BIOMASS – PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN

Palm biomass fuel utilisation in palm oil mills

mpob_admin — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 17:13:43 +0000

Since the beginning of the industry, Malaysian palm oil mills have been utilising part of the palm biomass as an energy source for mill operation. The main constituent of the biomass used for power generation in the mill comprised part of the mesocarp fibre and most of the dry palm kernel shell called the fuel mix, at a ratio of about 60% to 40%. The entire empty fruit bunches, the remaining mesocarp fibre and most of the palm kernel shell – mainly the wet palm kernel shell were disposed of or incinerated. The objectives of this study are to compare the CO2 emission during biomass fuel combustion with diesoline combustion. The equivalent mass of diesoline was estimated using its calorific values as a basis for computing the enthalpy content of the respective fuels. Analytical results confirmed that the greenhouse gases emission (GHG) from the combustion of the ‘biomass mixture’ in a boiler is about 2.7 times that of the GHG emission from diesel combustion, when producing the same amount of electrical energy. Although green energy has its merits in helping us to preserve the fossil fuels for the use of future generations its use for power generation as a substitute for fossil comes with a price, viz: the additional GHG released to the atmosphere compared to fossil fuels. The mills use about 15% of the total fibre and 22% of the total shell produced to generate sufficient energy for processing fresh fruit bunches. The fast depleting fossil fuel reserves of the world and the environmentalist’s concern for clean energy has now brought the global attention to the surplus biomass in the mill. This has also encouraged the government to implement suitable policies to promote renewable energy generation in Malaysia.

Developing a biomass fuel supply chain

mpob_admin — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 17:14:12 +0000

Energy plays a central role in the economic development of a country. As the global economy expands, there will be a corresponding increase in the amount of energy demanded, particularly fossil fuels. One of the consequences of the greater use of energy (by burning fossil fuels) is the higher level of emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which is the biggest source of global warming. Meanwhile, oil and gas prices will continue to trend upwards because of persisting political uncertainties in the West Asia and the voracious appetites of China and India. Our own oil reserves are expected to run dry in 10 years.

Datasheet – Power generating potential of palm oil mills using biomass

mpob_admin — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 17:14:46 +0000

PALM OIL MILLS , BIOMASS , POWER REQUIREMENTS , USES &amp, BYPRODUCT UTILIZATION , DATASHEET