POSSIBILITY OF USING CORN STALKS AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Prof. of Ag. Eng., Fac. of Ag. Eng., Al-Azhar Univ., Cairo, Egypt.

2 Assoc. Prof. of Ag. Structures and Environ. Control Dept., Fac. of Ag. Eng., Al-Azhar Univ., Cairo, Egypt.

3 Demons. of Ag. Structures and Environ. Control Dept., Fac. of Ag. Eng., Al-Azhar Univ., Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

The main objective of the present study is to develop the fundamentals of a technology for energetic utilization of corn stalks aimed to solve the problem of dangerous storing and burning of corn stalks in Egypt and to evaluate some physical properties of corn stalks briquettes, easily storable, and environmentally sound biofuel for rural areas in Egypt. Chopped corn stalks was densified into briquettes using a laboratory model vertical hydraulic press at different formation pressures of  (15, 32, 49 and 60 MPa), three temperatures  (room temperature (35oC), 75 and 100oC), three levels of moisture content (7.33, 8.72 and 10.52% wb) and different holding time (10, 20 and 30 min). The results showed that the highest bulk density, compression ratio, durability and water resistance were 1472 kg/m3, 27, 98% and 88 min, respectively, at formation pressure of 60 MPa, temperature of 100oC, moisture content of 7.33% and holding time of 30 min. While, the minimum resiliency obtained was 4.88%. The CO and CO2 emissions for briquettes were less than these for chopped corn stalks.

Main Subjects

References

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