Accelerated Charcoal Briquette Production: Innovative Drying Technology  for Performance Assessment and Energy Consumption

Chanon Bunmephiphit; Kittikorn  Sasujit; Churat  Thararux; Nigran Homdoung

doi:10.69650/rast.2026.264894

Authors

Chanon Bunmephiphit School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, Chiang Mai 50290, Thailand
Kittikorn Sasujit School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, Chiang Mai 50290, Thailand
Churat Thararux School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, Chiang Mai 50290, Thailand
Nigran Homdoung School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, Chiang Mai 50290, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69650/rast.2026.264894

Keywords:

Charcoal Briquettes, Drying Temperature, Temperature Controller, PID Tuning, Charcoal

Abstract

Currently, the process of charcoal briquette production comprises three primary stages and typically spans 5–7 days. Each stage aims to maximize the thermal efficiency of the final product. The initial phase involves the preparation of raw materials, including the formulation of mixtures and the selection of components or treatments that enhance the calorific value of the briquettes. The second stage focuses on high-yield briquette formation, optimizing compaction and shaping techniques to produce charcoal briquettes in large quantities. The final, most time-consuming stage is the drying process, which significantly influences the overall production cycle. This study aims to design an accelerated high-temperature drying system to reduce the processing time for charcoal briquettes, specifically targeting moisture contents between 25–30% post-formation. The proposed system is designed to handle 50 kg of briquettes per batch, arranged in five layers (10+ kg per layer, 5 layers total), and utilizes three infrared burners, measured and controlled by a PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control system. The parameters are tailored based on the drying behavior of charcoal to achieve a final moisture content of less than 8%, in compliance with industry standards. Experimental results indicate that the five-layer drying chamber effectively generates uniform heat distribution and enhances internal air circulation, enabling consistent and thorough drying. The drying sequence starts from the bottom layer and progresses upward. Among the tested conditions, drying at 150°C demonstrated the highest efficiency, providing the most suitable drying time and the lowest fuel consumption rate, thereby improving both energy efficiency and production throughput.

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