Analysis of factors that influence the calorific value of mangrove wood for electricity generation using split- split plot design

Abstract

The issue of energy shortage in Nigeria has been a concern for both the Nigerian government and the people for the past four decades. In many  third world countries and indeed many parts of Africa, Nigeria inclusive, electricity is abysmally in short supply. This is somehow due to over  dependence on fossil fuels which accounts for greater part of the power generation but with an unreliable supply chain. This study seeks to apply Split-Split plot experimental design as statistical tool to analyze factors that influence the calorific value of mangrove wood during combustion for  electricity generation. The combustion process was carried out at the National Centre for Energy and Environment, University of Benin. Each of the wood samples was pulverized to enable easy combustion. Bomb calorimeter was used to carry out the test on the various pulverized wood samples. The calorific value of each sample was collected and recorded in three replications. The result of the study shows that the raw materials location has differential treatment effect on the calorific value of the raw material type employed. It was discovered that the differential treatment effect produced by the raw materials type is largely due to the location of the raw materials. The result obtained from the analysis also shows interaction  between the raw materials location and the different raw material types to influence the calorific value of the white mangrove, red mangrove and rubber wood used in this study.

Keywords: Energy, Electricity generation, Wood waste, Fossil fuel, Split-Split Plot.