Production of Electricity and Biochar from Pineapple Plantation Waste

Besides being able to be processed into briquettes or in more detail, read here, pineapple plantation waste can also be used for electricity and biochar production. The use of biochar on pineapple plantation land will increase fertility and improve soil quality so that it will also increase the productivity of the pineapple fruit. The use of biochar on dry land such as pineapple plantations will be more effective so that the benefits will be even more real. Biochar that can last up to hundreds of years in the soil will provide long-term benefits for pineapple plantation owners. The era in the future that tends towards efficient agriculture or precision agriculture will also produce less waste or even zero waste. Agricultural wastes that have been a lot of environmental problems will be reduced and processed into added value, environmentally friendly and sustainable materials such as biochar production.

In large pineapple plantations, the amount of pineapple waste produced is also large. Besides producing biochar, pyrolysis of pineapple waste will also generate electricity. Electricity as a form of energy that is easily converted to various other forms of energy is certainly very useful, especially the pineapple industry. Pineapple processing can use the electricity generated, thereby reducing or even eliminating the need for external electricity. But it is possible that if the pineapple industry needs heat more than electricity, the excess energy from pyrolysis does not need to be converted into electricity but only heat is enough and this is easier and simpler. Of course, these things also further reduce the production costs of these pineapple-based products, thus providing even greater profit.

There are many products from the pineapple industry, including candied pineapple, pineapple jam, pineapple paste, pineapple chips, pineapple juice, pineapple juice probiotics, pineapple jelly, canned pineapple, and dried fruit. As one fruit that is quite popular throughout the world, the demand for pineapple is also increasing. With the prediction of the world's population reaching nearly 10 billion by 2050, the need for food, especially fruit, will also increase. Pineapple peels are also commonly used as animal feed, especially cattle, and cow dung is used for biogas production. The addition of biochar to cow dung for biogas will increase biogas production, more details can be read here and the sideproduct in the form of digestate which is then composted will be of better quality in the presence of biochar. Biochar makes the nutrients in compost not easy washed but is released slowly (slow release fertilizer).

Pellet Fuel from Corn Cobs and Stalks

Corn cobs and stalks is waste from the cultivation of corn. Generally both of the waste disposed of and is not utilized. The costly of energy prices, solution to problems of waste and increased value added by utilization of these wastes are the driving forces of the utilization of thay waste. Data for the year 2006 with the production of corn nationally 11.7 million tons,  the agricultural waste generated, i.e. 12.1 million tons. With the potential energy of the dried stems and leaves an estimated 66,35 GJ and corncob by 55,75 GJ certainly potential for a source of energy. Dried corn stems and leaves have a calorie value 4370 kcal/kg whereas the corn cob on 4451 kcal/kg at MC 7,53%.

Pelleting to be a pellets fuel is the best choice for the energy source. Pellets from waste agricultural corn can be used to fuel stoves on the agricultural area or for industrial or electricity generation and the potential for exporting abroad. Review of pellet fuel origin because from the waste corn agriculture these include biomass pellet or agri-pellets, that its specifications are slightly different from wood pellets. Production technology of  pellet from waste corn  is also almost the same as the production of wood pellets.

A number of areas where corn production centers throughout Indonesia is potential for developing these commodities due to the availability of raw materials, agricultural waste, tackle the problem of energy needs continue to rise and economic factors. As an environmentally friendly fuel, easily stored and used, as carbon neutral fuel will reduce the impact of climate change due to greenhouse gases and push low-carbon economy.

Chlorine Corrosion, Ghost The Feared Powerplant

Superheater pipes corroded by chlorine

There are 3 groups of biomass used as powerplant fuel around the world based on its quality such as calorific value, ash content and ash chemistry.  First, woody biomass includes all woody trees such as eucalyptus, calliandra, gliricidia and so on. The second group is agro-industry wastes such as ricehusk, baggase, coconut shell, palm shell and so on. While in the third group is grasses.

Although in general the biomass has a low concentration of chlorine (except straw) compared with coal, heavy corrosion occurs in a powerplant that use biomass fuel and cause leaks in the pipes of heat exchanger with  less than 10,000 hours of operation. Corrosion of heat transfer apparatus is strongly associated with ash deposits in the pipes. The mechanism of the complex reactions of chlorine corrosion in boiler pipes like this chart:

The mechanism of corrosion chemical reaction of chlorine

Superheater steam pipes are generally not designed to accommodate the chlorine in biomass fuels. Corrosion mechanisms above are quite well understood by designers and users of biomass boilers in Europe, indications are superheater pipes installed in the low temperature gas zone. Another technology that is able to accommodate biomass fuels with high chlorine levels such as agro-industry wastes and grasses are Circulating Fluidised BedCombustion (CFBC). Temperature pulverized coal (PC) boilers which operate at temperatures up to 1500 C 1400 causing severe corrosion in the superheater pipes, while the CFBC operating at lower temperatures ranging from 850C to 900C. 

Whether The Wood Biomass is Preferred Than Agro-Industrial Waste For Pellet Production?

Calorific value, ash content and ash chemistry are three important parameters in determining the quality of the pellets. Above three parameters is strongly influenced by the raw material for the production of pellets. High calorific value, low ash content and ash chemistry that is friendly to the boiler pipes are ideal conditions sought by users of pellets. Selection of raw materials for the production of pellets is the key word to achieve the ideal condition.

The demand of wood pellets for export on a largescale that the average over 5000 tons / month require the supply of raw material of sawdust or wood sawmill waste in large quantities. It is difficult to fulfill. Small-scale wood pellet manufacturer with a capacity of less than 1000 tons / month may be a going concern. Supply of raw material this is one of the key factor of business success and sustainability of the wood pellets.

Agro-industry wastes such as empty fruit bunches of palm oil, coffee husk, rice husk, corn cob and so as a potential raw material for pellet. Quantity of raw material of the waste is overflow so that a more reliable supply of raw materials, but the quality is still below the wood biomass feedstock based on the three parameters mentioned above.

An ideal way to get the raw materials of adequate quality and quantity although it takes a longer time is to create energy farms or plantations energy industry. Woody biomass can be produced in a relatively quick time and the amount of supply is guaranteed. Land of Indonesia's vast and fertile because of the many volcanoes and tropical climates because it is at the equator so it is very possible for this.