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Physical and Compression Properties of Pellets Manufactured with the Biomass of Five Woody Tropical Species of Costa Rica Torrefied at Different Temperatures and Times

Author

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  • Johanna Gaitán-Alvarez

    (Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Ingeniería Forestal, Apartado 159-7050, Cartago, Costa Rica)

  • Roger Moya

    (Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Ingeniería Forestal, Apartado 159-7050, Cartago, Costa Rica)

  • Allen Puente-Urbina

    (Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Centro de Investigación y de Servicios Químicos y Microbiológicos (CEQIATEC), Escuela de Química, Apartado 159-7050, Cartago, Costa Rica)

  • Ana Rodriguez-Zuñiga

    (Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Ingeniería Forestal, Apartado 159-7050, Cartago, Costa Rica)

Abstract

The purpose of the biomass torrefaction and pelletizing processes is to increase its energy properties, be environmentally friendly, decrease shipping costs, and make handling easier. The objective of the present work is to evaluate the density, internal density variation by X-ray densitometry, moisture content, water absorption, and compression force of torrefied biomass pellets of five wood species ( Cupressus lusitanica , Dipterix panamensis , Gmelina arborea , Tectona grandis , and Vochysia ferruginea ) under three torrefaction temperature conditions (light, middle, and severe) and three torrefaction times (8, 10, and 12 min). The results showed that the bulk density of the pellets was 0.90–1.30 g/cm 3 . The density variation of the pellets was higher with torrefaction at 250 °C. The moisture content decreased with increasing torrefaction temperature from 3% to 1%. Water absorption was lower in the pellets torrefied at 250 °C. The compression force was lower in the pellets torrefied at 250 °C with approximate loads of 700 N. Based on the above results, it was concluded that pellets made with biomass torrefied at 200 °C have better energy properties and evaluated properties. According to these results, pellets fabricated with the torrefied biomass of tropical species can be used in stove, gas, and hydrogen production because the pellet presents adequate characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Johanna Gaitán-Alvarez & Roger Moya & Allen Puente-Urbina & Ana Rodriguez-Zuñiga, 2017. "Physical and Compression Properties of Pellets Manufactured with the Biomass of Five Woody Tropical Species of Costa Rica Torrefied at Different Temperatures and Times," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:8:p:1205-:d:108222
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    1. Adrian Knapczyk & Sławomir Francik & Marcin Jewiarz & Agnieszka Zawiślak & Renata Francik, 2020. "Thermal Treatment of Biomass: A Bibliometric Analysis—The Torrefaction Case," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-31, December.
    2. Johanna Gaitán-Álvarez & Róger Moya & Allen Puente-Urbina & Ana Rodriguez-Zúñiga, 2018. "Thermogravimetric, Devolatilization Rate, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry Analyses of Biomass of Tropical Plantation Species of Costa Rica Torrefied at Different Temperatures and Times," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-26, March.
    3. Marco Manzone & Fabrizio Gioelli & Paolo Balsari, 2017. "Kiwi Clear‐Cut: First Evaluation of Recovered Biomass for Energy Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-12, November.
    4. Xuexian Qin & Robert F. Keefe & Daren E. Daugaard, 2018. "Small Landowner Production of Pellets from Green, Beetle-Killed, and Burned Lodgepole Pine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Hao Luo & Lukasz Niedzwiecki & Amit Arora & Krzysztof Mościcki & Halina Pawlak-Kruczek & Krystian Krochmalny & Marcin Baranowski & Mayank Tiwari & Anshul Sharma & Tanuj Sharma & Zhimin Lu, 2020. "Influence of Torrefaction and Pelletizing of Sawdust on the Design Parameters of a Fixed Bed Gasifier," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Emmanuel Blancarte-Contreras & Sacramento Corral-Rivas & Tilo Gustavo Domínguez-Gómez & José Encarnación Lujan-Soto & José Rodolfo Goche-Télles & Eusebio Montiel-Antuna, 2022. "Improving the Physical, Mechanical and Energetic Characteristics of Pine Sawdust by the Addition of up to 40% Agave durangensis Gentry Pellets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-12, May.
    7. Stolarski, Mariusz J. & Stachowicz, Paweł & Dudziec, Paweł, 2022. "Wood pellet quality depending on dendromass species," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 498-508.
    8. Andrzej Białowiec & Monika Micuda & Jacek A. Koziel, 2018. "Waste to Carbon: Densification of Torrefied Refuse-Derived Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-20, November.
    9. Rodolfo Picchio & Francesco Latterini & Rachele Venanzi & Walter Stefanoni & Alessandro Suardi & Damiano Tocci & Luigi Pari, 2020. "Pellet Production from Woody and Non-Woody Feedstocks: A Review on Biomass Quality Evaluation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-20, June.

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