Abstract

This study is concerned with the transformation of agricultural wastes into useful solid form of energy known as briquettes. Being agricultural in nature, Egypt disposes huge quantities in adhoc manner resulting in economic loss and adverse environmental consequences. This improved form of agricultural waste eases utilization and storage. Two major parameters -residue size and processing conditions- were investigated. Bagasse-mudcake mixture, cotton stalk, rice straw and com stalk are the residues studied for briquetting. Since stable and durable briquettes are important qualities density and strength of the formed briquettes are calculated as measures of stability and durability. The problem is too involved: these materials are usually considered waste; and no documented studies on their mechanical, chemical and other properties are available in Egypt. The work attempted to gather, study and conclude on existing and ongoing studies. The reader is offered a systematic methodology on how stability, strength and other measures are investigated through planned design of experiments approach. The ultimate objective is to determine the useful setting of process and product parameters to maximize/minimize certain measures. This is, usually, not possible using classical optimization technique; though mathematical models can latter be applied for further possible improvements. Through experimentation, feasible parameters (residue size and processing conditions) were identified for producing solid fuel briquettes from sugar cane processing wastes (bagasse-mudcake mixture), and from the most common farm residues ( cotton stalk, rice straw and com stalk) in Egypt. The investigations were done in two-fold: first, the residues were densified at constant briquetting pressure under varied heat of compression using a low rpm motor/gear-driven press; and second, by compressing the residue under hydraulic press machine (70-120 MPa) without heat. The optimum parameters in terms of density and strength of the briquettes were determined through measurement and testing of the briquettes. The relative strengths of briquettes were determined through mechanical testing approach that we did not found reported by researches that have worked on briquetting agricultural wastes. Software for design of experiments was employed in data analysis and in making statistical inferences. While stable and durable briquettes were achieved from bagasse-mudcake mixture, cotton stalk and corn stalk, rice straw was found to be least stable and durable. The economic study was carried out taking into consideration the sensitivity ('what if analysis) of some critical production and cost factors; Benefit-Cost analysis and spreadsheet program were employed.

School

School of Sciences and Engineering

Department

Interdisciplinary Engineering Program

Date of Award

2-1-2004

Online Submission Date

1-1-2003

First Advisor

Salah El Haggar

Committee Member 1

Bahgat ElSayed Ali

Committee Member 2

Mohamed Gadallah

Committee Member 3

Ezzat Fahmy

Document Type

Thesis

Extent

115 leaves

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Agricultural waste

Rights

The American University in Cairo grants authors of theses and dissertations a maximum embargo period of two years from the date of submission, upon request. After the embargo elapses, these documents are made available publicly. If you are the author of this thesis or dissertation, and would like to request an exceptional extension of the embargo period, please write to thesisadmin@aucegypt.edu

Call Number

Thesis 2003/66

Location

mgfth

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