article · International Journal of Coal Science & Technology
Torrefied Melina wood and lean grade coal fines were combined with pitch binder to produce composite solid fuel briquettes. Blends containing between 3% and 20% torrefied biomass and 80% to 97% coal fines were compacted under hydraulic pressure and cured at 300 °C. Following curing, the density of the briquettes ranged from 0.92 to 1.31 g/cm3. Formulations containing less than 10% torrefied biomass demonstrated a water resistance index exceeding 95%. Briquettes made with 97% coal fines and 3% torrefied biomass achieved the highest mechanical performance, recording a cold crushing strength of 4 MPa, a drop to fracture count of 54 times from two metres, and an impact resistance index of 1350. The resulting fuel composites exhibited mild improvements in elemental and fixed carbon compared to raw coal, showing potential utility as fuel up to 20% biomass loading.
Blending pretreated biomass with low-grade coal fines allows the production of composite solid fuels with improved carbon content and structural integrity. Understanding the mechanical and physical limits of these briquettes helps determine how much renewable biomass can be integrated without compromising handling strength or moisture resistance, supporting efforts to utilise forestry and coal waste.
This laboratory-scale research demonstrates that composite briquettes with up to 20% torrefied biomass can serve as fuel for various energy applications. The findings could interest solid fuel manufacturers and industrial operators seeking to blend biomass into coal supplies. The technology appears to be at an early, experimental stage, requiring production scaling and operational combustion trials before real-world commercial use.
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Abstract Melina wood torrefied at 260 °C for 60 min was agglomerated with lean grade coal fines into composite briquettes using pitch as binder. Torrefied biomass (3%–20%) and coal fines (80%–97%) were blended together to produce the composite briquettes under a hydraulic press (28 MPa). The briquettes were cured at 300 °C. Density, water resistance, drop to fracture, impact resistance, and cold crushing strength were evaluated for the composite briquettes. The proximate, ultimate, and calorific value analyses were carried out according to different ASTM standards. Microstructural studies were carried out using scanning electron microscope and electron probe microanalyzer equipped with energy dispersive x-ray. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) was used to obtain the functional groups in the raw materials and briquettes. The density of the composite briquettes ranged from 0.92 to 1.31 g/cm 3 after curing. Briquettes with < 10% torrefied biomass has good water resistance index (> 95%). The highest cold crushing strength of 4 MPa was obtained for briquettes produced from 97% coal fines and 3% torrefied biomass. The highest drop to fracture (54 times/2 m) and impact resistance index (1350) were obtained for the sample produced from 97% coal and 3% torrefied biomass. The fixed and elemental carbons of the briquettes showed a mild improvement compared to the raw coal. The peaks from FTIR spectra for the briquettes shows the presence of aromatic C=C bonds and phenolic OH group. The composite briquettes with up to 20% torrefied biomass can all be useful as fuel for various applications.
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DOI: 10.1007/s40789-021-00438-0
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