Study on the relationships in selected combustion characteristics and density of water hyacinth briquettes

Abstract

The study evaluated the relationships in some combustion properties and density of briquettes made from water hyacinth of different binder ratios of plantain peels. Water hyacinth samples were manually harvested, cleaned, sun-dried, milled and sieved. A Randomized Complete Block Design was adopted. The briquettes were produced at five (5) binder levels of 10% (B₁), 20% (B₂), 30% (B₃), 40% (B₄) and 50% (B₅) by weight of each feedstock. A steel cylindrical die (14.3 mm height and 4.7 mm diameter) was used to produce briquettes using hydraulic press with dwell time of 45 seconds. The data obtained was statistically analysed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Binder levels did not have any influence on the types of relationships between any combustion characteristics and density. There were significant positive relationships between the following properties at various binder levels (P<0.001); thermal fuel efficiency and density, ignition time and density and calorific value and density. This indicates that water hyacinth briquettes are good and quality source of fuel for cooking and smoking/drying of agricultural products. Specific fuel consumption, burning rate and water boiling time exhibited significant negative correlations with density at various binder levels (P<0.001).

Keywords: Correlation, burning and physical properties, binder, solid fuel, water hyacinth