Producing fuel pellets from agricultural waste and measuring their combustion

The problem

Agricultural waste is burned in the fields or thrown away, even though it's an energy source. The problem is the lack of measurement: nobody knows which waste is best, how much energy each gives, or how much emission it produces. Without numbers, the idea remains a theoretical proposal.

How it works

1. PreparationCutting, drying, and grinding the waste.
2. PressingPressing the material into pellets of similar density.
3. BurningBurning a sample in a chamber with controlled ventilation.
4. MeasurementRecording weight, temperature, and gases throughout the experiment.

Project features

• Measuring during combustion, not after: weight, temperature, and emissions are recorded on the same timeline.
• A fair comparison between materials under the same conditions.
• The weight-loss curve reveals the stages of combustion — the most important scientific result.
• Recording happens locally on a memory card, so the experiment is analyzed later on the computer.

Expected challenges

These are the main obstacles to expect during the build, laid out clearly so you know them before you start.

• ⚠ The work involves an open flame and high temperatures, so ventilation and protective measures are mandatory.
• The thermocouple degrades at high temperatures, and its position affects the reading a lot.
• The load cell is affected by heat, so it must be insulated from the combustion chamber.
• Low-cost gas sensors are estimates: they show the direction of change, not the absolute value.

The consultation gives you a solution for each one.