Description
The biomass comes from the palm oil industry which utilizes the kernel shell from the palm fruit. The palm kernel shell is the remaining shell fragment that appears after the oil palm kernel is crushed and removed.
Palm shells are a by-product derived from unprocessed palm oil. Because the shape of this shell is very thick and resembles wood.
Therefore, palm shells are usually used as biomass or electricity generation which is shared with wood. In addition, palm shells are also suitable to be used as thermal power plants.
Palm oil shell is a fairly dense material and the processing method is easy. So this product is easily marketed and is usually used as fuel.
Oil palm shells have a very low moisture content of 11% to 13% compared to other biomass using different sources. Because palm shells contain residue from palm oil which is suitable for heating.
Utilization of Palm Oil Shells for Fuel
As we know that palm kernel shells are oil palm seeds that are not processed into palm oil. Therefore, palm shells are used as biomass products because they are small in size and have a high calorific value or heat energy.
Palm kernel shall be the core of the palm fruit. So after the palm fruit is processed into palm oil, the kernel will be separated. Furthermore, the kernel oil will go through a refining process.
Palm shells are even used as fuel in palm oil mills. Because the fibers and shells produced are used as boiler fuel.
This steam will be used to run turbines to produce electricity. So palm shells and fiber will produce enough energy for palm oil mills.
Here are some facts and usage about palm shells turning into biomass:
1. High Vapor Content
Palm shells have a fairly high vapor content of 70%. The carbon-sulfur substance in the palm shell is also lower, so it can reduce air pollution.
This makes palm shells used as fuel that is environmentally friendly and can be alternative energy on earth.
2. Can Be a Source of Electric Power
The demand for electricity installation in each region continues to increase every year, but this is still difficult for Indonesia to realize. This is due to an imbalance in the demand for electricity resources which has resulted in several regions experiencing an electricity crisis.
This is the reason palm kernel shells are an alternative source of electricity through biomass. The biomass produced by palm shells can be used to generate electricity.
3. Biomass
Biomass can be used to generate electricity. However, processing palm shells into biomass are also very simple.
The trick is to burn the palm shell at a certain temperature. Then this steam can be accommodated and flowed through a pipe to a steam engine which will be used as a power plant.
Many countries turn palm kernel shells into biomass because of their relatively easy maintenance and cost. Even this palm shell can also be used as fuelwood chips in certain countries.
