Briquettes are an alternative fuel that is increasingly popular because they are more environmentally friendly and efficient. One type of briquettes that is widely used is coconut shell charcoal briquettes. Factors Briquette Quality can affect their combustion performance, durability, and efficiency of use.

Factors Affecting Briquette Quality

Many technical aspects play a role in determining the quality of briquettes, including the type of raw material, production process, and moisture content. All these elements must be well controlled so that the resulting briquettes have superior characteristics. Here are some factors that affecting briquette quality:

Type and Quality Factors of Briquette Raw Materials

Raw materials are the most basic factor in determining the quality of briquettes. High-quality briquettes are derived from raw materials that have a high carbon content, such as coconut shells, sawdust, or rice husks.

Coconut shells are often the first choice because they have a dense structure and a higher carbon content than other raw materials. In addition to the type of material, the cleanliness of raw materials is also very influential.

Raw materials contaminated with dirt, soil, or other non-carbon materials can degrade the quality of briquette combustion. Therefore, before use, the raw materials must go through an optimal cleaning and drying process to produce high-performance briquettes.

Factors Briquette Quality From the Carbonization Process

Carbonization is an important stage in briquette making, where the raw materials are converted into charcoal through an airless heating process. This process must be carried out at the right temperature, which is around 400–600°C, in order to produce charcoal with a high carbon content.

Less than perfect carbonization can result in briquettes having a low carbon content. Therefore, it burns less efficiently and produces a lot of smoke.

Conversely, overheating carbonization can cause raw materials to burn out and lose their carbon content. Therefore, the temperature and time regulation during the carbonization process must be optimal.

Suitable Humidity Levels

The moisture content of raw materials greatly affects the quality of the resulting briquettes. Raw materials that are too wet can cause briquettes to be difficult to burn and produce a lot of smoke when used.

On the other hand, materials that are too dry can cause briquettes to become brittle and crumble easily. Ideally, the moisture content of raw materials before being molded into briquettes is in the range of 8–12%.

To achieve this level, the raw materials must be dried by the right method, such as drying in the sun or using a drying oven. Good drying will result in briquettes that are more stable and have high combustion.

Proper Adhesive Composition

Adhesives are used in the manufacture of briquettes to maintain their shape and mechanical strength. The type of adhesive used greatly affects the quality of briquettes, both in terms of durability and combustion performance.

Some commonly used types of adhesives include tapioca flour, clay, and starch. The selection of adhesives must be adjusted to the type of raw materials as well as the needs of the user. Too much adhesive can cause briquettes to burn hard and produce a lot of ash residue.

On the other hand, if there is too little adhesive, the briquettes will crumble easily and do not have good durability. Therefore, the balance in the use of adhesives must be carefully observed.

Factors Briquette Quality from Pressure and Printing Process

The pressure during the briquette molding process has a direct effect on its density and mechanical strength. Briquettes compacted at high pressure will have a more solid structure, so their combustion is more efficient and less easily destroyed.

Too low a pressure can cause briquettes to break easily and not last long when stored or used. Therefore, the briquette printing machine must be properly calibrated in order to produce optimal pressure.

Drying Temperature and Time Once molded

The briquettes must be dried at the right temperature and time to get the ideal moisture content. Less than perfect drying will cause the briquettes to be more difficult to ignite and produce a lot of smoke when used.

Conversely, drying for too long or with too high a temperature can cause the briquettes to become brittle. Therefore, the briquette printing machine must be properly calibrated in order to produce optimal pressure.

Conclusion

Many factors affect the quality of briquettes. Factors of the type of raw material, carbonization process, moisture content, printing and drying pressure. Every stage in the production process must be well controlled. Good control will result in briquettes that have high combustion power, low smoke and optimal durability.

An optimal production process with good regulation at each stage is essential to ensure briquettes have high combustion performance and good durability. By understanding and applying these factors, briquettes can become a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative energy source.

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