TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of process variables on the density and durability of the pellets made from high moisture corn stover
AU - Tumuluru, Jaya Shankar
N1 - Funding Information:
The author would like to acknowledge Craig C. Conner of Idaho National Laboratory and Richard McCulloch, Graduate Student, University of Utah for supporting the experimental work and SEM study. The authors would also like to acknowledge Leslie Park Ovard, Quinn Grover, Gordon Holt, David L. Combs, and Allen Haroldsen from Idaho National Laboratory's R&D Publications Support Team for their editorial and graphics assistance. This work was supported by the DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy under DOE Idaho Operations Office Contract DE-AC07-05ID14517 . Accordingly, the U.S. government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains, a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes.
PY - 2014/3
Y1 - 2014/3
N2 - A flat die pellet mill was used to understand the effect of high levels of feedstock moisture content in the range of 28-38% (w.b.), with die rotational speeds of 40-60Hz, and preheating temperatures of 30-110°C on the pelleting characteristics of 4.8mm screen size ground corn stover using an 8mm pellet die. The physical properties of the pelletised biomass studied are: (a) pellet moisture content, (b) unit, bulk and tapped density, and (c) durability. Pelletisation experiments were conducted based on central composite design. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that feedstock moisture content influenced all of the physical properties at P<0.001. Pellet moisture content decreased with increase in preheating temperature to about 110°C and decreasing the feedstock moisture content to about 28% (w.b.). Response surface models developed for quality attributes with respect to process variables has adequately described the process with coefficient of determination (R2) values of >0.88. The other pellet quality attributes such as unit, bulk, tapped density, were maximised at feedstock moisture content of 30-33% (w.b.), die speeds of >50Hz and preheating temperature of >90°C. In case of durability a medium moisture content of 33-34% (w.b.) and preheating temperatures of >70°C and higher die speeds >50Hz resulted in high durable pellets. It can be concluded from the present study that feedstock moisture content, followed by preheating, and die rotational speed are the interacting process variables influencing pellet moisture content, unit, bulk and tapped density and durability.
AB - A flat die pellet mill was used to understand the effect of high levels of feedstock moisture content in the range of 28-38% (w.b.), with die rotational speeds of 40-60Hz, and preheating temperatures of 30-110°C on the pelleting characteristics of 4.8mm screen size ground corn stover using an 8mm pellet die. The physical properties of the pelletised biomass studied are: (a) pellet moisture content, (b) unit, bulk and tapped density, and (c) durability. Pelletisation experiments were conducted based on central composite design. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that feedstock moisture content influenced all of the physical properties at P<0.001. Pellet moisture content decreased with increase in preheating temperature to about 110°C and decreasing the feedstock moisture content to about 28% (w.b.). Response surface models developed for quality attributes with respect to process variables has adequately described the process with coefficient of determination (R2) values of >0.88. The other pellet quality attributes such as unit, bulk, tapped density, were maximised at feedstock moisture content of 30-33% (w.b.), die speeds of >50Hz and preheating temperature of >90°C. In case of durability a medium moisture content of 33-34% (w.b.) and preheating temperatures of >70°C and higher die speeds >50Hz resulted in high durable pellets. It can be concluded from the present study that feedstock moisture content, followed by preheating, and die rotational speed are the interacting process variables influencing pellet moisture content, unit, bulk and tapped density and durability.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84893823435&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2013.11.012
DO - 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2013.11.012
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84893823435
SN - 1537-5110
VL - 119
SP - 44
EP - 57
JO - Biosystems Engineering
JF - Biosystems Engineering
ER -