Characterization of fuel and mechanical properties of charred agricultural wastes: Experimental and statistical studies

The importance of parameters such as material type, compacting pressure, particle size, and their interactions in the manufacturing of charred briquette fuel for industrial and domestic use cannot be overemphasized because they have a considerable impact on briquette performance. In investigating the aforementioned phenomena, the Box–Behnken​ Response Surface Design and ANOVA were used to analyze how briquette material type, particle size, compacting pressure and their interactions significantly influence the mechanical and combustion properties of charred briquettes made from palm kernel shells, corn cobs, sawdust, and rice husk. All three factors namely material type, compacting pressure and particle size, with all possible interactions are significant determinants of the relax densities and impact resistance of all the briquette samples. Meanwhile, water resistance of the sampled briquettes was significantly different for material type, pressure level as well as particle size, however, all factor interactions were insignificantly affected with palm kernel shell and rice husk recording the highest and lowest water resistance property. With regards to the combustion properties, apart from material type which significantly affected heating rate and specific fuel consumption, pressure and particle size together with all interactions did not have any significant influence on heating rate and specific fuel consumption. Finally, the findings provide a new perspective to investigate other agricultural residues which will diversify the energy resources of the country.