The Effects of Moderate Die Pressure on Maize Cob Briquettes

: A Case Study in Phitsanulok, Thailand

By Panote Wilaipon, Thailand

PHOTOSYNTHESIS PROCESS

BIOMASS AS A FUEL

Biomass: alternative fuel

Phitsanulok Province

Located in lower part of Northern Thailand

Approximate Area: 10,896 km2

Population: 846,630

Major Product: Rice, Maize, Cassava, Banana

Maize in Phisanulok

Approximately 103,116 acre/year has been devoted for maize plantation

The productivity is over 140,000 ton/year.

Maize Cob in Phisanulok

Residual

to

Product Ratio

0.273

Maize Cob in Phisanulok

0 5000 10000 15000 20000

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dis

tric

t n

um

ber

maize cob (ton)

Approximate 38,801 tons available in this area

BRIQUETTING TECHNOLOGY

Sta

lky,

coa

rse

mat

eria

ls

Dry materials

Wet materials

Fin

e m

a ter

ial s

Dryingprocess

Cutting/grindingprocesses

Wet materials

Dry materials

Dryingprocess Briquetting

process

Pro

du

cts

Molasses 23%

by weight 38mm ID x 100mm H

100 g of material: 73% maize cob and 23% molasses

Pressure: 7, 10 and 13 MPa

Dwell time: 15 seconds

Moisture content: 7.5%

1. Relaxation in length

2. Relaxation in volume

3. Impact resistance index

4. Percentage of weight loss

5. Water resistance

5

7

9

11

13

15

17

19

21

23

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

hour

% elon

gatio

n

% Elongation

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

hour

% volum

e

% Increased Volume

Die pressure (MPa)

The percentage of weight loss

10 drops 20 drops 30 drops

7 0.27 0.52 0.64

10 0.26 0.36 0.50

13 0.30 0.43 0.65

Impact Resistance Index

And % weight loss

Die pressure (MPa)

Dispersion time of briquettes in cold water (second)

The onset point 50% 100%

7 9.0 30.0 45.3

10 8.7 30.5 47.1

13 8.8 27.6 51.0

Water Resistance