Evaluation of straw pellet production process

Abstract

Growing attention is paid to usage of renewable energy resources all over the world. This conditioned by two major reasons. The first - uneven distribution of the fossil fuel resources in the world therefore economy in most countries is highly dependent on imported energy resources. The second - the global warming phenomenon stipulates reduction of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and search for alternatives to burning of fossil fuels. Unused straw in technologies of agricultural production, as by-producof grain production, can be utilized successfully as biofuel. The moisture content is the most important indicatcr the straw quality. The research has shown that moisture has great influence on the physical properties of stri when moisture increases, straw becomes more resistant to tearing, breaking and pelleting. This reduces a capacity of the straw preparation and pelleting technological line. Higher energy consumption in the pelleting technological line depends on moisture evaporation from pelleted straw. During processing of wet straw, condensate accumulates on the building constructions of the production department and this complicates a process of pellet production. The task of the research was to determine the influence of the straw moisture content on the energetic efficiency of the pellet production technology.