Performance Evaluation of a Hand Operated Compression Type Briquetting Machine

Abstract

A low cost, small capacity, low pressure, hand operated briquetting machine was developed and evaluated to meet the domestic energy demand in rural households. Rice husk, dry leaves, groundnut shells, and sawdust were used as raw materials along with paper pulp as binding material for preparation of briquettes. The average capacity was found to be 5 kg.h-1. Results showed that bulk density of the biomass after briquetting increased by 2.3, 2.6, 2.6 and 1.5 times for rice husk, dried leaves, groundnut shells and saw dust, respectively. Groundnut shell briquettes showed high resistance to shattering, followed by saw dust briquettes. Briquettes prepared from dry leaves had high resistance to water penetration. Use of briquettes in a local domestic stove with grate was found satisfactory.