Design and fabrication of hydraulically operated machine for making briquette from agricultural waste

Abstract

A hydraulically operated machine for making briquette from agricultural wastes was designed, fabricated and tested. The equipment is capable of converting agricultural waste materials like rice husk, saw dust and sugar cane bagasse to briquettes that are capable of producing heat energy useful for domestic and industrial applications. It major component parts include hydraulic jack, frame, pistons and compression cylinders. The results of testing of the equipment revealed that the highest binder concentration ratios of 30% and 40% produced the best briquettes. The compression ratios of the machine for the different materials are of appreciable levels ranging from 1: 2.5 to 1: 3.2 with rice husk having the least and saw dust the highest. Also the bulk densities of the briquettes produced also varied widely with rice husk recording lowest value of 2.5 kg/m³ and saw dust the highest value of 5.2 kg/m³. In addition the compressive strength of the bagasse produced with saw dust was higher with value of 1.8 KN/m² and that of rice husk was lower with value 0.26 KN/m².