Compressive Strength Properties of Bio-Solid Fuel made from Pruned Branch

In order to reduce the exhaustion of carbon dioxide, the utilization of unused woody biomass such as forestry biomass and pruned branch has come to attract attention as an alternative fuel of coal. Most of the coal are used at coal-fueled power plants and iron mills. In the present study, bio-solid fuels to alternate coal cokes are investigated. Pruned branches of ume and persimmon which are the typical fruit trees cultivated in Wakayama prefecture are used as biomass resources. To establish a technical basis for the method of manufacturing bio-solid fuel with high hardness, effects of molding temperature, tress species and diameter of pruned branch on compressive strength properties of bio-solid fuel are clarified. The results obtained are as follows. In the case of ume, the compressive strength has a maximum, when the molding temperature is 140-160 degree C. There is no effect of diameter of pruned branch on compressive strength. In the case of persimmon, the compressive strength has a maximum, when the molding temperature is 180 degree C. The compressive strength decreases with decreasing the diameter of pruned branch. The difference in compressive strength between ume and persimmon is considered to be caused by the particle shape.