Assessment of the potential of charred briquettes of sawdust, rice and coconut husks: Using water boiling and user acceptability tests
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Date
2021-05-21
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific African
Abstract
Charred briquettes production is a sustainable way of producing cooking fuel from waste.
Unsustainable harvesting of wood for fuel production has contributed immensely to the
rapid deforestation in Ghana. This study determined the potential of charred briquettes
of sawdust, rice and coconut husks in meeting cooking energy needs of households. In a
further step, the acceptability of biomass users in the study to replace their current fuels with charred briquettes was established. The calorific value of the charred briquettes
was found to be 24.69 MJ/kg. The highest combustion efficiency of briquettes was determined as 34.7% when a multi-feed gasifier stove (MFGS) was used. There were 14% and
80% reduction in particulate matter and carbon monoxide emissions, respectively when
briquettes was used instead of charcoal in the MFGS. The analysis of the production cost
of briquettes revealed that 1 kg of briquettes should be sold at Gh¢ 2.48 in order to make a
10% profit. The user acceptability survey indicated that about 40% of respondents are ready
to patronize briquettes should it be sold at Gh¢ 2.48. This study established that briquette
is a suitable replacement for wood and charcoal, if its full potential is harnessed and the
energy utilization efficiency of biomass (sawdust, rice and coconut husts) briquettes is confirmed
Description
Keywords
Ghana, Power, ACE: Energy and Environmental Sustainability, University of Energy & Natural Resources