R.N. Singh

Equilibrium moisture content of biomass briquettes

Abstract Equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of commercially available biomass briquettes at 40–85% relative humidity was compared with the EMC of cotton stalks and saw mill waste. No significance difference in EMC was noticed at relative humidity value up to 70%. At higher relative humidity, the EMC of briquettes was lower compared to cotton stalks and woody saw mill waste. This may be due to higher specific density of biomass briquettes. The study shows that storage of briquettes during period of high humidity will not create any problem.

Performance evaluation of natural draft based agricultural residues charcoal system.

Abstract A natural draft based agricultural residues charcoal reactor has been described herein along with its performance details. Instead of releasing pyrogases into the atmosphere, these gases are burnt inside the charcoal reactor, offering better energy efficiency and environmental acceptability. Agricultural residues like arhar stalks ( Cajanus cajan ), saw mill woody waste, Ipomoea ( Ipomoea fistulasa, Syn . Ipomoea Carnea ) and babul wood ( Acacia nilotica ), all sun dried, were used as the feedstocks for charcoal making. Saleable charcoal (SC) yield was in the range of 28 to 47% dry basis (db) with the maximum from saw mill woody waste and the minimum from Ipomoea. Fixed carbon (FC) content in the SC varies from 69 to 77% (db) in the agricultural residues based charcoal. Babul wood charring gave the highest SC yield (50%, db) and the best quality charcoal in terms of FC (80%, db). Economic analysis revealed that if the system developed was operated annually for 4000xa0h, the user could have a net profit of around Rs.1,00,000/– (US

Case study of SPRERI natural draft gasifier installation at a ceramic industry

2500).

Influence of Biodiesel Effluent on Physico-chemical Characteristics of Black Soil: a Laboratory Study

Abstract The Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute has recently introduced its natural draft gasifier burner system to replace the use of light fuel oil in ceramic product drying. The unit (rated at 350 kW th ) consumed about 80 kg h −1 of sawmill residues in the form of slabs 8 and 12 cm long, 5– 7 cm wide, and 2.5– 3 cm thick. The oil replacement is about 17 l h −1 . Two types of batch driers, a rotary kiln and a tray drier, are used to dry the ceramic material from 20% to 10% moisture on a total mass basis. The tray drier is also used to dry molded ceramics in addition to the dewatered raw material ceramic cake. The cost savings over LFO are reduced by a factor of four to five units cost of output and the system repays its investment in less than two months.

Development of suitable photobioreactor for algae production – A review

Biodiesel has proven to be a reasonable substitute to petroleum diesel owing to continuous depletion and pollution caused by the latter. The uncomplicated process of production of fatty acid methyl ester or biodiesel as it is commercially known has made it an even better substitute of fossil diesel. The preparation of biodiesel involves the use of alcohol (methanol) and hydroxides (NaOH). There is a possibility that some of these compounds remain unreacted and needs to be washed with water. This residue water containing alcohol and hydroxide residues if discharged in the soil may affect its quality. This research paper deals with the effect of biodiesel effluent on various physico-chemical properties of soil. The result of the research proves that the biodiesel effluent if discharged in soil will degrade soil quality.