since it is renewable, in contrast to the nature of the fossil

fuels”- E. NATARAJAN-

INCREASE IN ENERGY DEMAND

DEPLETION OF FOSSIL

RESOURCES

BIOFUEL

What ? Biofuel is defined as solid, liquid, or gas fuel derived from biomass, theoretically produced from any (biological) carbon source

1

PYROLYSIS

2

GASIFICATION

3

CARBONIZATION

• Heating in absence

of Oxygen

• Types: mild and fast

• Convert biomass

into CO and Hydrogen

• For energy-rich

gaseous product

• Value added

technology

• Upgrade fuels

How?

PYROLYSIS

Pyrolysis

MILD (TORREFACTION)

• slow heating process

• maximum temperature of 300 °C

• solid as main product

FAST

• rapid heating process

• temperature range of 450-600 °C

• liquid and gas as main product

ADVANTAGES

yield solid

uniform product

retain 70% of

initial weight

lower moisture,

but higher energy

content

remove smoke

producing compounds

SUGARCANE PLANTATION IN MALAYSIA

1.2 million tons of Sugarcane produced annually

Plantation area: 34,500A

Abundant bagasse

Biodegradable with calorific value

COMPARISON OF BIOMASS

Calorific ValueCalorific Value

CompositionComposition

OBJECTIVE

To study the improvement of fuel quality in energy content To study the improvement of fuel quality in energy content through torrefaction processthrough torrefaction process

To study the improvement of fuel quality in energy content To study the improvement of fuel quality in energy content through torrefaction processthrough torrefaction process

METHODOLOGY

Preparation of Bagasse sample

Heating at 110oC (24 hours)

Grinding

METHODOLOGY

 

Controlled Parameters Setting

Control Factor

Sample Bagasse

Particle size 425 micron 1.18 mm

Heating rate 35 ºC/min 50 ºC/min

Reaction time 25 minutes 18 minutes

 

 Experimental Run for Torrefaction

METHODOLOGY

Particle size Heating rate Reaction time Temperature

425 micron 35 ºC/min 25 minutes 200 220 240 260 280

425 micron 50 ºC/min 18 minutes 200 220 240 260 280

1.18 mm 35 ºC/min 25 minutes 200 220 240 260 280

1.18 mm 50 ºC/min 18 minutes 200 220 240 260 280

METHODOLOGY

(i) Moisture Content Analysis

(ii) Calorific Value Analysis

(iii) Composition Analysis

(iv) TGA Analysis

RESUTLS & DISCUSSION

Pre-treatment of Bagasse

1. Gradual decrease, then remain constant after two hours2. Weight loss is due to moisture content loss3. Water removed by convection and diffusion4. Remove bound and free water

Weight of sample vs heating time

15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165

570

590

610

630

650

Time (min)

Weight of sample (g)

Gradual decrease

Remain constant

RESUTLS & DISCUSSION Proximate and Elemental Analysis for Bagasse2

Sample Bagasse

Moisture (%) db 2.77

Volatile Matters (%) db 48.13

Ash (%) db 4.6

Carbon, C (%) db 44.5

Hydrogen, H (%) db 5.32

Nitrogen, N (%) db 0.83

Sulfur, S (%) db 0.25

Heating Value, (kJ/kg) db

11756

RESUTLS & DISCUSSION Heating Values (kJ/kg) Obtained for Each Operating Conditions

Fresh Bagasse,

LHV

Particle Size

Heating RateReaction

Time

Torrefaction Temperature

425 m

425 m

425 m

425 m

425 m

11.563

425 m 35 ºC/min 25 min 19.7 19.7 19.8 19.9 19.9

425 m 50 ºC/min 18 min 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7

1.18 mm 35 ºC/min 25 min 13.5 13.7 13.8 13.9 13.9

1.18 mm 50 ºC/min 18 min 14.5 15.7 15.8 15.9 15.9

Calorific Value of Raw Bagasse and Torrified Bagasse at 200oC with Different Particle Sizes

11563

13521

19711

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

Bagasse Torrified(1.18mm)

Torrified(0.425 mm)

Calo

rifi

c V

alu

es (

kJ/k

g))

RESUTLS & DISCUSSION

Calorific Values of Torrified Bagasse at Different Temperature, Particle Size and Reaction Time

0

5

10

15

20

25

200 220 240 260 280

Temperature (degree C)

Cal

orif

ic V

alue

s (M

J/kg

))

0.425mm, 25 min

0.425mm, 18 min

1.18mm, 25 min

1.18, 18 min

RESUTLS & DISCUSSION

Heating rate effects on calorific values of torrified bagasse

19.7 21.3

13.5 14.5

0

5

10

15

20

25

35 50

Heating Rate (oC/min)

Cal

orifi

c V

alue

s (M

J/kg

)

0.425mm

1.18mm

RESUTLS & DISCUSSION

RESUTLS & DISCUSSION

Effect of Temperature on TGA Analysis

Weight loss effects at temperature range from 200-280oC

Weight loss effects at temperature range 200-280oC

70

80

90

100

1 2 3

Temperature (200 - 280oC)

Wei

gh

t L

oss

(%

)

0.425mm, 25min

0.425mm, 18min

1.18mm, 25min

1.18mm 18min

80% weight content remains

CONCLUSIONS

The heating values were increased with temperature and heating rate.

The heating values were decreased with increasing particle size.

Weight of most torrefied bagasse remained at 80%.

Exhibit higher moisture loss while retaining higher energy and initial weight.

Bagasse has a great potential to be used as biofuel after torrefaction.

Questions and Answers