A preliminary study on coffee hulls combustion using a fluidized bed combustor

• Main Authors: Go, Allan D., Tan, Katrien Barbara U., Tavares, Ma. Concepcion C.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1993
• Subjects: Coffee hulls; Fluidized-bed combustion; Combustion > Research; Crop residues > Utilization; Agricultural wastes as fuel; Chemical Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/6527
• Institution: De La Salle University

This is a study on coffee hulls combustion using fluidized bed combustion technology. Coffee hulls is an agricultural waste with good cellulosic properties similar to that of wood. It is intended that this feed be used as a fuel to produce heat that can be used for various direct heat-application operations. Two sets of experiments were conducted Experimentation was done using an inert bed material (sand) and another set was performed using only coffee hulls. Parameters that were closely monitored are the feed rate, air flowrate, and bed temperature. The gas composition analysis and the heating value of the fuel determines the combustion efficiency. The optimum conditions at which the operations were best achieved were also determined. These are: An air flowrate of 170 li/min, a feed rate of 2.4 Kg/hr, and a bed temperature of 872 centigrade. With these conditions, the flue gas analysis showed a minimal carbon monoxide content showing that coffee hulls used as fuel is environment-Friendly. The combustion efficiency at the ideal conditions were found out to be 96.84 percent.