Improvement of Biocoal Quality from Empty Oil Palm Fruit Bunches by Using Peat Water to Reducing Potassium Content and Torrefaction at 300°C to Increasing Heating Value

Abstract

Consumption of fossil energy continues to increase and therefore fossil energy reserves are decreasing, thus the switchover of using fossil energy into new and renewable energy is necessary. Biomass especially from oil palm empty fruit bunches is one of potential resource as new and renewable energy that can mixture with coal as fuel for power plant. However, biomass from oil palm empty fruit bunches has several weaknesses as fuel; it is containing of high potassium content and low heating value. Potassium content will react with oxygen and resulting potassium oxide (K2O) in the furnace of boiler and it can cause the fouling and slagging at the tubes and walls of boiler. Washing with flowing peat water is one of method that used to reduce potassium content in empty oil palm fruit bunches and torrefaction at 300C is a method is use to increase the heating value of biomass from empty oil palm fruit bunches. This research resulted the potassium, potassium oxide content is 5% and 3.7% respectively by flowing peat water at 5 lpm for 60 minutes, and the heating value of biomass by torrefaction process at 300C for 30 minute was obtain at 28742.17 kJ/kg.

Production of bio-coal based on empty fruit bunches by torrefaction method with fixed bed and tubular continuous reactors

“…The decrease in K, Cl, and K2O content in EFB was caused by the increased flow rate of peat water, which dissolved most of the content and carried it away. In this study, the heating value of bio-coal from the torrefaction process is calculated using the equation from previous research [16]. The results of the heating value obtained from biocoal production in a fixed bed reactor with varying peat water flow rates using a 250 gram EFB sample are shown in Table 2.…”

“…The highest heating value is at a temperature torrefaction of 275°C with a time of 30 minutes of 21083.98 kJ/kg [20]. Research related to bio-coal has also been carried out previously on empty oil palm fruit bunches weighing 100 grams, the torrefaction process using a fixed bed reactor at a temperature of 300°C for 30 minutes resulted in a heating value of 28742.17 kJ/kg [16], the highest heating value obtained was 31,256.95 kJ/kg in the torrefaction process for 60 minutes at a temperature of 300°C, with a residual mass of 31 grams [21]. Similar research was also carried out with a sample weight of 1000 grams at a torrefaction temperature of 200°C for 30 minutes, resulting in a heating value of 26162.55 kJ/kg [22].…”

“…The washing process with running water has been proven to reduce the potassium content in EFB by up to 50% [15]. The use of peat water in the washing process has been proven to reduce potassium (K) and potassium dioxide (K2O) content in EFB with reduction results of up to 5% and 3.7%, respectively [16].…”

Analysis of Combustion Characteristics in Boilers Using Comparison of Coal Fuel Mixtures and Bark Biomass To Determine Optimal Combustion Conditions in a Steam Power Plant

“…Such as the use of candlenut shells which were analyzed to reach 80% efficiency or torrefacted palm shells can increase biomass equivalent to coal [4], [5]. To improve the quality of this biomass fuel, torrefaction can also be carried out or by reducing the potassium content contained in the biomass [6], [7], [8]. With reduced potassium, there will be less potential for soot growth in the combustion process.…”

Audit Energi Sistem Tata Cahaya dan Tata Udara Rumah Makan di Kota Pekanbaru

“…Ketersediaan energi fosil terus berkurang, terutama energi dari minyak bumi dan batu-bara. Setelah terjadinya krisis energi pada yang pernah mencapai puncak sekitar dekade 1970-an, dunia saat ini menghadapi kenyataan bahwa persediaan minyak bumi sebagai salah satu tulang punggung produksi semakin berkurang [1]. Pada masa mendatang, energi dunia akan terancam dengan semakin sulit untuk menemukan sumber energi dari fosil.…”