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Email : wanjerm3@yahoo.com.my
Keywords : palm kernel shell, inclined grate, combustion, Palm kernel shells are carbonaceous solids, produced from
energy, emission. the processing of palm oil fruit. Carbonaceous solids
contain high volume percentage of carbon element and
Abstract may be converted as a heat energy source by thermal
reaction of the carbon content. Palm mills have been using
Numerous research works has been carried out to study the the palm kernel shells as the main fuel for their in-house
combustion characteristics of solid wastes from the boilers to generate electricity and process heat. It is
agricultural sector, which are categorized as renewable estimated that in 2003, Malaysian palm oil mills generates
energy sources. However, every result is unique due to the nearly 300 MW of electricity from its palm oil processing
differences in the process as well as hardware. This paper by-products, mainly from shells and fibers. [1] The
publishes results based on the combustion experiments of abundance in volume as well as acceptable energy content
palm kernel shells using an under-fire inclined grate leads to the conclusion that palm kernel shells would be
combustor developed locally. The analysis is based on one of the major renewable fuels for the future.
theoretical and experimental energy outputs, emission
analysis and combustion behavior. In general, palm This paper is based on an ongoing project at the Faculty of
kernels consists of 57.01% C, 11.11% H2, 31.8% O2, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology
0.5% N2 with a calorific value of 16.9 MJ/kg. The MARA (UiTM) Malaysia, on the development of an
combustion chamber design limits the actual energy inclined grate combustion chamber for solid fuels. The
conversion (combustion chamber thermal efficiency) at a results presented in this paper are the preliminary analysis
range of 25% to 32%, where the maximum flue gas energy of the combustion chamber performance based on the
was determined at 81.7 MJ/kmol, or about 5 MJ/kg. Poor combustion of palm kernel shells. The main objective is to
air-fuel mixing and fuel distribution are factors that was identify palm shell combustion behavior at near
identified to be further improved to enhance the stoichiometric conditions, as well as analyzing the
combustion performance. efficiency of the developed combustor for further
improvement. Though many researchers have produced
reports on palm shells combustion behavior, almost all
1 Introduction results are unique in its way due to the difference in the
process design and the type of combustor used. The results
Combustion involves the rapid conversion of chemical are hopefully useful in the general move towards utilizing
energy in a fuel to sensible heat energy. In Malaysia, fossil biomass wastes as an alternative fuel in Malaysia.
fuels is still the number one fuel, but the consciousness of
the biomass fuel as an alternative energy source is
increasing due to its renewable capability. Biomass has 2 Combustion and Fuel
long been known to be the chief source of energy before
the discovery of fossil fuels. The solar energy stored in 2.1 Biomass Fuel
chemical form in plants is among the most precious and
versatile resources on earth. Biomass is defined as any Biomass is considered to be one of the key renewable
organic matter, particularly cellulosic or lingo-cellulosic resources of the future at both small and large-scale levels.
matter which is available on a renewable or recurring It already supplies 14 % of the world’s primary energy
basis. consumption. On average, biomass produces 38 % of the
It is estimated that Malaysian palm oil mills processes Figure 1: Introducing excess air to a
about 60 million tones of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) yearly combustion process.
and generate about 7.3 million tones mesocarp fibre, 3.2
million tones of shell and 12 million tones empty fruit Using chemical reaction analysis, the stoichiometric
bunches (EFB) as biomass residues [2]. Ultimate analyses combustion equation for palm shell is
of two samples of palm shells as reported by Izat [3] and
Ramlan [4] is shown in Table 1. 0.5701 C +0.318 O2 + 0.1111 H2 + 0.005 N2 +
0.46665 (O2 + 3.76 N2) 0.5701 CO2 +
0.1111 H2O + 1.7571 N2 (1)
hatch
Combustion
N h h h area
N h
CO2
f
N
CO2
Fuel grate
Q (N h f ) hf hh
out O f N H 2O H 2O o
30
N h h h
Primary air
Ash removal
inlet
f
N2
N2 hatch
Burner port
Inserting values by assuming all the reactants enters at
Figure 2 : Schematic of combustion chamber
standard reference state (25oC and 1 atm) and h f is equal
to zero for O2, C, N2 and H2, yields : 3.2 Experimental setup and procedures
0.5701 393520 hCO 9364
2
Palm shells should be dried beforehand to remove the
moisture content. Excessive moisture level would greatly
N
1.7571 0 h 8669
2
The experiment is done by igniting about 5 kg of palm
shell assisted with a little kerosene to form the core of the
Simplifying the equation : combustion. The burner is switched off as the core
achieves sustainable combustion. Periodically, 5 kg of
Q 354488.7 (0.5701hCO 0.1111h H O 1.7571h N ) (2) palm shells are fed through the load(i2n)g door, up to a
out 2 2 2
maximum of 15 kg. Air flow rates are adjusted
Equation (2) is the theoretical equation to determine the accordingly as the fuel amount increases to maintain the
value of heat released as a result of the combustion process excess air supply in the range of 10% to 50%. Readings of
of the palm shell. The heat output can be determined if the core temperature, gas temperature, exhaust temperature
value of the product temperature at the exhaust is known. and gas emissions are taken at 3 to 5 minutes interval. The
However, the equation is an approximation as it neglects experiment was limited to approximately 150 minutes, and
the effects of products of incomplete combustion in the the air flow is turned off at that point and the fuel is
basis that its energy content is too small compared to the allowed to burn and cool naturally.
main constituents.
4 Results and discussion
3 Research Work
Temperature, air flow rates, and emission data was
3.1 Combustion chamber specifications recorded for an experiment time of about 150 minutes. The
results are presented in graphical forms in figures 3 to 6.
600.0 100000.000
500.0 95000.000
Temperature Distribution, Degree C
Core
300.0 85000.000
Gas
Exhaust
80000.000
200.0
75000.000
100.0
70000.000
0.0
Time (minute)
Time, Minute
Core Point Gas Point Exhaust Point
Figure 3 : Temperature profile at core, gas and exhaust Figure 6 : Energy release profile
3.50
exhaust port. The average difference between the gas
temperature and the exhaust temperature was
3.00
approximately 30oC. This shows that high gas cooling
2.50 rates occurred as the combustion gases flows from the
Gaseous Emissions (%)
CO(%)
main combustion area to the exhaust, which is only at
2.00 CO2(%)
HC(%)
about 50 cm distance vertically. Two main factors for this
1.50
NO(%) condition would be due to inadequate wall insulation
resistance to heat transfer to the surrounding, and air draft
1.00
from excess combustion air absorbing the heat as it rises
0.50 towards the exit. The average temperature drop (core)
during each fuel reloading of about 5 kg each is 135 oC,
0.00
caused by the imbalance in air–fuel ratio during that
Time (Minute) period.
Figure 4 : Emission profile CO2 concentration in the flue gas is within the range of
0.7% to 3.3%. It is also apparent that CO emission was
detected for the entire combustion process. The maximum
HC and NO emission against Time level of CO is at 0.46% and the minimum is at 0.16%. The
250 high level of CO2 was accompanied by a low level of CO
at the final stage of the combustion, where the core
200
temperature is at the maximum. Therefore it can be said
Hydrocarbon & NO Emission (ppm)
4 Conclusion
References