DEVELOPMENT OF A COCONUT HUSK PELLETIZING MACHINE

A Project Study
Presented to the Faculty of the Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering, Architecture, Fine Arts and Computing Sciences
Batangas State University
Gov. Pablo Borbon Campus II
Alangilan, Batangas City

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

by:
ESCALONA, EMMANNUEL A.
MANALO, EDUARDO M.
MEDRANO, ALVIN CHRISTOPHER V.

March 2010
 ABSTRACT

There are different sources of energy that can be found anywhere in the world. It

can be renewable or non renewable. Nonrenewable sources of energy are those in the

line of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. On the other hand, renewable

energy sources are those naturally replenished, because they can be managed to last

forever, or because their supply is so enormous that they can never be meaningfully

depleted by humans. Moreover, renewable energy sources have much smaller

environmental impacts than fossil and nuclear fuels. One of the renewable energy is the

biomass energy.

Biomass wastes, including forest residues, lumber and paper mill waste, crop

wastes, garbage, and landfill and sewage gas, can be used to produce heat,

transportation fuels, and electricity, while at the same time reducing environmental

burdens. Coconut husk is one of the biomass being generated in a large volume

everyday.

One of the most problems regarding the coconut husk is the air pollution because

of the ash it produced. Direct burning of coconut husk is not an efficient disposal

method because the emissions are harmful in the environment and requires the

installation of filters to clean the smoke.

To increase the efficiency of the fuel from the coconut husk and to solve the

storing problem of coconut husk in Bauan, development of a coconut husk pelletizer is

proposed. In relation to this proposal, factors such as calorific value and density are

needed to be increased compare to that of the unpelletized coconut husk. For this to
happen, moisture content of coconut husk suitable for storing, proportion of coconut

husk, water and binder, are to be considered.

The objective of the study was to develop a coconut husk pelletizing machine. It

aimed to fabricate the machine to which the preliminary testing was conducted. Different

moisture content of raw material must be evaluated. The different parameters were

established for the analysis and determination of the production rate and efficiency of

the machine. Through careful analysis, the researcher arrived for the desired output

which was the pelletized coconut husk.

The following conclusions were drawn based on the results presented. The

coconut husk can be more efficient as a fuel if it is mixed with the binder of cassava

flour and water since coconut husk and cassava flour have their own calorific value. The

higher the moisture content percentage, the lower the efficiency of the machine.

Pelletized coconut husk is denser than unpelletized one. It is better to burn the

pelletized coconut husk if it undergone natural drying for two (2) to three (3) since

natural or sun drying can minimize the moisture content.

Keywords: (fossil fuels, coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear fuels)