Abstract

Currently, Oil Palm Mesocarp Fiber (OPMF) is widely used as fuel in various industries. However, due to its low fuel properties, it has low combustion efficiency. Therefore, the torrefaction process has been applied to address this issue. The objective of this research was to investigate the enhancement of the thermal properties of OPMF through the torrefaction process using a continuous screw conveyor reactor. The study aimed to examine the factors of temperature (200–300 °C) and residence time (50–500 s). The research revealed an inverse relationship between temperature and residence time with mass yield, energy yield and EMCI. Conversely, the torrefaction severity index, fuel ratio (FR), degree of torrefaction (DT), heating value (HV) and enhancement factor demonstrated a direct correlation with temperature and residence time. Furthermore, the resulting torrefied OPMF exhibited a decreased %moisture content (MC) and %volatile organic content (VC), while %fixed carbon content (FC) increased. This led to a reduction in the H/C and O/C ratios, indicating an improvement in the chemical and physical properties of OPMF. Additionally, pelletizing the torrefied OPMF further enhanced its thermal properties and met the standards set by the solid biomass pellets fuel industry in Thailand. Thus, the continuous screw conveyor reactor has been proven to be highly effective in enhancing the thermal properties of OPMF, establishing it as a viable alternative fuel that can be compared to coal. As a result, the design and implementation of the Screw Conveyor Reactor represent a novel approach that successfully improves fuel characteristics and holds promising potential for utilization in diverse industries.