OPTIMIZATION OF BIOMASS BRIQUETTING SYSTEM USED FOR POWER GENERATION

Abstract

Biomass, such as agricultural residue, can be converted into briquette fuel using technology to expand the possible applications of biomass and improve biomass utilization efficiency. The major machines required in a briquette fuel system in some cases drying chopping cooling machines are also required apart from major briquetting machine. To reach a high performance index, all machines in the plant must match and be combined to perform optimally so that it satisfies multiple objectives, such as economy, production stability and product quality. In this thesis, a mathematical model for a systematic evaluation of biomass briquetting plant used for power generation was established according to theories of grey relational analysis. This model was used to select a biomass briquetting machines combination scheme considering optimization factors like economy which comprises of capital cost and operating cost, product quality which comprises of calorific value and degree of densification and production stability which comprises of machine repair cycle and life of major parts. The most significant influencing parameters controlling each optimization factor were analyzed using a sensitivity analysis. Based on the grey relation analysis, an optimally performing combination of machines was selected for a fully operational mustard husk briquette fuel plant producing briquettes at rate of 6 ton per hour. An optimally performing combination of machines includes 6 machines of GK70 type. The evaluated influencing parameters and proportionate numbers were chosen objectively as 0.5, 0.3 and 0.2 for economy, production stability and product quality respectively. These results provide a reference for selection of optimally performing combination of machines in large-scale biomass briquetting plant used for power generation.