Investigation of Emission Characteristics of Rice Husk Briquettes Fuel enriched with croton megalocarpus oil

Abstract

This study investigates the emission characteristics of rice husk briquettes enhanced with croton megalocarpus oil (CMO) to assess their potential as a sustainable biofuel. Seventeen experimental tests with different combinations of particle size, air-mass flux, and CMO absorption rates were set using Box Behnken Design (BBD) methodology. Three levels of each of these factors were considered in the design. These parameters were tested within a fixed bed combustion system to evaluate their impact on CO2, CO, NO_x, and SO_x emissions. The results indicate that emissions of CO, CO₂, NO_x, and SO_x vary significantly with changes in air mass flux, particle size, and absorption rate. CO emissions decrease with increasing air mass flux due to enhanced combustion efficiency, whereas they increase with smaller particle sizes, likely due to incomplete combustion. CO_₂ emissions are primarily influenced by absorption rate, with higher absorption rates leading to lower emissions as fuel oxidation improves. NO_x emissions increase with rising air mass flux and smaller particle sizes due to higher combustion temperatures that promote nitrogen oxidation. SO_x emissions are significantly affected by both air mass flux and particle size, with larger particle sizes and higher fluxes promoting better sulfur oxidation and reducing emissions. The statistical analysis confirms that air mass flux has the most significant impact on CO and NO_x emissions, while absorption rate plays a dominant role in CO_₂ emissions. Particle size is particularly influential in modifying SO_x emissions. These findings demonstrate that CMO-enriched briquettes could substantially mitigate the environmental impact of biomass fuels by enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing key pollutants. This underlines their viability as a cleaner alternative in energy production, advocating for further development and implementation