Experimental study on the FBC chamber for analysis of temperature and combustion efficiency using palm oil biomass fuel

Abstract

Renewable energy sources such as palm oil biomass solid waste have attracted the interest of scientists. This is because palm oil biomass is suitable for conversion to heat energy so that the dependence on conventional fossil energy can be reduced. This study aimed to analyze the combustion temperature and efficiency in fluidized-bed combustor (FBC) combustion chambers using palm oil biomass (such as palm kernel shell (PKS), empty fruit bunches (EFBs), and palm oil midrib (OPM)). In addition, the remaining combustion ash from the testing process was analyzed using Gaussian equations. In this study, experiments were conducted through combustion in the FBC space. The results of the experimentation from the combustion process with EFB fuel showed higher efficiency than those with OPM and PKS fuels. The efficiency level of the EFB, OPM, and PKS fuels was 12.77%, 11.05%, and 10.63%, respectively. The analysis results for the highest temperatures were recorded for the EFB fuels, which reached 1045° C, while the highest temperatures recorded for the PKS and OPM fuels were 875 and 934° C, respectively, for measurements on measurement point 1 (MP-1). For point of measurement point 2 (MP-2), the highest temperatures recorded for the PKS, OPM, and EFB fuels were 935, 866, and 633° C. Overall, the tests performed showed that the level of efficiency was in line with the testing process.