Biomass Briquettes

Biomass Briquettes

Biomass briquettes are a bio fuel alternative to charcoal and also coal. Although mainly used in the developing world owing to non availability of cooking fuels, an emphasis has been made for their usage in the developed world also. Biomass briquettes are used at some places in the developed world for the purpose of heating industrial boilers in order to produce electricity from steam.

The briquettes are composed of green waste and other organic materials such as rice husk, ground nut shells, agricultural waste and also municipal solid waste. As compared to coal, the briquettes provide a much higher calorific value when used in industrial boilers. Furthermore, these are also more environment friendly, releasing lesser pollutants into the atmosphere while burning than coal or charcoal.

A lot of the developing and developed countries produce huge quantities of agricultural residue which is used inefficiently and dumped inappropriately, thus causing a lot of problems. Apart from the transportation, handling, storage and other logistical problems associated with the residues, the direct burning of these undertaken by some people also causes widespread air pollution. Furthermore, even after direct burning, the residues leave large amounts of ash, creating another problem relating to disposal of their ashes.

Due to the above mentioned reasons, there is a growing realization of the overall benefits provided by biomass briquettes, resulting in an increase in the number of biomass briquettes plants all over the world.

Simply put, biomass briquettes can be used as fuel in all appliances meant for burning wood and coal. Some of these appliances are stoves, furnaces, boilers, hydronic heaters and masonry heaters.

Application Areas of Biomass Briquettes :

Food processing industries

Textile processing facilities

Agricultural and clay product units

Gasifiers

Ceramic and refractory industries

Dyeing plants

Benefits of Using Biomass Briquettes:

Use of biomass briquettes is steadily increasing as it causes less pollution.

Briquettes offer higher calorific value per dollar in comparison to coal while process of firing in industrial boilers.

Biomass briquettes can save approximately 30–40% boiler fuel cost.

These are environmental friendly and produce less greenhouse gases.

These are resistant to water degradation.