Tsietsi Jefrey Pilusa

Eco-fuel Briquettes: Process Parameters and Conditions for Batch Production of Eco-fuel Briquettes Tsietsi Jefrey Pilusa

In this work the various processing stages such as briquetting, drying, combustion and flue gas emissions were investigated in order to evaluate the socio economic viability of batch production of eco fuel briquettes from biomass waste material. A set of fuel briquettes made from a mixture of 32 w/w% spent coffee grounds,23 w/w% coal fines, 11 w/w% saw dust, 18 w/w % mielie husks,10w/w% waste paper and 6w/w% pulp contaminated water were investigated. A drying system that utilizes produced briquettes as a heating medium is proposed, and here drying will be affected over a refractory brick fireplace by means of convection and radiation. A basic model was set up to include radiation with the convection to predict a drying time of 4.8 hours. The combustion of briquettes was investigated using a ceramic stove linked to the testo Portable Emission Analyzer System. This enabled an air-to-fuel ratio of 1.44 and a burning rate of 2g per minute to be established. The energy transfer efficiency for boiling a pot of water was found to be 15%. The gas emissions were found to be within the acceptable limits as set out by Occupational Safety and health agency.