PRODUCTION OF SOLID FUEL FROM TORREFACTION: EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND PROCESS TIME

The purpose of this study is to investigate the torrefaction of palm oil trunks and fronds
in packed bed reactor. Different temperature and process time were considered The
difference in temperature during torrefaction has great influence on the mass yield and
energy yield of the torrefied palm oil trunks and fronds. Three different temperatures of
220, 250, and 300°C are used. The process times are 30, 60, and 90 minute.
The increase in temperature result in lower mass yield but increase in energy yield. Also,
an increase in the weight loss, calorific value, percentage of carbon element, and
decrease in percentage of oxygen element observed [1 ]. Theoretically, the mass yield will
be decreased as the temperature increase. Since batch wise packed bed reactor is used in
this study, the process time will refer to time elapsed in batch-wise operation.