BRIQUETTES

Every year millions of tons of agricultural wastes and forest residues are generated. These are
either wasted or burnt inefficiently in their loose form causing air pollution. Handing and
transportation of these materials is difficult due to their low bulk density. These wastes can
provide renewable source of energy by converting in to high density fuel briquettes with out
addition of any binder
Briquettes have high specific density (1200kg/m3) and bulk density( 800kg/m3) compared to
60 to 180 kg/m3 of loose bio mass. These can stand the ardors of long distance transport.
Loading/ unloading and transportation cost are much less and storage requirements is
drastically reduced. Compared to firewood or loose bio- mass, briquettes give much higher
boiler efficiency because of low moisture and density

Briquettes produced from briquetting of biomass are fairly good substitute for
coal, lignite, firewood and offer numerous advantages.

Briquettes are cheaper than coal

Oil,coal or lignite once used cant be replaced

High sulfur content of oil and coal, when burnt, pollutes the environment. There is no
sulfur in briquettes.

Bio mass briquettes have a higher practical thermal value and much lower ash
content(2-10% compare to 20-40% in coal).

There is no fly ash in burning briquettes

Briquettes have a consistent quality, have high burning efficiency are ideally sized for
complete combustion. Combustion is more uniform compared to coal and boiler
response to changes in steam requirements is faster due to higher quantity of volatile
matter in briquettes.

Briquettes are clean to handle and can be packed in bags for ease of handling and
storage.

Briquettes are usually produced near the consumption centers and supplies dont

depend on erratic transport from long distances.

Briquetted fuel has some shortcoming also:

It cant withstand direct contact with water hence storage facility for keep briquettes required.
Maximum attainable temperature is 1000`C due low carbon content. Burning capacity per unit
volume of furnace is low compared to coal.

CONSUMERS

The demand of fuel briquettes is increasing as the use of the briquettes is spreading and people
becoming aware of its availability and advantages. Briquetted fuel can be used as a substitute
of coal or firewood. At present it is being used in the following areas.
1.Tyre Retrading units
2.Tea processing units
3.Boiler for raising steam in chemical, Textile processing industries
4.Hotels and restaurants for raising steam
5.Dryers and ovens for generation of hot air and many areas where firewood, Leco and coal
used.

We agni agro industries having three briquetting plants situated in tamilnadu

in the district of erode and coimbatore to cater the demands of industries
locally.

COMPARISSON OF AGNI WITH OTHER FOSSIL FUELS

Sl.
No.

Particulars

Fire wood

1.

Calorific value

2500 to 3000

2.

Ash

20 to 28 %

AGNI

Coal B

4200 to
4500 to 6000
4500
0.5 to 6 % 25 to 50%

3.

Pollution,Poisonous
Smoke
effluent Smoke

4.
5.
6.
7.

Moisture
Cost
Efficiency
Wastages

8.

Labour usage

9.. Boiler efficy

10. Handling

25 to 35 %
Rs. 3.5 /kg
50%
20%
Require
maximum
persons in
handling and
cutting

No Smoke Sulphur,Co2,
No
phosphorous
Sulphur fumes
8%
10%
Rs.5.5 /Kg Rs. 7 /kg
75%
70%
10%
15%
Single
Require two
person is
persons
enough

normal
Require regular Fly ash
high wear &
maintainance
deposit on tear
tubes
Easy
Tough require because of
Tough
more areas
packed
material

Agro waste briquettes have certain benefits over coal like

Easy handling, packing and transportation of briquettes can be made in any

conventional length and diameter.

Low ash content( below 10%) in comparison to coal( 25 to 40%) resulting least boiler
ash disposal problems.

Regular supply of briquettes do not suffer from transportation bottle necks as the plant
can be set up near raw material source and selling areas.

There will be no corrosion effect on boiler equipments resulting in negligible

maintenance cost. Coal on the other hand produces sulpher dioxide, which on mixing
with moisture produces sulphuric acid an corrosive acid.

Compare with coal even in terms of cal. Value per rupee

It has low ignition point, when compared to leco and coal

It gives sustained combustion and more efficient combustion then loose agro wastes

It is a clean fuel.

No gas and effluents like coal. So no health hazards.

Easy handling compared to loose husk and fire wood.

Low ash content. So less ash handling.

Can be mixed with coal and fire wood of inferior quality which improves burning.

Prevents environmental destruction due cutting off trees.

Proximate analysis of AGNI

briquettes
Moisture
7.20 to 8 %
Volatile matter
62 to 68 %
Ash content
6 to 8 %
Fixed carbon
20 to 26 %

Ultimate analysis of AGNI

briquettes
Carbon
47.10 %
Ash content
6.78 %
Nitrogen
1.87 %
Sulphur
0.26 %
Oxygen ( by differ)
38.86 %