1

26
al OCT
30

ER
Congre
GTech-IQ FUA 2020

so
Semana Técnica de Ingeniería Química
Study of behavior of spent-coffee-ground
briquettes to preserve their integrity under
conditions of transport and storage

Claudio Moreno
Oscar Chamarraví
Eric Navarro
Miguel Jiménez
Group Director, Dr. Libardo
Mendoza
 INTRODUCTION

This lecture presents the results of the project

Study of behavior of spent-coffee-ground
briquettes to preserve their integrity under
conditions of transport and storage.
 PROBLEM FORMULATION
People who live in rural areas in developing
countries, use firewood as their only source of
energy to cook and heat houses. This resource
is obtained by cutting trees causing
deforestation and contributing to global
warming. In addition, the exposition to fumes
produced by firewood combustion causes lung
diseases as emphysema and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. For these
reasons, the development and implementation
of solid fuels have been explored during the
last decades showing alternatives different
than coal and firewood.

As an important requirement, a briquette has

to preserve its integrity during transport,
delivery and storage conditions. Its mechanical
behaviour must be evaluated in order to satisfy
customer requirements.
 METHODOLOGY
BRIQUETTES ELABORATION

+ =
Base material SPENT Binder substance Three
COFFEE GROUND (SCG) RECYCLED composititions
NEWS PAPER SCG-RNP were
(RNP) Previously studied. 50:50;
wet 70:30 and 80:20.
COMPACTATION OF MIXTURE

A pressure of 6.796 MPa was applied to mixture in a Briquetting Press

Peterson.
MECHANICAL TESTS

COMPRESSION STRENGHT

Eight (8) samples of each composition were evaluated in the test machine
model Shimatzu E-50 in order to evaluate their compression strenght.
SHATTER RESISTANCE

Five simples of each composition were launched in free fall from a height of
1 m until it gets broken in pieces. This resistance is measured comparing the
whole and the lost mass
 
where w1 is the weight of whole briquette before impact
and w2 is the weight of biggest piece after impact.
ABRASIVE RESISTANCE

The equipment employed was a didactic balls mill Armfield CEN-MKII-11.

This test was carried out according to standard EN 15210-2, but the internal
barrer was removed and replaced by a sheet of sandpaper covering internal
walls.
This test compares the initial mass of each briquette vs the mass after turning
inside the drum.

 
Where w1 y w2 are the weight of briquette
before and after turning respectively.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

COMPRESSION STRENGHT

STRENGHT COMPRESSION

250

200
Load in (N)

150 50-50
70-30
80-20
100

50

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Briquette
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

SHATTER RESISTANCE

SHATTER RESISTANCE (%)

120

100

80
50-50
60 70-30
80-20
40

20

0
1 2 3 4 5
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

ABRASIVE RESISTANCE

ABRASIVE RESISTANCE (%)

105

100

95 50-50
70-30
80-20
90

85

80
1 2 3 4 5 6
CONCLUSIONS

• The amount of RNP binder improves significantly its compression strength. Although,
obtained values are under standard parameter of 588,23 N for briquettes weighing
between 40 to 60 g , the results showed these briquettes could held up to 443 times
their weight.

• Briquettes of 50-50 composition showed good resistance to impacts. They kept their
shape and integrity after several falls. In the practice, this products will not be broken in
pieces if they fall accidentally or if they are abruptly gone down from a lifter or forklift.

• These briquettes did not present detachment of material. This means the briquettes
will not be affected because of friction between them when they are packaged and
shacked during transport.

• This product has good mechanical behaviour to keep integrity and shape during
transport, handling and storage operations.
THANKS FOR YOUR
ATTENTION