R e s e a r c h Fo c u s

Solid biofuel research at CRE is committed in finding efficient methods of utilization for the nations biomass resources for power generation. Main focus is given on residues generated from industry, as to avoid the food vs energy and competing arable land use issues. Vast amount of biomass is potentially available from palm oil mills, rice mills and sawn timber mills, suitable for large scale production of renewable energy. Research areas include solid biofuel production from raw biomass, thermal treatment process for solid biofuel upgrading, biofuel characterization and combustion study, blending / cofiring with coal and thermal gasification.

Collaborations
Agency / Institution / Industry Detik Aturan Sdn Bhd Damini Corporation Sdn Bhd Global Green Synergy Sdn Bhd Institute of Energy, Cardiff University University of Leeds Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) SEGI University College (SegiUC) Monash University Malaysia Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) FELDA Palm Industries Sdn Bhd Bell Group of Companies TNB Research TNB Janamanjung Field Solid biofuel Solid biofuel RE from palm oil mill / Solid biofuel Biomass combustion / Biomass-coal co-firing Biomass combustion, processing / Oxy-fuel Technical training / Power plant guidelines MoE LRGS Sustainable Energy Production Towards Low Carbon Economy RE from palm oil mill / Biomass processing RE from palm oil mill Biomass-coal co-firing / Fuel tests & analysis

Rec en t Pu blic ation s

1. M.N. Mohd Jaafar, A. Abd Rahman, A.H. Shamsuddin, Development of a Bench Scale Biomass Torrefier, 2013. 2. I. I. Zulkepli, H. Hasini, A. M. Ikram,
M. Z. Yusoff, A. Abd Rahman, A. H. Shamsuddin, Numerical Study of

Expert Services
Agency / Institution International Standards Organization SIRIM Technical Committee on RE Department of Environment, MNRE EU-Malaysia biomass-sp Services Solid biofuel standards Biomass working group Technical expert Technical expert

Cofiring Biomass with Coal in a Cyclone Combustor, 2013. 3. D. Daud, A. Abd Rahman, A. H. Shamsuddin, Devolatilization Studies of Oil Palm Biomass for Torrefaction Process Optimization, 2013. 4. A. Abd Rahman, A. H. Shamsuddin, Cofiring Biomass with Coal: Opportunities for Malaysia, 2013. 5. D. Daud, A. Abd Rahman, N. Abidin,
M. N. Mohd Jaafar, I.I. Zulkepli, A. H. Shamsuddin, Malaysian Biomass Upgrading by Torrefaction, 2012. 6. Abd Halim Shamsuddin, Adlansyah Abd Rahman, Issues and Challenges of Coal-Biomass Co-firing in Malaysia, 2012.

Solid Biofuel Research Programme

Contact
Dr. Adlansyah Abd Rahman Centre for Renewable Energy Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan IKRAM UNITEN, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, MALAYSIA Email: adlansyah@uniten.edu.my Phone: +603-89287264

H i g h l ig ht s o f Re c e n t an d C u r re n t Re s e a rc h Pro j e c t s
SOLID BIO-FUEL BRIQUETTE
FROM PALM RM100,000 funded by RRTM-MTDC A working pilot scale briquetting plant was developed and tested to produce cylindrical biofuel for improved combustion behaviour compared to raw mill residues. Biofuels from palm shell, mesocarp fibre and empty fruit bunches was successfully made and tested in a palm oil mill boiler. Better combustion would reduce internal use of these biofuels with surplus available for export to power plants. Transportation costs could also be reduced due to its high bulk density and low moisture content.

OIL MILLING SOLID WASTES

COMBUSTION STUDIES

AND MODELING OF RM510,000 funded by TNB A lab scale 100kWth pulverised coal combustion testing facility was developed based on cyclonic combustion principles. The experimental rig was used to study the impact of introducing various palm oil based biomass into existing coal fired plants: on boiler performance, ash composition, and slagging and fouling growth potential on boiler tubes. CFD simulation of the combustor was used to complement the experimental work. The research also studies blending, handling and feeding of the fuels.

COAL-PALM OIL BIOMASS CO-COMBUSTION

IN A

CYCLONE COMBUSTOR

SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE SOLID BIOFUEL

RM2,900,000 funded MoE-LRGS The research concern was on upgrading of raw biomass residues from palm oil mills via torrefaction process. This thermal treatment could improve characteristics of biofuels to be suitable for use in existing coal power plants. The research study parameters to optimize torrefaction, biofuels characterization, and combustion testing using the cyclone combustor. Efficiency improvements at palm oil mills would also be considered in order to increase the biomass feedstock availability.

FROM BIOMASS FOR

CARBON REDUCTION

IN

COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT

Raw Pellets

Torrefied Pellets