Publication: Analysis of biomass producer gas (BPG) from the carbonized empty fruit bunch (EFB) gasification process
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Date
2023-07-14
Authors
Dharvin a/l Mariappan
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Abstract
The final year project focuses on investigating the combustion characteristics of low-grade producer gas produced from carbonized Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) briquettes through gasification. EFB, a widely available agricultural waste in Malaysia, shows promise as a renewable fuel alternative. However, EFB has certain limitations that make it unsuitable as a reliable fuel source, requiring a pre-treatment process to convert it into biomass briquettes. The pre-treatment process involves several stages. Firstly, the EFB is dried at temperatures of 40-50°C to reduce its moisture content. This enhances its suitability for further processing. Next, the dried EFB undergoes carbonization at 300°C for 1 hour, transforming it into carbonized biomass with higher energy density. After carbonization, the carbonized EFB is mixed with tapioca binder in a ratio of 80:110:20 (EFB: binder: water). The binder helps bind the biomass particles together during the briquetting process. Finally, the mixture is used to make briquettes using densification method. Once the pre-treatment is completed and the EFB briquettes are produced, various analyses and tests are conducted. Proximate analysis assesses the moisture content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, and ash content of the briquettes. Physical analysis examines the compressive strength. Calorific values, indicating the energy content, are also determined. Subsequently, the EFB briquettes are subjected to a gasification process. This involves exposing the briquettes to high temperatures (700°C) for 10 minutes. The resulting gas is analyzed using Gas Chromatography to determine its composition. This analysis provides insights into the suitability of the EFB briquettes as a producer gas. Overall, this project aims to investigate the potential of EFB briquettes as a renewable energy source by studying their combustion characteristics.