Biomass Briquetting and other Biomass Energy Technologies

1. Biomass Briquetting
And
Other Biomass Energy Technologies
Prof. Krishna Raj Shrestha
Research Centre for Applied
Science & Technology
Tribuvan University

2. Primary Energy Sources
• Biomass Energy- Any material of plant or animal origin such as
woody biomass (stems, branches, twigs) non-woody biomass
(leaves, grass) agricultural residues (rice husk, straw, coconut shell)
and animal and human wastes.
• Solar Energy- energy from the sun comes as direct or diffuse
radiation.
• Hydro Energy-Utilizes potential energy from water stored behind
dams, natural heads (water falls) and kinetic energy of streams or
rivers.
• Wind energy- the kinetic energy from the wind is converted by
wind turbines into mechanical energy or electrical energy.
• Geothermal energy- heat flow from the earth’s core to the surface by
hot water. The heat can be used for space heating , drying or
electricity generation.

3. Primary Energy Sources Contd..
• Ocean Energy- includes three energy sources: Wave and tidal,
which both utilize kinetic energy of moving water and Ocean
thermal, which utilizes the heat flow between the warm surface
waters and cool deep waters of tropical oceans.
• Fossil fuels- Coal, crude oil and natural gas. The main
commercial fuels around the world.
• Nuclear Energy- energy released when the nuclei of atoms
(usually uranium) break apart. This energy is utilized by converting it
into electrical energy.

5. Introduction to Biomass
Conversion Technologies
• The word 'Biomass' is a very
comprehensive term comprising of
all forms of matter derived from
biological activities and are present
either on the surface of the soil or at
different depths of vast body of
water, lakes, streams, river, seas,
ocean etc.

6. Introduction
• Biomass refers to all forms of organic matter produced
as products of photosynthesis. Biomass has long served
as one of the primary energy forms utilized by human
being for essential activities aside from nutrition.
Different forms of biomass are
• Forest based products
• Timber, fuel wood, wood chips/shavings, saw dust, a
milling residue, forest waste like leaves, twigs, shrubs,
herbs herbal products, etc.
• Agriculture based products
• Aquatic plants
• Animal dung and human waste.

7. Energy Consumption Situation by fuel
type
79.6%
2.8%
3.9%
12.3%
1.2%
0.1%
376.3 MGJ
Biomass
Grid electricity
Coal
Petroleum
Renewable
Others
Source :WECS Survey
,2011

9. 43% of the energy used by the third world
country is derived from biomass.
2.4 billion people are totally reliant on
biomass fuels for their energy needs.
During Photosynthesis, the Sun's energy converts
water and carbon dioxide into organic matter.
CO2 +2H2O O2+[CH2O]+H2O
About 3.0X1021 Joules of energy is stored in 2X1011 tonnes
of organic matter produced annually by Photosynthesis.
Yet only 14% of the world's energy
comes from biomass.

11. • Cellulose is an organic compound with the
formula (C6H10O5)n, a polysaccharide
consisting of a linear chain of several hundred
to many thousands of β linked D-glucose units.
• Hemicelluloses are polysaccharides in plant
cell walls that have β-(1→4)-linked backbones
with an equatorial configuration.
• Lignin is a complex polymer, the chief
noncarbohydrate constituent of wood, that
binds to cellulose fibers and hardens and
strengthens the cell walls of plants.

12. 2
• There are basically four major routes for
the conversion of biomass to energy and
other useful products. These are
• Physical conversion processes
• Chemical conversion processes
• Bio-chemical conversion processes
• Thermo chemical conversion processes

13. 3
• Physical Conversion techniques are aimed
at physically altering the form of biomass.
• For example,
• 1) Physical Conversion Processes:
• a) the size reduction of biomass by
chipping, pulverising b) drying to reduce
water c) Screening d) densification or
briquetting. The main purpose is to
prepare biomass suitable for combustion.

14. 4
• 2) Chemical Conversion Processes
• Chemical conversion techniques
are aimed at altering the, molecular
structure of biomass. For example, the
acid hydrolysis of cellulose molecules
to glucose followed by fermentation
and distillation.

17. 3) Bio-chemical Conversion Processes
Bio-chemical treatment incorporates the
action of micro-organisms on the biomass for
the production of bio-gas. Examples include
anaerobic digestion, landfilling, composting,
Vermiculture etc.

19. 4) Thermochemical Conversion Processes
a) Combustion
b) Pyrolysis
c) Gasification
d) Liquefaction
a)Combustion: It is the burning of biomass
material in the presence of excess quantity of
air. It is a chemical reaction of the fuel with the
environment including heat and mass transfer.

21. nb) Pyrolysis : It is a physical and chemical
decomposition of organic matter brought
about by heating in the absence of air. The
products of pyrolysis are char, liquid
distillates and gas .

22. nc) Gasification: It is a process in which solid fuels
are broken down by the use of heat with a restricted
supply of air to produce combustible gases which
can be used as a fuel for internal combustion
engines. The gas known as producer gas is a
mixture of
n CO - 15-29%
n H2 - 5-15%
n CO2 - 5-15%
n N2 - 50-65%
n CH4 - few %

24. nd) Liquefaction: It is a high temp and
nhigh-pressure catalytic process
n,which converts biomass to fuel oil.

25. ENERGY SCENARIO IN NEPAL
Total Energy Consumption 376.3 Million GJ (WECS, June,
2014) (1 toe = 41.86GJ)
Per Capita energy consumption 15 GJ
Traditional Energy Sources(8.204m toe) 85.0 %
Fuel Wood 71.06 %
Agri-residues 3.51 %
Animal Dung 5.08%
Petroleum 12.28 %
Coal 3.93 %
Electricity 2.8 %
Renewable 1.22 %

26. Energy Ladder for Cook Stoves

27. Biomass Briquetting
Biomass Briquetting is the densification of loose biomass
materials (agricultural residues, forestry wastes, animal
wastes etc.) to produce compact solid composites of
different sizes called briquettes. Densification is the general
process of compressing the raw materials to a certain shape
or form using a mould and pressure.
Indoor air Pollution
1.9 million people die each year because of indoor air
pollution
( The World Health Report, WHO 2006)

28. Biomass briquetting
Requirements for briquetting
• mould and machine (pressure)
• biomass raw materials
• pressure (P), heat (To
C) and binding agent
Metallic
mold/ die
Raw materials
of briquetting
Briquette
product

29. Why Briquetting?
• Briquetting is applied to improve
•Fuel characteristics
•Combustion properties (Combustion
efficiency)
•Waste utilization
•Easy handling
•Minimize wastage
•Transportation
•Storage

30. The process of briquetting is applied
• to increase bulk density and decrease volume
• to ease handling,
• to ease transportation,
• to manage storage, etc
• to improve fuel characteristics – calorific value,
C, Moisture content, AC, VM
• to improve combustion properties –
T ignition, Period of Ignition, etc
• Increase combustion time & slow release of
energy
Biomass briquetting
30

31. Loose biomass & briquettes
Properties of loose biomass Briquettes Remarks
Physical properties
Big volume (low bulk density) Low volume/compact (high
bulk density)
Packaging is possible
Storage problem Easy to store Indoor storage
Difficult to handle Easy to handle
Difficulty to transport Easy to transport
Fire hazardous Less fire hazards
Limited use Wide use Domestic &
Industrial use
31

32. Combustion properties
Fast combustion Slow combustion Easy to tap the heat
Low thermal efficiency Higher thermal efficiency
Smoke generation high Less smoke /no smoke
High emissions of CO,NOx Low emissions Introduction of
additives
High moisture (reduction in
CV and Ignition
temperature)
Low moisture (change in
CV & Ignition
temperature)
Introduction of
additives
Properties of loose biomass Briquettes Remarks
Loose biomass & briquettes
32

33. Types of biomass –
Forest waste – saw dust, leaves, twigs. Shrubs,
residues of herbs & herbal products
Biomass under high tension lines
Agricultural residues -rice husk, rice straw, rice
bran, wheat husk, wheat straw, wheat bran,
maize cobs, maize stalks, sugarcane leaves,,
Industrial waste/residues - sugarcane
bagasse, coffee husk, tobacco waste, tea waste
Herbal residues

34. Potential Raw Materials
• Agricultural Residue - Rice Husk,
Straw of Paddy, Wheat, Maize etc.,
Pruning of Tea plants, Oil-seed
stalks, Legume stalks.
• Forest Residue - Pine Needles, Saw
Dust, Banmara, Residue from,
Bamboo works,
• Medicinal Plant Residue - Taxus,
Pudina, Cintronella, Lemongrass,
Asuro, Eucalyptus,

35. Two Different ways for biomass
briquetting
Briquetting CarbonizationBiomass
briquettes
Biomass raw
materials
Biocoal or charcoal
briquettes
Charcoal Powder
BriquettingCarbonization
Direct
Different types of Molds,
Different parameters of
briquetting –
Temperature, Pressure,
binders, particle size,
moisture, etc
35

36. Factors effecting briquetting
• Temperature - process is easier (ligno-cellulose
materials show elastic properties & increases the flow),
moldability is better as materials become soft and the product
is better formed when the material is heated
• Pressure - Briquette formation & strength of briquettes is
better with increase in pressure (The intra-molecular bond
becomes easy due to pressure) (breaking strength)
• Moisture content - An optimum quantity of moisture
(enhances binding properties) is necessary for briquetting.
• Size - raw material should be uniform (less then 5 mm in
size)
• Hardgrove Grindabilty Index (HGI) – better when HGI is
high
• Spring back ratio – better when Spring back ratio is little
36

37. • Size of the briquetting material - The size of the briquetting
material both biomass and other briquetting materials should
be uniform in size and preferably below 5mm in size. The
preferable size is 1-5 mm. Grinding and pulverizing of the
material is required if the size is greater. Very fine particles are
also not preferable.
• Low moisture content - Moisture content of briquetting
material should be as low as possible, generally in the range
of 10-15 percent. High moisture content will pose problems in
grinding and briquetting. Excessive energy is required for
drying. Absolutely dry material also cannot form good
briquettes as water sometimes plays the role of a binder.
• Ash content and composition - Biomass residues normally
have much lower ash content normally < 5% by weight,
(except for rice husk with >15% ash) but their ashes have a
higher percentage of alkaline minerals, especially potash.
Factors effecting briquetting
37

39. Ring matrix pelletizing press
Disc matrix pelletizing press
Pelletizer Pellets

40. Schematic diagram of a piston press
Piston press
briquettor
Briquettes from Piston press

41. 3
Production of Ecofuel
Heating and mixing
Briquetting
machine
Cleaning &
Pulverizing
Plastic
waste
Coal
Drying
Grinding
S and Cl fixation agents N removing agents
Eco-Fuel
Briquetting~1 ton/cm2
compression
pressure

42. Roller press briquetting machine from
India
Schematic diagram
Coal briquettes Charcoal briquettes
Roller Press Briquetting technology

47. Mhepi Briquette Udyog, Nawalparasi

48. Mhepi Briquette Udhyog (Taiwan machine)

50. Ganesh Trading Concern

51. Agglomeration Technology
Charcoal particles cluster together under the influence of the binder. As
the cylinder rotates, the particles are drawn to the top; when they come
down again rolling; other particles stick to the agglomerate, which turns
into charcoal ball by the “snow ball effect”.

52. Low Compression Technology
Briquetting Materials
Pulping Briquette
Press
Drying Briquettes Briquette stove

53. Briquetting After Carbonization:
Beehive Briquette

54. Different waste biomass
Lantana camera Mugwort – Tite pati
Banmara Mikania Macrantha
- Banmasa
Pine needles

55. Carbonization Technologies
55
The Earth PitTheThe
The Vertical

56. Carbonization of Loose residues

57. Beehive Kiln

59. Mold with 19 holes
Different Types of Moulds Used in Making Beehive Briquettes
Mold with 17 holes Larger manual mold
Improved hand mold
Chinese manual mold
Mechanical Mold ( 4molds)
Three molds

60. Pedal Press

61. Mechanical Press

65. Manual/Electrical Pelletizes
Peddle press pelletizer Manual pellet machine Electric pellet machine

66. Different types of stoves
Improvement of
Local innovation
for grinding
charcoal

67. New Briquetting molds - Sajilo
Mold
New Sajilo mold with double rodOld mold with one rod
Addition of 2 bolt allows to make18-Feb-15 67

68. Bentonite clay , Potters Clay (no sand no
pebbles): 20-30 % by wt
Other binders
Starch (Wheat, corn flour, etc) - 10 %
Molasses - (5-10%), Pulp black liquor
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), 2-3%
68
Different Types of binder
18-Feb-15

70. New Stoves
Stove for 2 -3 beehive
New Agni stove
– MS plates and
Old Agni stove – GI
sheet
Technical
support to
Himalayan
Naturals
18-Feb-15 70

71. k|of]ux?

72. History of Biobriquetting in Nepal
It is being used since
ancient times
Log type above and
circular one right

73. • Since ancient times – use of animal dung
briquettes
• 1982 – 1st industry Nepal Bio-Extruder in
Thapathali
• 1984/85 - charred RH briquettes research
Mohan D Basnet
• 1986 - Demonstration of Rice husk
briquetting by Fuji Co with support from
Japanese embassy
• ~ 30 industries were registered with DOI
• 1987 - Establ of 6 RH briquetting industries
Development efforts in Biobriquetting

74. • 1989 – research & briquetting of MSW waste
by NESS – Branch of Yagai Kagaku, Sapporo
• 1992-1995 - NAST/JICA project– Introduction
of Coal BHB & Biocoal, technical help to RHB
industries – Tanimec spray welding
• 1995 – Advise to J Sherpa on Roller press
briquetting
• 1997 - Introduction of Beehive Briquette from
India (Shrestha)
• 1999-2002 - Continuation of Biocoal by IHC-
KMTNC – introduction of roller press
• 2000- Introduction of piston press RH
briquetting in Birgunj (Lucknow)
Development efforts in Biobriquetting

75. • 2000-2004 - RETs in ASIA, Biomass
briquetting project of AIT-NAST
• Charcoal pellets – CEEN, NAST,CRT/N
• Briquetting of MSW and RDF - NAST
• 2009 - Technical Cooperation in
Dissemination of Alternative Energy
(Biobriquette) Technologies in Nepal ––
NEPA-NAST-CEEN
Development efforts in Biobriquetting

76. Problems and Constraints in Biobriquetting
Problems related with the rice husk briquetting.
High cost of technology
Wearing of the screw/worm feeder &
muff
High cost and seasonal Availability of
the raw material
Marketing problems of the rice husk
briquettes
Burning/heating devices and ignition
problems
Acceptability of the briquettes - slow
burning & smell

77.  Friability of the briquettes and thus difficult packaging
and transportation
Quality maintenance
Charcoal making
Grinding and mixing of charcoal
Manufacturing mold
Ignition of briquettes
Problems Related with Beehive briquetting

78. Burning Stove

79. The Agni Stove

80. Barbecue Stove

82. Socio-economy- Cost of different fuels Fuel1990ies in
2005
2014 2016
Fuel wood *Rs 2-4/kg *Rs 6-
8/kg
*Rs 10-
15/kg
* Rs
20-
40/kg
Kerosene Rs 4 liter
(Rs 9.5/l-
1996)
Rs
26/lite
r
Rs
103/liter
Rs
75/liter
Rice husk
briquette
Rs 5/kg Rs 8-
15/kg
Rs 25-
30/kg
Rs 30-
35/kg
Beehive
briquette
NA Rs 15/ Rs 25/pc Rs 30-
35/pc
LPG NA Rs
900/c
yl**
Rs1470/c
yl**
Rs
1400/cy
l**
* - only collection cost of wood , ** - LPG in ~15 kg cylinder, but
actual is less, subsidized
82
Effectiveness of different fuels Fuel
N Energy Type Unit
quantity
Price
(Rs/unit Q)
GJ/Uni
t Q
GJ/
Rs
Efficienc
y (%)
Effectiv
e
GJ/Rs
1 Fuel wood 1kg 4.42 0.0167 0.00
38
17 0.0006
2 Electricity Kwh 4.00 0.0036 0.00
09
76 0.0007
3 Gas 1 kg 21.13 0.0452 0.00
21
70 0.0015
4 Kerosene 1liter 9.00 0.0365 0.00 48 0.0020
N.B.* Beehive briquette–current market (2016) price, ** value from
Source: WECS 1995

83. The beehive briquetting technology is simple, pollution free and
eco-friendly. It provides smokeless domestic fuel easily ignitable
with sustained uniform combustion. The use of agro-forestry
residues can replace fuel wood and wood charcoal. Being eco-
friendly with high social relevance and having the potential to
contribute forest conservation, this technology should be widely
promoted throughout Nepal.
CONCLUSION

84. THANK YOU

85. Low Cost Can Stove for RH
Briquettes and Charcoal Pellets
18-Feb-15 85

86. Belonio Stove using Granular Biomass
18-Feb-15 86

87. Institutional Stove with Blower
using RH Briquettes
18-Feb-15 87