Observation of the Carbonization Characteristics of a High Hardness Solid Biomass Fuel

Abstract

　　　Biomass is well known as one of the carbon neutral and renewable energy resources. Bio-coke, hereinafter called BIC, is one of the solid biomass fuel which can be made from various woody or herbaceous biomass by heating and compressing process. BIC is expected to be an alternative of coal coke because of its high hardness and high density characters. In the present study, the carbonization characteristics of the BIC were investigated experimentally. Three settings of carbonization procedures were examined and weight yield, volumetric shrinkage, specific weight, ratio of components and compressive strength were measured. As a result, it was found that BIC does not collapse during the carbonization process unlike common pellets and briquettes when heating rate is properly controlled and the carbon yield is higher than that of the carbonization of wood. In addition, the physical strength of the carbonized BIC decreased with carbonization temperature increased when the carbonization temperature was less than 873 K while it improved with carbonization temperature when the carbonization temperature was more than 873 K.