Decision Support System for the Production of Miscanthus and Willow Briquettes

Sławomir Francik, Adrian Knapczyk, Artur Knapczyk and Renata Francik
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Sławomir Francik: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 120, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
Adrian Knapczyk: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 120, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
Artur Knapczyk: Private Researcher, Kurow 26, 34-233 Kurow, Poland
Renata Francik: Institute of Health, State Higher Vocational School, Staszica 1, 33-300 Nowy Sącz, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-24

Abstract: The biomass is regarded as a part of renewable energy sources (RES), which can satisfy energy demands. Biomass obtained from plantations is characterized by low bulk density, which increases transport and storage costs. Briquetting is a technology that relies on pressing biomass with the aim of obtaining a denser product (briquettes). In the production of solid biofuels, the technological as well as material variables significantly influence the densification process, and as a result influence the end quality of briquette. This process progresses differently for different materials. Therefore, the optimal selection of process’ parameters is very difficult. It is necessary to use a decision support tool—decision support system (DSS). The purpose of the work was to develop a decision support system that would indicate the optimal parameters for conducting the process of producing Miscanthus and willow briquettes (pre-comminution, milling and briquetting), briquette parameters (durability and specific density) and total energy consumption based on process simulation. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to describe the relationship between individual parameters of the briquette production process. DSS has the form of a web application and is opened from a web browser (it is possible to open it on various types of devices). The modular design allows the modification and expansion the application in the future.

Keywords: decision support system; briquettes production; willow; Miscanthus; artificial neural network; multilayer perceptron (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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