Development of Straw Extrusion Machine for Pellet Biomass Production

Abstract

This research aims to development construct straw pellet machine for fuel production. At present, most farmers often burn straws in off-season paddy fields in order to prepare for the next crop. Studies found that rice straw burning emitted more carbon monoxide (CO) than electrical power plant and industrial plants which highly affected environmental condition. Thus, the researcher intends to use rice straws from paddy fields to produce alternative fuel by studying and constructing straw pellet machine, experimenting and testing the machine with relevant variables. Results of the study show that, in the first experiment which straws were pressed without any mixture, the pressed straws were highly dispersed. In the second experiment which 300 grams of straws were mixed with 450 ml of water, it was found that the straws could be pressed into pellets but the pellet was easily broken. In the third experiment which 300 grams of straws were mixed with 450 ml of water and 100 grams of white bran, it was found that the straws could be pressed into pellets but the pellets were quite loose. In the fourth experiment which 300 grams of straws were mixed with 450 ml of water and 300 grams of white bran, it was found that the straws could be pressed into solid pellets of 2-4 cm length. The straw pellets were smooth and more compacted than other ratios.