Science Innovation

| Peer-Reviewed |

Torrefaction of Nigerian Palm Kernel Shell into Solid Fuel

Received: 29 October 2015    Accepted: 30 October 2015    Published: 27 January 2016
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

Abstract

Palm kernel shell (PKS) which is a waste from oil palm tree was torrefied to improve its properties as a solid fuel. The study on Palm kernel shell torrefaction was performed under various temperature and time of 200ºC, 220ºC, 240ºC, 260ºC, 280ºC, 300ºC and 40, 80, 120 minutes respectively using a horizontal tubular type reactor made of stainless steel. The electric furnace surrounding the reactor was used to regulate its temperature. An elemental (CHNS) analyzer was also used to get the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen & sulphur contents. The calorific value was measured using a bomb calorimeter. The mass yield, energy yield, ash content, moisture content, volatile matter content and fixed carbon content were calculated. The results of the study indicate that increase in torrefaction temperature decreased the mass & energy yield of Palm kernel shell. The carbon content of Palm kernel shell increased while hydrogen and oxygen content decreased after torrefaction which resulted in higher heating value of 5 to 20%. Ash content and fixed carbon content of palm kernel shell were observed to have increased with reduction in the moisture and volatile matter therein. It therefore follows that Palm kernel shell possess valuable potentials to supplement the energy supply of Nigeria through sustainable renewable energy technologies.

DOI 10.11648/j.si.s.2016040301.13
Published in Science Innovation (Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2016)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Researches in Science and Engineering

Page(s) 19-23
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Palm Kernel Shell, Torrefaction, Solid Fuel, Pretreatment, Biomass

References
[1] Anuphon Pimchuai, Animesh Dutta, Prabir Basu (2010), Torrefaction of Agriculture Residue To Enhance Combustible Properties, Journal Article in Energy & Fuels 24(9): pp. 4638-4645 http://dx. doi.org/10.1021/ef901168f Actions.
[2] Amin A. Jaafar and Murni M. Ahmad (2011), torrefaction of malaysian palm kernel shell into value –added solid fuels, international journal of chemical, nuclear, metallurgical and materials Engineering. 5 (12): pp 62-65.
[3] Bergman P. C. A, Boersma A. R., Zwart R. W. R. and J. H. A. Kiel (2005a), torrefaction for biomass co-firing in existing coal-fired power stations, Energy research center of Netherland (ECN).
[4] Bergman P. C. A, Boersma A. R., Zwart R. W. R. and J. H. A. Kiel (2005b), torrefaction for biomass co-firing in existing coal-fired power stations, Energy research center of Netherland (ECN).
[5] Gevers P., Ramaekers G., Frehen A., Sijbinga M., Steen V., Sturms J. and I. Taks (2002), Green Energy from wood or torrefied wood, University of Technology Eindhoven.
[6] Lisardo Núñez Regueira, J. Rodríguez Añón, J. Proupín, and C. Labarta (2001), Recovering Energy from Used Synthetic Automobile Oils through Cogeneration, Energy & Fuels 15(3): pp. 691- 695.
[7] Miskam A., Zainal Z. A. and I. M Yusof (2009), Characterization of Sawdust Residues for Cyclone Gasifier, Journal of Applied Sciences 9 (12): pp. 2294-2300. http://dx.doi.org/10.3923/jas.2009.2294.2300 Actions.
[8] Muafah Abd Aziz, Yoshimitsu Uemura, Khalik M. Sabil (2011), Characterization of oil palm biomass as feed for torrefaction process Conference Paper National Postgraduate Conference http://dx.doi. org/10.1109/natpc.2011.6136260 Actions.
[9] Peter McKendry (2002), Energy production from biomass (part 1), overview of biomass Journal of Bioresource Technology 83 (1) pp: 37-46 11 citations from patents http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0960-8524(01)00118-3 Actions.
[10] Yang H, Yan R, Chen H, Lee D. H, Liang D. T and C. Zheng (2006), mechanism of palm oil waste pyrolysis in a packed bed, energy and fuels 20 pp: 1321-1328.
[11] Yoshimitsu Uemura, Wissam N. Omar, Toshio Tsutsui and Suzana Yusup (2011), Torrefaction of oil palm wastes, Journal Article in Fuel 90(8): pp. 2585-2591 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2011.03.021.
[12] Zakir Khan, Suzana Yusup, Murni Melati Ahmad (2011), Thermogravimetric analysis of palm oil wastes decomposition, Conference Paper, IEEE Conference on Clean Energy and Technology (CET) http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/cet.2011.6041464 Actions.
Author Information
  • Advanced Manufacturing Department, Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), Enugu, Nigeria

  • Advanced Manufacturing Department, Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), Enugu, Nigeria

  • Advanced Manufacturing Department, Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), Enugu, Nigeria

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Onyeagba Basil Obinna, Eze Somtochukwu Kingsley, Madu Okwuchukwu. (2016). Torrefaction of Nigerian Palm Kernel Shell into Solid Fuel. Science Innovation, 4(3-1), 19-23. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.s.2016040301.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Onyeagba Basil Obinna; Eze Somtochukwu Kingsley; Madu Okwuchukwu. Torrefaction of Nigerian Palm Kernel Shell into Solid Fuel. Sci. Innov. 2016, 4(3-1), 19-23. doi: 10.11648/j.si.s.2016040301.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Onyeagba Basil Obinna, Eze Somtochukwu Kingsley, Madu Okwuchukwu. Torrefaction of Nigerian Palm Kernel Shell into Solid Fuel. Sci Innov. 2016;4(3-1):19-23. doi: 10.11648/j.si.s.2016040301.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.si.s.2016040301.13,
      author = {Onyeagba Basil Obinna and Eze Somtochukwu Kingsley and Madu Okwuchukwu},
      title = {Torrefaction of Nigerian Palm Kernel Shell into Solid Fuel},
      journal = {Science Innovation},
      volume = {4},
      number = {3-1},
      pages = {19-23},
      doi = {10.11648/j.si.s.2016040301.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.s.2016040301.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.si.s.2016040301.13},
      abstract = {Palm kernel shell (PKS) which is a waste from oil palm tree was torrefied to improve its properties as a solid fuel. The study on Palm kernel shell torrefaction was performed under various temperature and time of 200ºC, 220ºC, 240ºC, 260ºC, 280ºC, 300ºC and 40, 80, 120 minutes respectively using a horizontal tubular type reactor made of stainless steel. The electric furnace surrounding the reactor was used to regulate its temperature. An elemental (CHNS) analyzer was also used to get the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen & sulphur contents. The calorific value was measured using a bomb calorimeter. The mass yield, energy yield, ash content, moisture content, volatile matter content and fixed carbon content were calculated. The results of the study indicate that increase in torrefaction temperature decreased the mass & energy yield of Palm kernel shell. The carbon content of Palm kernel shell increased while hydrogen and oxygen content decreased after torrefaction which resulted in higher heating value of 5 to 20%. Ash content and fixed carbon content of palm kernel shell were observed to have increased with reduction in the moisture and volatile matter therein. It therefore follows that Palm kernel shell possess valuable potentials to supplement the energy supply of Nigeria through sustainable renewable energy technologies.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Torrefaction of Nigerian Palm Kernel Shell into Solid Fuel
    AU  - Onyeagba Basil Obinna
    AU  - Eze Somtochukwu Kingsley
    AU  - Madu Okwuchukwu
    Y1  - 2016/01/27
    PY  - 2016
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.s.2016040301.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.si.s.2016040301.13
    T2  - Science Innovation
    JF  - Science Innovation
    JO  - Science Innovation
    SP  - 19
    EP  - 23
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-787X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.s.2016040301.13
    AB  - Palm kernel shell (PKS) which is a waste from oil palm tree was torrefied to improve its properties as a solid fuel. The study on Palm kernel shell torrefaction was performed under various temperature and time of 200ºC, 220ºC, 240ºC, 260ºC, 280ºC, 300ºC and 40, 80, 120 minutes respectively using a horizontal tubular type reactor made of stainless steel. The electric furnace surrounding the reactor was used to regulate its temperature. An elemental (CHNS) analyzer was also used to get the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen & sulphur contents. The calorific value was measured using a bomb calorimeter. The mass yield, energy yield, ash content, moisture content, volatile matter content and fixed carbon content were calculated. The results of the study indicate that increase in torrefaction temperature decreased the mass & energy yield of Palm kernel shell. The carbon content of Palm kernel shell increased while hydrogen and oxygen content decreased after torrefaction which resulted in higher heating value of 5 to 20%. Ash content and fixed carbon content of palm kernel shell were observed to have increased with reduction in the moisture and volatile matter therein. It therefore follows that Palm kernel shell possess valuable potentials to supplement the energy supply of Nigeria through sustainable renewable energy technologies.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 3-1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections