Optimization of mixed agro residue pellets for enhanced fuel quality and economic feasibility

IF 5.5 3区材料科学 Q2 CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Carbon Letters Pub Date : 2024-10-03 DOI:10.1007/s42823-024-00819-w

Bhautik Gajera, Arghya Datta, Anil Kumar Sarma, Mithilesh Kumar Jha

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Abstract

The optimization of pellet fuels composed of rice straw, mustard straw, and sawdust was investigated in the present study to improve their properties and utility. Response surface methodology (RSM) and an artificial neural network (ANN) integrated with a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) were applied to optimize pellet composition for enhanced heating value and minimized ash, nitrogen, and sulfur content. An optimal blend of 74.40% rice straw, 15.60% mustard straw, and 10% sawdust was identified by RSM. These proportions were closely approximated by the MOGA-ANN model within ±1%, and the results were confirmed through experimental validation. Combustion ion chromatography was also used, to analyze the biomasses and the optimized blend, revealing reduced chloride (4189 mg/kg) and sulfur (2716 mg/kg) levels. These results were validated subsequently through experimental tests, confirming the accuracy of the proposed models. A techno-economic analysis indicated that a generation cost of Rs. 10.71 per unit would be associated with a fully agro-residue-based power plant, while less than Rs. 5.28–Rs. 5.31 would be the cost of generation per unit of electricity observed with 5% biomass co-firing in thermal plants. This study demonstrates that improved fuel quality and economic feasibility for biomass power generation can be achieved through strategic biomass blending and co-firing. These findings demonstrated that the blending of various biomass can be a viable strategy for enhancing the characteristics of pellet fuels on an industrial scale.

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来源期刊

Carbon Letters CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY-MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

CiteScore

7.30

自引率

20.00%

发文量

118

期刊介绍： Carbon Letters aims to be a comprehensive journal with complete coverage of carbon materials and carbon-rich molecules. These materials range from, but are not limited to, diamond and graphite through chars, semicokes, mesophase substances, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphenes, carbon blacks, activated carbons, pyrolytic carbons, glass-like carbons, etc. Papers on the secondary production of new carbon and composite materials from the above mentioned various carbons are within the scope of the journal. Papers on organic substances, including coals, will be considered only if the research has close relation to the resulting carbon materials. Carbon Letters also seeks to keep abreast of new developments in their specialist fields and to unite in finding alternative energy solutions to current issues such as the greenhouse effect and the depletion of the ozone layer. The renewable energy basics, energy storage and conversion, solar energy, wind energy, water energy, nuclear energy, biomass energy, hydrogen production technology, and other clean energy technologies are also within the scope of the journal. Carbon Letters invites original reports of fundamental research in all branches of the theory and practice of carbon science and technology.