An experimental investigation on torrefaction of Bocauíva (shell) and Eucalyptus (sawdust)
Robson Leal da Silva1; Isabele Oliveira de Paula2; Carolina Santana Michels2; José Ricardo Patelli Júnior1
1 UFGD / FAEN / Engenharia de Energia & Engenharia Mecânica; 2 UFGD / FAEN / Engenharia de Energia
doi:10.20906/CPS/COB-2015-2164
Resumo
Global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels is a common concern in the actuality. An alternative that has being gaining interest is biomass, as waste to energy source. The biomass, primarily obtained from cultivated forest (as Eucalyptus), from industrial processing, from animal breeding, extractive harvesting activities (as Bocaíuva), among others. Typically available at Mato Grosso do Sul state, where the Cerrado is a biome from Brazil´s Central-West region, Bocaiúva shell and Eucalyptus sawdust are residual biomass from extractive activities, charcoal production and paper and pulp industries. Torrefaction is a thermal process that can increase biomass HHV (kJ/kg), which results in a solid fuel with improved energy characteristics, for retaining most of its volatile matter and eliminating all of its humidity that results great differences in HHV and LHV (High and Low Heating Values, respectively). This paper aims to point out improvements energy characteristics when torrefaction is employed in residual biomasses. Results indicates Eucalyptus sawdust HHV increases from 15.73 kJ/kg (in natura) up to 19.00 kJ/kg (260 °C), while for Bocaíuva shell HHV increases from 19.26 kJ/kg (in natura) up to 20.58 kJ/kg (260 °C), both for 60 minutes of residence time. These residual biomasses are typically found at the Cerrado (at Mato Grosso do Sul state), a biome from Brazil´s Central-West region.
Palavras-chave: Residual biomass; Renewable energy; Combustion; Characterization; Thermal treatment