Optimización preliminar del peletizado de sorgo lignocelulósico para generación de gas de síntesis

Abstract

Energy generation in Argentina mostly relies on fossil fuels. Several actions are being taken for a transition toward a distributed, sustainable and environmentally friendly generation. Several funding programs promote the installation of small plants for the generation of thermal energy using biomass. The growth in this technology largely depends on the capacity to produce fuels with a high thermal capacity, as well as on the availability and use of the resources. In Argentina, there are areas with low agricultural production levels which are suitable for the development of lignocellulosic sorghum. The possibility of storing this sorghum and making use of it as a fuel requires a conditioning process that involves chopping, drying and pelleting. The aim of this work was to optimize the conditioning process, as well as to assess the energy reduction in the drying process in a pilot installation. The extrusion process required mechanical modifications to be performed on the extruder in order to adjust the gaps to the processed matrix. The sorghum samples presented problems in conditioning, clogging both the extruder and the pelletizer, while the hybrid samples flowed better and pellets with good mechanical characteristics were obtained, suitable for storage and gasification.