Inventory of Innovative Indoor Smoke
Alleviating Technologies in Nepal
37
Chapter Four
BRIQUETTING TECHNOLOGY
Biomass briquette is less-polluting with high density and
energy concentrated dry (completely or negligible moisture
content) shaped biomass fuels converted from low density
and high moisture content bulky materials. It is made
(without any binding chemicals) by chopping and grinding
and pressed under certain temperature and pressure.
Because of their definite shape and size, briquettes are
very convenient to store and transport. Biomass briquette
produces less smoke compared to fuel wood, which can
be further reduced by designing the efficient cook stoves.
Singh and Heejoon (2003) mentioned that briquette fuel
consists better physio-mechanical properties and
combustion properties. Advantages of briquette include
higher heating values, lower emission of sulphur dioxide
and oxides of nitrogen among others.
Nepal produces substantial amount of agricultural and
forest residues (rice husk, rice straw, bagasse, cotton
stalk, jute sticks, almond shells, sawdust etc) which have
low bulk density and high moisture content. Woody
residue such as sawdust and non-woody plant biomass
such as crop harvesting, processing residues and cattle
dung are important alternative source of energy in wood
deficit areas. Various types of residues used in
manufacturing of briquettes are given in Table 4.1.
Biomass briquette is a good substitute of wood and
coal and can potentially replace wood/coal/kerosene/
LPG at HH levels. Biomass briquette manufacturing
plants are of various forms/types varying from HH and
community level to highly commercial scale, which may
also help to generate local employment along with safer
environment.
Depending upon the nature, scale and materials used
in production, briquettes are found in various shapes
and sizes. Briquetting technology was first introduced
in Nepal by heated-die screw-press Taiwanese
machine in the late 1980s. Mhyaipi Briquette Industry
located in Kawasoti, Nawalparasi, Nepal, is producing
biomass briquette made of rice husk at a commercial
scale. But the factory runs only six months in a year
with 25 per cent of its full production capacity. Other
biomass briquettes made of woody residue such as
sawdust and non-woody residue such as crop/
vegetable residue (rice husk) have also been
introduced. Banmara, (Eupatorium Adenophorum), is
a fast growing herb considered a weed which is found
all year round has been introduced as a raw material
for producing briquettes. Research organisations, such
as RONAST and Integrated Development Society (IDS-
N) are involved in developing and disseminating the
beehive briquette made of banmara. Foundation for
Sustainable Technologies (FoST) is involved in
research and demonstration of briquette production
mainly through the HH wastes.