Abstract

Using the Taguchi method, this study analyzed the optimum conditions for preparing the solid
fuel briquette of the rice straw by a piston-mold process. The controllable factors used in this
study consisted of the following: (1) the type of binder (such as the rice bran, the soybean
residue, and the sawdust of Acacia confuse), (2) the hot-pressing temperature (such as 110, 130,
and 150 °C), (3) the size of the smashed rice straw (such as 10–5 mm, 5–2 mm, and < 2 mm),
and (4) the percentage ratio of rice straw to binder in a briquette (such as 100/0, 80/20, and
60/40). The percentage contribution of each controllable factor was also determined. The
confirmation experiment was carried out according to the optimum conditions. Most
interestingly, the size of the smashed rice straw is the most influential factor to solidify fuel
briquette, and its value is up to 43.0%.

Keywords: Rice straw; Solid fuel briquette; Taguchi method; Piston-mold process

Article Outline

1. Introduction
2. Experimental
2.1. The preparation of raw materials
2.2. Fuel briquettes
2.3. Taguchi method
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Analysis of optimum conditions
3.2. Analysis of percentage contribution
4. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References