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Pine Needle Briquettes: A Renewable Source of
Energy
Sudip Pandey*1, Rabindra Prasad Dhakal2
Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)
Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
*1 environ.sudip@gmail.com; environ_sudip@yahoo.com
storage, and handling, the direct burning of loose
Abstract
biomass in conventional grates is associated with very
The study was undertaken to investigate the physico‐chemical low thermal efficiency and widespread air pollution
properties of pine needle in the preparation of biomass because they are bulky, heterogeneous in size and shape
briquettes. Pine Needle Briquettes (PNB) were prepared using
and might differ in density. In addition, the conversion
the piston press mold with clay as binder in the ratio of 80:20.
efficiencies are as low as 40% with particulate emissions
Both the physical and combustion properties of the pine needle
and pine needle briquettes were carried out in the laboratory.
in the flue gases in excess of 3000 mg/Nm3 (Grover &
The result shows that pine needle as the good source for Mishra, 1996). There are numerous ways to resolve these
briquetting with the moisture content of 9.76%. In addition, the problems, of which briquetting and/or pelleting are the
number of hole present help the briquette burn efficiently with most commonly utilized technologies (Kaliyan & Morey,
the efficiency of 27.01% which is higher than that of fuelwood 2009). This entails condensing the previously
(15.55%). There was no or little smoke after the initial burning comminuted biomass into densified particles of uniform
of briquettes which shows comparative advantage of the PNB size, shape and density. According to Shaw (2008), an
as a cooking fuel and space heating in the rural population of
advantage of the densification of loose, small and high
mountain. Further, particulate matter emitted after burning the
moisture content biomass is that the compression
briquette (0.570 mg/m3) was below the guideline set by the
Environment Protection Agency (EPA). Thus, we can say that
generally increases the calorific value of the fuel. The
PNB can be used as a renewable fuel, with combustion bulk density of loose biomass, which is typically about
characteristics (5230kcal/kg) very similar to firewood. The 40 ‐ 200 kg/m3 can also be increased to densities as high
environment will benefit noticeably because the briquettes as 600 – 800 kg/m3. Thus, briquette making has the
combustion reduces the amount of burned residues in open potential to meet the additional energy demands of
space, reduce the forest fire and more importantly the urban and industrial sectors, thereby making a
pollution. significant contribution to the economic advancement of
Keywords developing countries like Nepal. However, in order to
make a significant impact as a fuel source, there is a need
Pine Needle; Briquette; Fuelwood; Combustion Characteristics
to improve and promote its technology of production
Introduction (Grover & Mishra, 1994). For achieving the desired
success, the briquette press should be inexpensive,
Many of the developing countries produce huge simple and easy to repair.
quantities of agro residues but they are used inefficiently
causing extensive pollution to the environment. The The aim of the present study is to determine the physico‐
major residues are rice husk, coffee husk, jute sticks, chemical properties, combustion characteristics and
bagasse, mustard stalks, pine needle and cotton stalks. emission tests of the Pine Needle Briquette (PNB). In
Sawdust, a milling residue is also available in huge addition it justifies PNB as an economical and eco‐
quantity. Apart from the problems of transportation, friendly way for addressing both the issues of waste
management and energy shortage.
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International Journal of Energy Science (IJES) Volume 3 Issue 3, June 2013 www.ijesci.org
Materials and Methods that run through it. The holes enable a flow of oxygen
and controlled burning which creates a light blue flame.
The pine needle sample was collected from the Budole
The large size of the briquette about 13cm in diameter
Village Development Committee (VDC) of Kavre during
allows it to burn for approximately 1‐2 hours. In
the period of June 9, 2011. The collected sample was
addition, the briquette is smokeless while burning. The
dried in the green house to remove its moisture before
hope is that these attributes will resonate with users and
the charring. After drying for few days the sample was
they will consider using this fuel product over other
charred as suggested by Karve et al. (2001). The char
charcoal products, woody biomass, or kerosene.
from the retorts were taken out and was grinded to dust
by Grinder Mill. After grinding the char to fine particles TABLE 1 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BRIQUETTE
it was mixed with clay in the ratio of 80:20 proportion. SAMPLES
mixture was used to make the briquettes with the help of Photographs
the piston press mold available at Nepal Academy of
Science and Technology (NAST) laboratory. The
briquettes produced using this mold are then sun dry for
three to five days to remove the moisture from it.
Proximate analysis (moisture content, ash content,
volatile matter content, and fixed carbon content) was
carried out according to JIS M 8813 and calorific value of
the sample was determined with Toshniwal Digital
Bomb calorimeter (Model: CC01/M2A). The performance
analysis of the produced briquettes was tested using the
Appearance Black color, Cylindrical shape with 19
standard water‐boiling test (Water boiling test version
hole
1.5, Shell Foundation) in traditional stoves available at Composition 80% fine pine char and 20% clay
NAST. In the study, combustion tests were conducted to
Average Diameter (d) 13cm
understand the combustion characteristics of the
briquette fuels. The smoke from the combustion of the Average Height (h) 8.8cm
fuel briquettes were evaluated using Bacharach Oil
Diameter of Hole 1.3cm
Burner Smoke Scale while the particulate matters, PM2.5
was measured during the water boiling test using HaZ Weight 472gm
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TABLE 2 PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF PINE NEEDLE, PINE NEEDLE CHAR AND PNB
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International Journal of Energy Science (IJES) Volume 3 Issue 3, June 2013 www.ijesci.org
as barbecue, cooking and heating, while other idea about the how much energy from briquetting
utilizations as metal manufacture and chemical biomass material is effectively utilized. Generally
purification prefer low volatile charcoal (Dionco‐ thermal efficiency of briquetting biomass depends upon
Adetayo, 2001). the moisture content of briquettes. Pine needle
briquettes were selected for water boiling test for
Fixed carbon content is the amount of the carbon present
checking their suitability in domestic use as fuel. It was
in the sample. Among other tested briquettes, PNB has
observed that the briquettes were burnt completely in
high carbon content (52.85%) compared to the briquette
traditional stove and gave uniform flame (Fig 1). Very
from coal (18.59%). FORPRIDECOM (1979)
little ash was left after burning. The preliminary water
recommended the charcoal for domestic use should
boiling test showed average thermal efficiency of 27.01%,
content 80.5% of fixed carbon, while for the industrial
which is higher than that of fuelwood 15.55% (Singh et
charcoal is recommended to have 86.7% of fixed carbon.
al., 2001).
On the other hand, the quality smokeless domestic wood
charcoal has been specified to consist 75% of fixed
carbon or more, while the industrial wood charcoal has
been specified to contain not less than 85% of fixed
carbon (Sayakoummane & Ussawarujikulchai, 2009).
Thus, we can say that pine biomass is good for making
the biomass briquette having 69.15% fixed carbon
content (Table 2). According to Hindi (1994) the
proportion of fixed carbon can be controlled through
maximum temperature and its residence time during the
carbonization process, which seems true with the
research of Dionco‐Adetayo (2001). They further added
that the charcoal with high volatile matter is lower in
FIG. 1 TIME VS. TEMPERATURE GRAPH
fixed carbon and these charcoal briquettes tends to be
harder, heavier, stronger and easier to ignite than high
Ignitation Temperature
fixed carbon charcoal briquette.
Ignitation temperature is the lowest temperature at
Another most important feature of a solid fuel is its
which combustion begins and continues in a substance
calorific value (Tosun, 2007). It determines the
when it is heated in air. Further, ignition of the
commercial value of the fuel. In the present set of
briquettes fuel has been explained by the shrinking core
experiments, the calorific value of PNB was 5230kcal/kg
model of burning of a briquette ball. The burning takes
which is higher than rice rusk, saw dust and Banmara
place at the surface layer of the briquette reducing the
(Mikania micrantha) briquettes (Pandey & Dhakal, 2011).
size of the burning ball gradually (Kim et al., 2000).
This means that with the same amount of fuel, more
energy can be generated by using the PNB. There are
different factors that affect the calorific value of the
briquette i.e. the difference of the environmental
conditions as using different temperature in
carbonization process, the use of modern machine in the
compression process of briquette charcoal. In addition,
the amount of inorganic matter in biomass also affects its
ultimate calorific value (Strehler, 2000).
Efficiency of the Briquettes
Thermal efficiency is the ratio of thermal power of the
product gas produced to the thermal power of the input
FIG. 2 IGNITION TEMPERATURE VERSES DIFFERENT BIOMASS
briquette biomass material supplied. It gives general BRIQUETTES
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Smoke Index Test
This test of smoke gives the index of smoke emitted
during the combustion or ignition of BHB; however it
doesn’t give the amount of flue gases present in the
FIG. 3 TIME VS. TEMPERATURE GRAPH
smoke emitted from BHB. The smoke index of the PNB
is indicated in table 3. When the PNB was burnt, the particulate matter (PM2.5)
TABLE 3 SMOKE INDEX data were recorded by HAZ dust within an interval of 1
minute. The results show the peak in the curve (Fig. 3)
S.N Ignition Checking Smoke Remarks
Condition Time Index
due to the consequence of firing of the briquette from
1 Initial 1‐2 minutes 2‐3 The smoke scrap paper which produces excessive smoke. After the
Burning produces briquette started to ignite, the PM2.5 concentration
during the sharply decreased and followed a fairly constant value
firing of
briquettes
for the rest of the testing period. An average 24 hours
2 Burning of After 2 0‐1 There is hardly mean PM2.5 test conducted by ENPHO as a part of
briquettes minutes any smoke research for AEPC/ESAP showed that the average 24
hours mean PM2.5 as 2.127 mg/m3 using the traditional
The table 3 shows that there is hardly any smoke after 2 cooking stove. The test of briquettes showed a mean
minutes of burning. But in case of traditional fuel such PM2.5 as 0.570 mg/m3. The result shows that the PNB are
as fuelwood and cow dung, there is highest smoke for cleaner fuel than raw biomass resulting in the decrease
the first 20 minutes (Singh et al., 2001). These in PM2.5 concentration by nearly 73%.
characteristics clearly indicate the comparative
advantage of the PNB as a cooking fuel and space Conclusions
heating in the rural population of mountain.
The physico‐chemical characteristics (moisture content,
Particulate Matter Emitted volatile matter content, ash content, calorific value, etc.)
of biomass have been studied for the purpose of
Particle pollution, called particulate matter or PM, is a briquetting. The combustion tests showed that
combination of tiny specks of soot, dust, and aerosols biobriquettes have better combustion and fuel
that are suspended in the air we breathe. PM2.5 is characteristics with higher combustion gas temperature
particles less than 2.5 micrometers and poses the largest and lower amount of smoke emissions. Proximate
health risks. Because of their small size (less than one‐ analysis showed the pine needle as an excellent raw
seventh the average width of human hair), fine particles material for briquetting due to low ash content, low
can lodge deeply in lungs and heart causing premature moisture content and relatively high carbon content with
death (www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/faq. htm). In order the calorific value of 5230kcal/kg. The test of water
to minimize the risk, Environmental Protection Agency evaporation undoubtedly suggests its use in the
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International Journal of Energy Science (IJES) Volume 3 Issue 3, June 2013 www.ijesci.org
industrial boilers and kilns for steam generation and Italy. Accessed January 05, 2013.
heat transfer activities. Finally, the lower amount of
http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5328e/x5328e00.htm.
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longer with stable and uniform temperatures than Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). “Industrial
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
x5555e00.htm.
We would like to thank Nepal Academy of Science and
FORPRIDECOM, “Wood Charcoal.” FORPRIDECOM
Technology (NAST) for providing the space and
resources to conduct this research. In addition, we like to Technical Note. Forest Products Research Industries
thank Mr. Nirish Kafle, Mr. Arun Khanal and Mr. and Development Commission. Manila, Philippines.
Sundar K.C for their support in the laboratory work. 1979.
Grover P.D. and Mishra S.K., “Biomass Briquetting:
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