Briquettes from Mixtures of Herbaceous Biomass and Wood: Biofuel Investigation and Combustion Tests

Abstract

The background idea of the current research lies directly in the evaluation of combustion performance and its association to the analysis of the quality of different types of herbaceous-based briquettes mixed with wood. In total, 25 briquette samples were prepared using different proportions of herbaceous and woody biomass. Draff, buckwheat hulls, straw, rapeseed by-product from biofuel production, oats, and common reed were used. Briquettes fully produced from wood were used as a benchmark. A laboratory analysis was completed to determine the following parameters of the samples: moisture and ash content, calorific value, ash melting temperature, content of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulphur. The combustion tests were executed using a heating stove for all samples. The results show that some types of non-wood biomass have a positive effect on briquette production and the combustion processes.