Abstract

FLOREZ RAMOS, David Francisco; BARCO BURGOS, Jimmy  and  RINCON PRAT, Sonia Lucía. Comparative analysis of the carbonization of oil palm kernel shells in fixed bed reactors. Tecnura [online]. 2016, vol.20, n.49, pp.45-58. ISSN 0123-921X.  https://doi.org/10.14483/udistrital.jour.tecnura.2016.3.a03.

Background: Raw palm oil production has increased 60% in the last 5 years in the country. This increase is accompanied by the production of a larger amount of residues generated during the extraction process. In this work, the carbonization of oil palm shells is assessed in different reactors in order to determine their use as a renewable energy source. Method: Oil palm shells carbonization is carried out in a laboratory scale retort set-up and two semi-pilot scale fixed bed reactors. Mass yields and physiochemical properties of products, are compared by increasing the size of the reactor at the same heating rate and the influence of the heating rate is studied in the retort set-up. Results: An increase in the heating rate from 2,5 K/min to 7,0 K/min promotes a 10 % of reduction of char and an increase of 1,5 % and 20 % of gas and liquid products respectively. When increasing the size of the reactor, the char and gas yields increase in 6 % and 7% respectively and liquid products decrease in 3 %. Conclusions: By increasing the reactor size, mass and heat transport phenomena and secondary reactions are promoted. This phenomena along with a reduction in heating rate generates larger char yields and larger gaseous yields with higher calorific value.

Keywords : Carbonization; Oil Palm Shells; Fixed bed reactor; Scaling.

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