Ecological briquettes from sunflower seed husk

Abstract

he paper aims to use the waste of sun-flower hulls in order to obtain some lignocellulosic briquettes as renewable solid fuels. First, the sunflower seed husks were ground, after that they were sorted and only the fractions corresponding to the briquettes and pellets were used. After obtaining the stable briquettes there were determined the physical and caloric properties of briquettes manufactured from sunflower husks, as potential alternative biofuels. The moisture content, ash content and density of the briquettes have been determined and correlated with their calorific properties, namely the calorific value and calorific density. The experimental results have indicated that, even if the self-adhesion of sunflower seed hulls is less than that of wood sawdust, they have a better behaviour in humid environment. Good results make it possible to use these briquettes for both household heating systems and thermal power plants.