Biomass Briquette : Piston/Ram Type or Screw Type?

sawdust briquette and its charcoal briquette

The dimensions of briquettes and pellets are distinguished because of its size. Pellet diameter size less than 25 mm, while the briquettes is more than 25 mm. In contrast to wood pellets that have only one kind of shape that is cylindrical, biomassbriquette has a variety of shapes such as cylindrical, hexagonal, and beams. In addition to the commercial side of the biomass briquette production process is based on grouped into two: first, piston / ram type are made with a piston or mechanical press with high pressure, while the screw-type with screw extruder made ​​the biomass experiencing continuous extrusion with the heated die. In the ram / ​​piston press wear of machine contact with the biomass smaller than the screw extruder. Energy consumption for the ram / ​​piston type is also smaller than the screw extruder type. But in terms of quality and production procedures,  screw extruder type superior than superior to the piston press technology. The presence of a hole in the middle of the screw type briquette making more uniform and efficient combustion and also the type briquette can be carbonized into charcoal briquette. Comparison between the two kinds of biomass briquette as in the table below:

ram type sawdust briquette

 

A.    Ram / Piston Press Technology

-Friction between biomass by means of relatively small, so it can be reduced machine wear.

-The moisture content of the raw material should be made less than 12% for the best results.

- Carbonization on the outer layer is not possible, so the briquette is rather fragile.

B.     Screw Extruder Technology

-Continuous output and briquette out with a uniform size.

-The outer layer of briquette is partially carbonized so making it easier ignition and combustion. This layer also protects from moisture surrounding air.

-Middle hole in the briquette help the combustion because the air supply becomes sufficient.

-Machine or equipment operates very soft without any shock load.

- Machine or equipment is also lighter than the ram / ​​piston press in the absence of reciprocating parts and flywheel.

-Machine components and lubricants used in the machine free from dust or contamination of raw materials.

-High energy consumption compared to the ram / ​​piston press.

Converting oil burner furnace with biomass briquette

At this time screw extruder and ram / ​​piston press technology became commercially important. Ram / ​​piston press technology is older than the screw extruder technology, so that more units ram / ​​piston press in operation today. But the development of a screw extruder also fast which is predicted in the next few years the production of biomass briquette screw type also jumped sharply. Resume of applications of biomass briquette screw type can be seen here.