Investigation of the Effects of Torrefaction Temperature and Residence Time on the Fuel Quality of Corncobs in a Fixed-Bed Reactor

Joseph I. Orisaleye, Simeon O. Jekayinfa, Ralf Pecenka, Adebayo A. Ogundare, Michael O. Akinseloyin and Opeyemi L. Fadipe
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Joseph I. Orisaleye: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos 101017, Nigeria
Simeon O. Jekayinfa: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso 210214, Nigeria
Ralf Pecenka: Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Adebayo A. Ogundare: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos 101017, Nigeria
Michael O. Akinseloyin: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos 101017, Nigeria
Opeyemi L. Fadipe: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lagos State University, Epe Campus, Lagos 101101, Nigeria

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: Biomass from agriculture is a promising alternative fuel due to its carbon-neutral feature. However, raw biomass does not have properties required for its direct utilization for energy generation. Torrefaction is considered as a pretreatment method to improve the properties of biomass for energy applications. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of torrefaction temperature and residence time on some physical and chemical properties of torrefied corncobs. Therefore, a fixed-bed torrefaction reactor was developed and used in the torrefaction of corncobs. The torrefaction process parameters investigated were the torrefaction temperature (200, 240, and 280 °C) and the residence time (30, 60, and 90 min). The effects of these parameters on the mass loss, grindability, chemical composition, and calorific value of biomass were investigated. It was shown that the mass loss increased with increasing torrefaction temperature and residence time. The grinding throughput of the biomass was improved by increasing both the torrefaction temperature and the residence time. Torrefaction at higher temperatures and longer residence times had greater effects on the reduction in particle size of the milled corncobs. The calorific value was highest at a torrefaction temperature of 280 °C and a residence time of 90 min. The energy yield for all treatments ranged between 92.8 and 99.2%. The results obtained in this study could be useful in the operation and design of torrefaction reactors. They also provided insight into parameters to be investigated for optimization of the torrefaction reactor.

Keywords: corncob; torrefaction; temperature; residence time; bioenergy (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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