Biomass Briquettes are made from the Agriculture Waste, Forestry Waste and Industrial Waste. It is been converted into solid cylindrical shape. The major residues which can be used are, Rice Husk, Coffee Husk, Coir Pitch, Jute Sticks, Sugarcane Baggasse, Groundnut Shell, Mustard Stalks, Cotton Stalks, Sawdust, Caster Seed Shells / Stalk, Wood Chips, Bamboo Dust, Tobacco Waste, Tea Waste, Paddy Straw, Wheat Straw, Sunflower Stalk, Palm Husk, Soyabean Husk, Veneer Residues, Barks & Straws, Forestry waste, Seeds Cases etc.
The demand of fuel briquettes is increasing as the use of the briquettes is spreading and people becoming aware of its availability and advantages. Briquetted fuel can be used as a substitute of coal or firewood. At present it is being used in the following areas.
Boilers: It can be used in the boilers of Paper Mills, Sugar Mills, Dyeing houses, leather, lamination industries, Vanaspati units, Food Processing Units, Oil Extraction Units, Solvent Extraction Plant and many other plants and industries..
Furnace & Foundries: It can be used for metal heating & melting (where melting point is less than 1000d/cel.)
Brick Kilns: It is the total, substitute of steam coal.
Residential & Commercial Heating: For winter heating in Cold areas and Hotels, Canteens, Cafeterias and house hold kitchen appliances etc. – one of the most important characteristics of a fuel is its calorific value, that is the amount of energy per kg it gives off when burnt. The calorific value can thus be used to calculate the competitiveness of a processed fuel in a given market situation. There is a range of other factors, such as ease of handling, burning characteristics etc., which also influence the market value, but calorific value is probably the most important factor and should be recognized when selecting the raw material input.
Others: Biomass briquettes are also being used in industries such as Tyre Retrading units, Tea processing units, Boiler for raising steam in chemical, Textile processing industries, Hotels and restaurants for raising steam, Dryers and ovens for generation of hot air and many areas where firewood, Leco and coal used.