Comparison of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Pellets Produced from Safflower Biomass Prepared at Different Grinding Sizes

Yaz O. M., Demirel B.

11th ISPEC INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, Riga, Letonya, 1 - 07 Temmuz 2026, ss.1-8, (Tam Metin Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Riga
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Letonya
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-8
  • Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The safflower plant is an important agricultural resource that can be utilized for energy production using the lignocellulosic biomass remaining after oil extraction. Concentrating this biomass through pelletization offers advantages in terms of both increasing energy density and improving storage and transportability. In this study, the effect of grinding fineness on the quality characteristics of pellets produced from sunflower biomass was investigated.

As part of the study, sunflower material was ground in a knife-type mill with screen apertures of 10 mm, 14 mm, and 18 mm to prepare three different particle sizes. Using the resulting raw materials, pellets with a diameter of 6 mm were produced. To determine the quality characteristics of the produced pellets, parameters such as diameter, length, weight, particle density, breaking strength, mechanical durability, and other physico-mechanical properties were analyzed.

The findings indicate that the fineness of grinding significantly affects the physical integrity and mechanical strength of the pellets. It was observed that pellets produced from finer-ground materials exhibited a more homogeneous structure and higher density values. In contrast, pellets produced from coarser particle materials exhibited greater structural irregularities and lower mechanical strength. Additionally, it was found that grinding fineness also affects the size and weight distribution of the pellets.

These results demonstrate that optimizing the particle size of the raw material in pellet production plays a critical role in terms of quality parameters. The study highlights the potential of aspen biomass as a pellet fuel and provides important insights into determining appropriate grinding conditions. It is anticipated that the findings will contribute to the more efficient use of agricultural waste in energy production.