Performance of Corncobs and Wood Charcoal Briquette as Heat Energy Sources in In-Store Dryer

• Published in: IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science 2019-10, Vol.365 (1), p.12048
• Main Authors: Nurba, D, Yasar, M, Mustaqimah, Fadhil, R, Sari, S P, Mysa, C V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air drying; Air temperature; Briquets; Briquetting; Burning; Calorific value; Carbonation; Charcoal; charcoal briquettes; Combustion; corncobs; Drying; Energy sources; Heat; Heat sources; In-Store Dryer; Velocity; wood charcoal
• ISSN: 1755-1307; 1755-1315
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/365/1/012048

The present study aimed to investigate the distribution of hot air drying in the In-Store Dryer (ISD) by means of corncobs and wood charcoal briquettes as heat sources. The carbonation and briquetting process are methods used to solidify corncobs biomass or wood charcoal to be used as fuel. The results showed that the heating value of wood charcoal briquettes is 7402 kJ/g from which providing air temperature ranging from 33.8 to 51.4°C, while corncobs briquettes with a heating value of 5551 kJ/g could store air with a temperature range of 27.7 - 48.8°C. Inlet air velocity of both tests reached in the range of 7.5 to 8.0 m/s while the outlet air ranges from 5.2 to 5.8 m/s. Air velocity affects the temperature and RH of the air within ISD. The performance of 5 kg wood charcoal briquettes and corncobs briquettes burning can last for 8.5-8.7 hours with an efficiency of 65% compared to pure wood charcoal. Wood charcoal briquettes could supply air with 5°C higher temperature than corncobs briquettes did, even though the overall resistance from combustion rate was not significantly different; 9.8 and 9.7 gram/minute for wood charcoal briquettes and corncobs briquettes respectively. Therefore, corncobs briquettes are potential to be used as fuels (briquettes) for ISD heat supply.