Estimation of energy properties of torrefied Japanese cedar with colorimetric values

• SAWAI Toru

  Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kindai University

• KATAYAMA Ichiro

  Department of Biomechanical and Human Factors Engineering, Kindai University

• IDA Tamio

  Research Institute of Biocoke, Kindai University

• IMAMURA Hiroki

  Graduate School of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University

• KAJIMOTO Takeshi

  Industrial Technology Center of Wakayama Prefecture

Abstract

Noticing the color variation of torrefied woody biomass with pyrolysis process, a non-invasive method to estimate energy properties such as elemental contents, higher heating value and energy yield is investigated. When the torrefied biofuel is produced and utilized, the quality control concerning energy properties is indispensable. The energy properties of torrefied woody biomass are correlated with its mass yield, and the relationship between mass yields and colorimetric values defined by CIELAB is experimentally examined. The results obtained for torrefied Japanese cedar are as follows. (1) The energy properties of torrefied Japanese cedar are expressed by simple relations of mass yield. The optimum torrefaction condition to produce torrefied biofuel can be evaluated by the mass yield. (2) To estimate the mass yield of torrefied Japanese cedar, the experimental correlations with colorimetric values are proposed. In the case of the sap-wood and heart-wood samples for brightness, L* above 45, the mass yield is correlated with L*, and in the case of the sap-wood, heart-wood and bark samples for L* below 45, the mass yield is correlated with color coordinate, a*. From the comparison between predicted mass yields and experimental data, it is found that the proposed experimental correlations can estimate the mass yield within an accuracy of ±10%. Therefore, the energy properties of torrefied Japanese cedar is easy to be checked by using the present non-invasive estimation method with colorimetric values.

Journal

• Mechanical Engineering Journal

  Mechanical Engineering Journal 4 (1), 16-00320-16-00320, 2017

  The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers

Keywords

• Woody biomass
• Torrefaction
• Solid biofuel
• Higher heating value
• Energy yield
• Colorimetric values

Details

• CRID: 1390001205515018112
• NII Article ID: 130005395597
• DOI: 10.1299/mej.16-00320
• ISSN: 21879745
• Web Site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/mej/4/1/4_16-00320/_pdf
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed