Technology for the Production of Energy Briquettes from Bean Stalks

Krzysztof Mudryk (), Jarosław Frączek, Joanna Leszczyńska and Mateusz Krotowski
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Krzysztof Mudryk: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-149 Kraków, Poland
Jarosław Frączek: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-149 Kraków, Poland
Joanna Leszczyńska: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-149 Kraków, Poland
Mateusz Krotowski: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-149 Kraków, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-24

Abstract: Biomass is gaining increasing importance as a renewable energy source in the global energy mix, offering a viable alternative to fossil fuels and contributing to the decarbonization of the energy sector. Among various types of biomass, agricultural residues such as bean stalks represent a promising feedstock for the production of solid biofuels. This study analyzes the impact of particle size and selected briquetting parameters (pressure and temperature) on the physical quality of briquettes made from bean stalks. The experimental procedure included milling the raw material using #8, #12, and #16 mesh screens, followed by compaction under pressures of 27, 37, and 47 MPa. Additionally, the briquetting die was heated to 90 °C to improve the mechanical durability of the briquettes. The results showed that both particle size and die temperature significantly influenced the quality of the produced briquettes. Briquettes made from the 16 mm fraction, compacted at 60 °C and 27 MPa, exhibited a durability of 55.76%, which increased to 82.02% when the die temperature was raised to 90 °C. Further improvements were achieved by removing particles smaller than 1 mm. However, these measures did not enable achieving a net calorific value above 14.5 MJ·kg −1 . Therefore, additional work was undertaken, involving the addition of biomass with higher calorific value to the bean stalk feedstock. In the study, maize straw and miscanthus straw were used as supplementary substrates. The results allowed for determining their minimum proportions required to exceed the 14.5 MJ·kg −1 threshold. In conclusion, bean stalks can serve as a viable feedstock for the production of solid biofuels, especially when combined with other biomass types possessing more favorable energy parameters. Their utilization aligns with the concept of managing local agricultural residues within decentralized energy systems and supports the development of sustainable bioenergy solutions.

Keywords: lignocellulosic biomass; solid biofuel; densification; comminution; bean straw; agglomerates (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: 2025
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