Alternative Energy. Notice V*. Complex Use of Alternative Energy Sources in the Development of Fuel Briquettes
Keywords
Abstract
Ukraine can partially compensate for the current deficit of fossil energy sources (oil, natural gas) effectively using large volumes of biomass (23 million tons of equivalent fuel per year) as an alternative source in the production of solid, liquid and gaseous energy resources. The main physical, chemical, thermal, thermo- and biochemical methods of biomass processing and the prospective use of the resulting alternative energy sources are considered. It is noted that today the developed countries of the world are increasingly providing their own fuel and energy sector with the introduction of "green" technologies, accumulating renewable energy from the sun (PV modules), wind (wind power) and hydrogen (hydrogen power, fuel cells). Attention is focused on the prospects of producing fuel briquettes from available biomass and their possible use for heating private housing and other premises in villages, towns and cities. The composition and main technical characteristics of fuel briquettes used today in Ukraine, the calorific values of which vary within quite wide limits, have been analyzed. Thus, briquettes based on brown coal, charcoal, and pyrocarbon have a calorific value of 5500…7000 kcal/kg, waste from the woodworking and pulp and paper industries 3820…4500 kcal/kg, and agricultural waste 3860…4800 kcal/kg. The prospects and advantages of using fuel briquettes based on their manufacturing technology, including the preparation of raw materials and their pressing/briquetting, have been considered.
It was established that the production of fuel briquettes corresponds to the basic principles of the circular economy: waste from a number of industries (woodworking and pulp and paper industries) and technologies (processing of plastic waste by pyrolysis), agricultural waste become the initial raw materials for obtaining the sought-after final product — fuel briquettes with their subsequent effective use. The technology of obtaining fuel briquettes by pressing a charge consisting of pyrocarbon, wood sawdust and corrugated cardboard, without heating it and additional introduction of adhesive additives, is considered.
