Thermodynamic analysis of biochar produced from groundnut shell through slow pyrolysis
Nikhil Rathod, Sudhir K. Jain, Maga Ram Patel
Abstract
The current study centred on the energetic and exergetic analysis of a specially designed continuous biochar production system that works on slow pyrolysis technology and is capable of creating biochar constantly from agricultural leftovers. In this investigation, a groundnut shell with a lower heating value (LHV) of 13.35 MJ/kg was selected as a feedstock. It was converted into biochar using a slow pyrolysis technique at 400 °C, 450 °C, and 500 °C for 4 min of residence period. Biochar yield, bio-oil yield, and syngas yield were found in the range between 16.83–30.5%, 24.36–27.56%, and 45.14–55.61%, respectively at different pyrolysis temperatures. The LHV of biochar and bio-oil was found maximum of 23.55 MJ/kg and 23.12 MJ/kg at 500 °C respectively. Syngas heating value increased from 7.19 to 7.72 MJ/Nm3. The energy efficiency of the system ranged from 80.22% to 84.29%, while exergy efficiency ranged from 76.37% to 79.29%, with the maximum achieved at 400 °C.