BRIQUETTING-MACHINE

CONTENTS
S. No. Title Page No.
Abstract
List of Figures
List of tables
1. Introduction 1-8
1.1. Background of the study 1
1.2. Objectives 8
2. Literature Review 9-20
2.1. Briquetting Process 9
2.2. Historical Background of Briquetting Process 10
2.3. Advantages of briquette production: 10
2.3.1. Bio-Coal Briquettes 11
2.3.2. Characteristics of Bio-Coal Briquettes 12
2.3.3. Advantages of bio-coal briquettes: 13
2.3.4. Production Process of Bio-Coal Briquette 14
2.3.5. Preparation of other types of Briquettes 15
2.4. Coal 15
2.5. Biomass Resources of Nigeria 16
2.5.1. Bio-coal briquette 16
2.5.2. Charcoal 16
2.6. Starches as a Binder 17
2.6.1. Binders used in the production of bio-coal briquettes 17
2.6.2. Calcium Hydroxide 18
2.6.3. Environmental issues. 18
2.6.4. Groundnut shell as an appropriate residue for the production
of bio-coal briquette. 19
2.6.5. Analysis of groundnut shell 20
2.6.6. Uses of groundnut shell. 20
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS 21-30
3.1. Use Of Agricultural Waste Instead Of Petroleum In A Lime
Kiln 21
3.1.1. Technical description 21
3.1.2. Solid fuel from the fields: coal from agricultural waste 22
3.2. Binder preparations and mixing 23
3.3. Design considerations 24
3.4. Operation and Cost of the Machine 27

3.5. Performance Evaluation 27
3.5.1. Physical Properties Determination 28
3.5.2. Combustion Properties Determination 29
3.6. Environmental considerations 30
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 31-
4.1. Physical and Combustion Properties of Sawdust Briquette 32
4.2. Optimum Sawdust-Binder Blend 34
5. Conclusion 35
6. REFERENCES 39

ABSTRACT
Deforestation and firewood shortage are growing problems in many countries of the South.
The energy and fuel shortage in these countries is not only a problem of the rural areas but also
of the densely populated poor margins of medium and large cities. While the traditional types
of fuel (fire wood and charcoal) become more and more exhausted, modern fuels (paraffin,
coal, mineral oil, electricity) are not affordable for the majority of the poor. At the same time,
the generation of organic waste in urban areas poses a growing challenge to the local waste
management system. Organic waste (30-50% of the total waste) is not only a problem because
of its large volume but also because it causes bio-chemical reactions on landfill sites leading to
the formation of landfill gas (methane) and leachates that pollute atmosphere and groundwater.
In rural areas, agricultural residues (straw, rice and coffee husks, coconut and groundnut shells,
bagasse, coir dust, etc.) are generated in large volumes and often not utilised at all. Both urban
and rural organic residues and wastes could be used as alternative domestic fuel if offered in
an acceptable form and at a reasonable price. Briquetting and carbonisation are common
processes to transfer the organic waste into appropriate domestic fuel.
In this study, an appropriate commercial biomass briquetting machine suitable for use in rural
communities was designed and constructed, and the performance evaluation carried out using
sawdust. The physical and combustion properties of the briquette were determined at varying
biomass-binder ratios of 100:15, 100:25, 100:35 and 100:45 using cassava starch as the binding
agent. Both the physical and combustion properties of the briquette were significantly affected
by the binder level (P < 0.05). The optimum biomass-binder ratio on the basis of the
compressed density was attained at the 100:25 blending ratio having a compressed density of
0.7269g/cm3 and a heating value of 27.17MJKg-1 while the optimum blending ratio on the basis
of the heating value was attained at the 100:35 blending ratio with a compressed density of
0.7028g/cm3. It was concluded that the heating values at the optimum biomass-binder ratios
were sufficient to produce heat required for household cooking and small scale industrial
cottage applications. The biomass briquetting machine had a production capacity of about
43kg/hr.
Agro waste manual briquetting machine have been designed and fabricated using locally
available materials. The machine principal parts are made of frame, compaction chamber and
base plate. Compaction chamber contains nine (9) moulding dies each having transmission rod,
piston and ejector. The machine can produce nine (9) briquettes at a time of about 50mm length
and 28mm diameter. The compaction pressure and force was determined to be 17.5 KN/m2
and 215.3N respectively. It is hoped that machine will be very useful for small and medium
scale briquette manufacturers.

List of Figures
S. No. Figure details Page no.
Figure 1. The basic flow process for Bio-Coal production 14
Figure 2. Modelled design in Auto CAD Isometric view of Briquetting machine 26
Figure 3. Briquette Moulding Machine 26
Figure 4. Inserting raw material in Briquetting machine 27
Figure 5. Some produced Briquette 30
Figure 6. Expansion in the height of sawdust briquette with time 33

List of Tables
S. No. Table Details Page No.
Table 1. Chemical composition of groundnut shell. 20
Table 2. Production time components of the briquetting machine 31