Pressurised pyrolysis of rice husk

Abstract

Malaysia produces every year huge quantities of agro residue such as rice husk, palm shell, sugar cane and etc. Pusat Tenaga Malaysia reported that the estimating potential energy of biomass around 834.305 PJ in year 2002. Rice husk has a potential energy around 7.536 PJ. Raw rice husk is not suitable used as fuel due to low density, low calorific value, high volatile matter, moisture and ash content. However, these characteristics can be improved by converting it into solid fuel through pressurised pyrolysis technology. Compressing and carbonisation process is applied simultaneously in pressurised pyrolysis to produce biocoal under pressure 3-6 MPa and heating temperature of 250°C. Experiments are carried out the thermo-chemical properties, density and compressive strength of biocoals. The calorific value and density of biocoal are increased to 20.12 MJ/kg and 1150 kg/m³ respectively. The biocoal has compressive strength of 3.49 MPa.