Name:
Briquette factory in Janów (Kabex company)

Location (settlement, country):
Żurawska str. 41, Janów, Poland

Brief description of the technology:
Mechanism of binding loose particles of biomass is not enough explained. The most popular molecular theory says about physicochemical connections. During briquetting process some forces can be described:

• attraction between the particles of solids (van der Waalsa, electrostatic),
• surface, on the border of the separation of the solid and liquid phase,
• adhesive, resulting in the adsorption layer,
• consistency, resulting in the creation of bridges, occurring during sintering, the concentration of the binder, melting and the crystallization of dissolved substances.

Hence the great importance attached to the relevant fragmentation of the material, the appropriate composition and quality of the particle surface.

Obtaining permanent briquettes require a sufficient approximation to each particle.

Key parameters of the process of briquetting scobs:

• Compaction pressure – the highest increase of density can be observed when pressure increases to around 40-50 MPa. Briquetting of scobs with high pressures (higher than 120-140 MPa) does not cause the increase of briquette density, but just the increase energy consumption. Briquetting should be done with pressure which provides a certain density which guarantees the desired stability of briquettes.
• Humidity of material – higher humidity counteracts with particle approximation during briquetting, that is why internal connections are weaker, and the stability of briquettes is lower. Humidity which provides appropriate high resistance is between 8 and 15%.

Briquetting temperature – the skeleton of wood material is built up from cellulose; also lignin and hemicelluloses stiffen the material. That is why cold compaction does not provide such rapprochement of cellulose chains to establish solid bonds. Besides hemicelluloses, which are soluble in water in the form of sugars, the role of resin is also important fulfilling the role of binders in the wood. The increased temperature of briquetting provides partly the hydrolyzation of hemicelluloses and the recrystallization of cellulose. Increasing the temperature of pine scobs from 20 to 80ºC provides briquettes with higher density, around 125kg/m³.

Scobs and woodchips have particles with various size, e.g. in the case of pine scobs if 31,3% of the particles stop on sieve with mesh 1,5x1,5 mm, 16% on sieve 1x1 mm, 13,5% on sieve 3x3 mm, 15,4% on sieve 2x2 mm, then it can be regarded as good material for briquetting.

Based on experiences it can be considered that the participation of small sized particles as well as big sized ones is not beneficial to the briquetting of plant material. The type of the material, the chemical composition (biological) of the briquetted material has an affect on the process: e.g. briquettes from pine scobs are more durable than briquettes from deciduous trees scobs.

Why is it a „Best practice”?
This briquettes factory working in Janów is a best practice because of many reasons. Firstly, it is environmental friendly, transforms wood wastes produced in Kabex company (scobs, woodchips) into valuable and ecological fuel, which replaces coal (used mostly for own needs, possibility of local sell and export). The added value is the environmental aspect meaning the reduction of greenhouses gases, because burned biomass emits the same amount of CO₂ which has been assimilated during its lifecycle (the balance of greenhouse gases is almost zero, in addition the emission of hydrogen sulfide is also reduced).

The described investment is one of the biggest installation in the region (around 5 tons of briquettes can be produced per day).

This installation is also a demonstrative and educational object. Many investors interested in briquettes production visit this correctly working briquettes factory, and see benefits.

Briquettes factory can be important from the aspect of social life, and points direction for local economy development, as if it will be the potential products receiver, new objects would be created, and also new enterprises in local biomass sector could be founded. These can together decrease unemployment in rural areas.

Possibility for a visit or guided tour (yes / no)?
Yes, after agreement with owner, in cooperation with Silesian Agricultural Extension Centre in Częstochowa, study visit is possible.

The education and awareness raising of the public about forest biomass use as ecological fuel are important issues which should be improved to convince society about their values and to break stereotypes.

Contact:
M. Sc. Stefan Krysiak ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
MA Jakub Cofała ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Silesian Agricultural Extension Centre in Częstochowa
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: www.czwa.odr.net.pl

Tel.: +48 (32) 325 01 40
Fax: +48 (32) 325 01 44

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