Studi Pengaruh Konverter Katalitik, Excess Air, dan Metode Air Staging terhadap Emisi Partikulat Pembakaran Ampas Tebu dalam Fixed Grate Furnace
Eblin Alle Azarya, Prof. Dr. Ir. Harwin Saptoadi, M.SE., IPM., ASEAN Eng; Maulana Gilar Nugraha, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D.
2025 | Tesis | S2 Teknik Mesin
Biomassa, seperti ampas tebu, memiliki potensi sebagai sumber energi terbarukan, tetapi proses pembakarannya masih menghasilkan emisi partikulat yang berkontribusi terhadap pencemaran udara. Untuk mengatasi permasalahan ini, berbagai metode pengendalian telah dikembangkan, termasuk penggunaan konverter katalitik dan pengaturan excess air dengan metode air staging. Namun, studi eksperimental mengenai pengaruh kombinasi kedua metode ini terhadap karakteristik emisi partikulat masih terbatas. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memahami kondisi operasi optimal dalam pembakaran biomassa guna mengurangi emisi partikulat melalui penerapan konverter katalitik dan metode air staging.
Penelitian ini dilakukan secara eksperimental menggunakan tungku biomassa fixed grate furnace di Laboratorium Konversi Energi, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Variabel bebas yang digunakan dalam eksperimen meliputi konfigurasi konverter katalitik, persentase excess air (50%, 75%, dan 100%), serta distribusi primary dan secondary air (30-70%, 40-60%, 50-50%, 60-40%, 70-30%). Pengukuran dilakukan menggunakan sensor kualitas udara, flue gas analyzer, serta metode Gas Chromatography (GC), dengan data yang dianalisis secara statistik untuk menentukan pengaruh variabel terhadap emisi partikulat.
Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan konverter katalitik secara signifikan menurunkan emisi partikulat. Selain itu, metode air staging terbukti meningkatkan efisiensi pembakaran dan menekan kadar particulate matter (PM). Kombinasi terbaik untuk mengurangi emisi ditemukan pada penerapan konverter katalitik bersama metode air staging dengan distribusi primary-secondary air sebesar 40-60% pada excess air 100%. Dengan demikian, penelitian ini memberikan wawasan penting dalam pengembangan teknologi pembakaran biomassa yang lebih ramah lingkungan.
Biomass, such as bagasse, has significant potential as a renewable energy source; however, its combustion process still produces particulate emissions that contribute to air pollution. To address this issue, various emission control methods have been developed, including the use of catalytic converters and the regulation of excess air through the air staging method. However, experimental studies investigating the combined effects of these technologies on particulate emissions remain limited. Therefore, this study aims to determine the optimal operating conditions for biomass combustion to minimize particulate emissions through the application of catalytic converters and the air staging method.
This research was conducted experimentally using a fixed grate biomass furnace at the Energy Conversion Laboratory, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The independent variables in the experiment included the configuration of catalytic converter, excess air percentages (50%, 75%, and 100%), and the distribution of primary and secondary air (30-70%, 40-60%, 50-50%, 60-40%, 70-30%). Measurements were carried out using air quality sensors, a flue gas analyzer, and Gas Chromatography (GC), with data analyzed statistically to determine the influence of these variables on particulate emissions.
The results indicate that the use of a catalytic converter significantly reduces particulate emissions. Additionally, the air staging method enhances combustion efficiency and reduces particulate matter (PM) levels. The optimal combination for emission reduction was found to be the application of a catalytic converter along with the air staging method, with a primary-to-secondary air distribution of 40-60% at 100% excess air. Thus, this study provides valuable insights into the development of more environmentally friendly biomass combustion technologies.
Kata Kunci : Pembakaran biomassa, Emisi partikulat, Konverter katalitik, Excess air, Air staging
