ANALISIS KINERJA PROSES GASIFIKASI TANDAN KOSONG KELAPA SAWIT (TKKS) MENGGUNAKAN UPDRAFT GASIFIER DENGAN VARIASI LAJU ALIRAN UDARA DAN TEKANAN BAHAN

Jemseng Carles Abineno, STP, Dr. Ir. Bambang Purwantana, M.Agr

2012 | Tesis | S2 Mekanisasi/Teknik Pertanian

Tandan Kosong Kelapa Kawit (TKKS) merupakan salah satu limbah padat dari industri minyak kelapa sawit. Di Indonesia setiap tahun dihasilkan lebih dari 6 juta ton TKKS dan belum dimanfaatkan dengan baik. Hasil analisis proximate dan ultimate menunjukkan bahwa TKKS memiliki kandungan energi 17,08 MJ/kg sehingga dapat dikonvesi menjadi sumber energi gas melalui proses gasifikasi. Proses gasifikasi biomassa biasanya dilakukan dengan gasifier tipe updraft. Kinerja gasifikasi sangat tergantung pada karakteristik bahan TKKS antara lain ukuran bahan, kadar air dan pengaturan kapasitas udara serta kepadatan bahan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perilaku kinerja gasifikasi TKKS menggunakan gasifier tipe updraft kapasitas bacth 46 liter. Proses gasifikasi dilakukan pada laju aliran udara 246,05 lpm, 366,07 lpm, 462,09 lpm, 545,11 lpm dan tekanan bahan 0,008 kg/cm2, 0,016 kg/cm2, 0,024 kg/cm2,0,032 kg/cm2. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa gasifikasi TKKS menggunakan gasifier tipe updraft mampu menghasilkan gas mampu bakar atau syngas. Peningkatan laju aliran udara input dan tekanan bahan meningkatkan suhu proses gasifikasi, suhu penyalaan syngas, kandungan metan dan efisiensi proses gasifikasi. Kinerja gasifikasi terbaik tercapai pada laju aliran udara input 462, 09 lpm dan tekanan bahan 0,024 kg/cm2 diperoleh suhu proses gasifikasi 374,590C, suhu maksimum proses gasifikasi 396, 480C, suhu penyalaan syngas 468,700C, suhu maksimum syngas 639,740C, waktu penyalaan syngas 42,75 menit, laju pemakaian bahan bakar 6,02 kg/jam, waktu efektif proses gasifikasi 10 menit/kg, kandungan metan 0,5% , efisiensi proses gasifikasi 77,08%, dan efisiensi energi sebesar 3,37%.

Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) is one of the solid wastes resulted in palm oil industries. In Indonesia, there are more than 6 million tons EFB is produced every year but not be utilized yet. Based on the proximate and ultimate analysis, EFB can produce energy approximately 17.08 MJkg-1 which may be convertible as source of gas energy through the gasification process that is biomass gasification using updraft gasifier. In the case of gasification performance, it is highly dependent on characteristics of EFB such as the material size, moisture content, settings of air capacity and material density. The study was to determine the behavior performance of EFB gasification using 46 liter batch capacity of updraft gasifier. The gasification process occurred at air flow rate 246.05 lpm, 366.07 lpm, 462.09 lpm, and 545.11 lpm; and material pressure i.e 0.008 kg/cm2, 0.016 kg/cm2, kg/cm2, 0.024 kg/cm2, and 0.032 kg/cm2, respectively. The results of experiment showed gasification of EFB with updraft gasifier could produces synthesis gas or syngas. Increasing the air flow rate and material pressures will increase the temperature inside reactor, flame temperature, methane content, gasification efficiency and energy efficiency. It was found that for each reactor the updraft gasification performance was the best at air flow rate 462.09 lpm and material pressure 0.024 kg/cm2 by obtaining 374.59°C temperature of gasification process, 396.48°C maximum temperature of gasification process, 468.70°C temperature flame, 639.74°C maximum temperature of flame, 42.75 minutes reaching flame, 6.05 kg/h rate of fuel feed, 10 min/kg effective time for gasification process, 0.5% methane, 77.08% efficiency of gasification process and 3,37% efficiency of energy.

Kata Kunci : Kinerja, updraft gasifier, tkks, laju aliran udara, tekanan bahan.