Potentials for Generating Alternative Fuels from Empty Palm Fruit Bunches by Pyrolysis

The threat that the disposal of empty palm fruit bunches constitute to communities in oil palm processing areas in Nigeria coupled with the current global focus on alternative energy is the trigger for this work. An existing pyrolytic reactor consisting of a reactor unit, condensate receiver, copper pipe connectors and gas receiver was modified and adapted for converting empty palm fruit bunches to alternative fuels. The average char yield was 44.9%, and the percentage of feedstock converted into pyrogas and tar oil was 55.1%. The char yield decreased gradually as temperature was increased from 300-700°C. Char yield was highest (39.78%) when the temperature was 300°C and the lowest char yield was 25.05% at 700°C The calorific values of char ranged between 21.12 and 23.76 MJ/kg. Apart from the potential of generating energy from pyrolysed EFB, it abates the disposal problem that EFB constitutes in the oil palm industry

Small hydropower (SHP) development in Nigeria: An assessment

This paper evaluates small hydropower (SHP) development and examines the current situation in Nigeria with respect to the established policies and Energy Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005. Hydropower sector witnessed about 360% growth between 1971 and 2005 and yet only about 5% of the vast small hydropower (SHP) potential is tapped by the few plants built between 1923 and 1964. Operating and maintenance costs are in favor of SHP development in the country, being the lowest when compared with the situation in European countries. The Nigerian Government has taken steps to diversify energy sources in order to promote renewable energy development by encouraging private investments in the energy sector through reforms, but this may not be adequate as there remain barriers against SHP development in the country. It is concluded that government must incorporate subsidies, feed-in-tariffs, and framework for Price Purchase Agreements (PPA) into the policies in order to further promote renewable energy and attract both indigenous and foreign investments for quick adoption and rapid expansion of SHP technologie

Thermochemical Conversion of Municipal Solid Waste to Produce Fuel and Reduce Waste

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 7 (2005): Thermochemical Conversion of Municipal Solid Waste to Produce Fuel and Reduce Waste by Ojolo, S. J. and Bamgboye, A. I

Development of a Cashew Nut Cracking Device

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 9 (2007): Development of a Cashew Nut Cracking Device. Manuscript PM 06 030. Vol. IX. June, 2007

Pyrolytic conversion of spent palm fruit bunches into bio-fuels

The threat which the disposal of spent palm fruit bunches constitutes to communities in oil palm processing communities in Nigeria coupled with the current global interest in alternative energy are the motivation for this work. An existing design of pyrolytic reactor consisting of a reactor unit, condensate receiver, copper pipe connectors and gas receiver was modified and adapted for converting spent palm fruit bunches into bio-fuels. The average char yield was 44.9 %, and the percentage of feedstock converted into pyro-gas and tar oil was 55.1 %. The char yield decreased gradually as temperature was increased from 300-700°C. Char yield was highest (39.78 %) when the temperature was 300°C and the lowest char yield was 25.05 % at 700 °C and the calorific values of char ranged between 21.12 and 23.76 MJkg-1. This work presents the potential of generating energy from pyrolysed Spent Palm Fruit Bunches (SPFB), it abates the disposal problem that SPFB constitutes in the oil palm industr

Analytical Investigations of Kinetic and Heat Transfer in Slow Pyrolysis of a Biomass Particle

The utilization of biomass for heat and power generation has aroused the interest of most researchers especially those of energy .In converting solid fuel to a USAble form of energy,pyrolysis plays an integral role. Understanding this very important phenomenon in the thermochemical conversion processes and representing it with appropriate mathematical models is vital in the design of pyrolysis reactors and biomass gasifiers. Therefore, this study presents analytical solutions to the kinetic and the heat transfer equations that describe the slow pyrolysis of a biomass particle. The effects of Biot number, temperature and residence time on biomass particle decomposition were studied. The results from the proposed analytical models are in good agreement with the reported experimental results. The developed analytical solutions to the heat transfer equations which have been stated to be “analytically involved” showed average percentageerror and standard deviations 0.439 and 0.103 from the experimental results respectively as compared with previous model in literature which gives average percentage error and standard deviations 0.75 and 0.106 from the experimental results respectively. This work is of great importance in the design of some pyrolysis reactors/units and in the optimal design of the biomass gasifiers