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Design of a pretreatment installation for the washing of empty fruit bunches at a palm oil mill

Al, Martijn (2012) Design of a pretreatment installation for the washing of empty fruit bunches at a palm oil mill.

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Abstract:Empty fruit bunch (EFB) is a residual product of the palm oil mill industry. When bio‐oil is generated during the pyrolysis of EFB, the yield is relatively low. In general, biomass types with high ash content result in low oil yields during pyrolysis. EFB has a quite high ash content ranging from 3 to 7 %. Of the ashes, the alkalis are the main catalyst to reduce the oil yield. Potassium is the most common of the alkalis in biomass and can take up to half the amount of ashes in EFB. Reducing the amount of ashes, with in particular potassium, in EFB can increase the oil yield from below 40% to yields higher than 60%. Water washing of EFB can reduce the amount of potassium with about 90%. A basic design for a washing installation for a 5 t/h is created. It is tried to minimize water usage and waste, energy usage and complexity while ash reduction is maximized. Three washing tanks are placed in series were the washing water is going in counter flow to the EFB to increase ash washout. After each washing tank a screw press will mechanically press out water to minimize ash and potassium content in the EFB.
Item Type:Internship Report (Master)
Faculty:ET: Engineering Technology
Subject:52 mechanical engineering
Programme:Mechanical Engineering MSc (60439)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/62555
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