Enhanced Torrefied Oil-Palm Biomass as an Alternative Bio-Circular Solid Fuel: Innovative Modeling of Optimal Conditions and Ecoefficiency Analysis

Attaso Khamwichit, Jannisa Kasawapat, Narongsak Seekao and Wipawee Dechapanya ()
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Attaso Khamwichit: Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Jannisa Kasawapat: Biomass and Oil Palm Research Centre of Excellence, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Narongsak Seekao: Faculty of Industrial Technology, Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80000, Thailand
Wipawee Dechapanya: Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-26

Abstract: Energy production from coal combustion is responsible for nearly 40% of global CO 2 emissions including SO x and NO x . This study aims to produce solid biomass fuels from oil-palm residues by torrefaction, having a high heating value (HHV) equivalent to fossil coals. The experiments were designed using Design Expert version 13 software to optimize the conditions affecting the fuel characteristics of the torrefied products. The statistical analysis suggested that the optimal conditions to achieve a high HHV and fixed carbon content while retaining the mass yield of biomass mainly depended on the temperature and torrefying time, while the size played a less important role in affecting the properties. The optimal conditions were observed to be at 283 °C (120 min) for EFBs, 301 °C (111 min) for PF, and 285 °C (120 min) for PKSs. The maximum HHV of 5229, 5969, and 5265 kcal/kg were achieved for the torrefied EFBs, PF, and PKSs, respectively. The energy efficiency of torrefied biomass was increased to 1.25–1.35. Ecoefficiency analysis suggested that torrefaction should be carried out at high temperatures with a short torrefying time. This low-cost bio-circular torrefied biomass showed promising fuel characteristics that could be potentially used as an alternative to coals.

Keywords: bioenergy; waste-to-energy (WtE); energy-from-waste (EfW); bioenergy with carbon; torrefaction (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: 2024
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