title: Ultrasonic vibration-assisted pelleting of wheat straw: a predictive model for energy consumption using response surface methodology.
abstract: Cellulosic biomass can be used as a feedstock for biofuel manufacturing. Pelleting of cellulosic biomass can increase its bulk density and thus improve its storability and reduce the feedstock transportation costs. Ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting can produce biomass pellets whose density is comparable to that processed by traditional pelleting methods (e.g. extruding, briquetting, and rolling). This study applied response surface methodology to the development of a predictive model for the energy consumption in UV-A pelleting of wheat straw. Effects of pelleting pressure, ultrasonic power, sieve size, and pellet weight were investigated. This study also optimized the process parameters to minimize the energy consumption in UV-A pelleting using response surface methodology. Optimal conditions to minimize the energy consumption were the following: ultrasonic power at 20%, sieve size at 4 mm, and pellet weight at 1g, and the minimum energy consumption was 2.54 Wh.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. Electronic address: xiaoxu@ksu.edu.
authors.forename: Xiaoxu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Donghai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004735:Energy Transfer / Q000528:radiation effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013010:Sonication / Q000379:methods*; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Cellulosic biomass; Energy consumption; Response surface methodology; Ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting