Energy Performance of Different Charcoal Production Systems

Francisco Fernandes Bernardes, Thiago Libório Romanelli, Allana Katiussya Silva Pereira, Gabriela Fontes Mayrinck Cupertino, Márcia Aparecida Fernandes, José Otávio Brito, Elias Costa de Souza, Daniel Saloni and Ananias Francisco Dias Júnior ()
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Francisco Fernandes Bernardes: “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (USP/ESALQ), University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
Thiago Libório Romanelli: “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (USP/ESALQ), University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
Allana Katiussya Silva Pereira: “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (USP/ESALQ), University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
Gabriela Fontes Mayrinck Cupertino: Department of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Av. Governador Lindemberg, 316, Jeronimo Monteiro 29550-000, ES, Brazil
Márcia Aparecida Fernandes: Faculty of Computing, University of Uberlândia (UFU), Rua João Naves de Ávila 2121, Sala 1B139 Santa Mônica, Uberlandia 38408-100, MG, Brazil
José Otávio Brito: “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (USP/ESALQ), University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
Elias Costa de Souza: Institute of Xingu Studies, Federal University of South and Southeast Pará (UNIFESSPA), Sao Felix do Xingu 68507-590, PA, Brazil
Daniel Saloni: Department of Forest Biomaterials, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University (NCSU), Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Ananias Francisco Dias Júnior: Department of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Av. Governador Lindemberg, 316, Jeronimo Monteiro 29550-000, ES, Brazil

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the energy performance of three different charcoal production systems: “encosta” kiln, “rectangular” kiln, and “fornalha” kiln. Data collection involved measuring carbonization product yields and essential process variables, enabling determination of material and energy flows, and evaluation of two main energy indicators: the EROI and the energy balance. The study found that all evaluated systems had a negative energy balance, indicating inefficiency. The encosta kiln system displayed the best energy performance with the highest EROI (0.90 ± 0.45) and the greatest energy intensity (264.50 MJ t −1 ± 132.25), despite having faced technological, operational, and mechanization limitations that explained its limited use on a global scale. Research that evaluates the sustainable production of charcoal has grown in recent years, however, and it is necessary to invest in studies that evaluate the existing energy flow. Thus, the energy performance indicators presented in this study offer valuable insights for decision-making in charcoal production, potentially maximizing efficiency of the systems. Optimizing carbonization system energy performance can be achieved by implementing operational parameters focused on reducing avoidable energy losses, such as improving thermal insulation and introducing systems for heat recovery or combustion gas utilization.

Keywords: energy balance; material flow; environmental analysis; charcoal kilns; EROI (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: 2023
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