Chemical Analysis of Rice Husk Ash

Table 3 shows the chemical composition of rice husk ash. The total percentage composition of
iron oxide (Fe2 O3 = 0.95%), Silicon dioxide (SiO2 = 67.30%) and Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3 = 4.90%)
was found to be 73.15%.

Table 3. Chemical Composition of Rice Husk Ash

Constituent % Composition
Fe2O3 0.95
SiO2 67.30
CaO 1.36
Al2O3 4.90
MgO 1.81
L.O.I 17.78

This value is within the required value of 70% minimum for pozzolanas [9]. The value is
higher than the value obtained in [5] for acha husk ash (48.36%) and as such the rice husk ash is more
pozzolanic. Also this value is less than the 87.55% obtained in [8]. The slight difference in percentage
composition might have resulted from the method of preparation of the ash and the species of the rice
used.
The loss on ignition obtained was 17.78%. This value is slightly more than 12% maximum as
required for pozzolanas. It means that the RHA contains little unburnt carbon and this reduces the
pozzolanic activity of the ash. The unburnt carbon it-self is not pozzolanic and its presence serves as
filler to the mixture. The value obtained is higher than 3.30% obtained in [8] and as such the pozzolana
is less effective compared to that obtained in [8]. The loss on ignition obtained is less than the value
obtained in [5] for acha husk ash (43.57%). This indicates that Acha husk produces greater unburnt
carbon compound compared to rice husk. Therefore rice husk is a better material for making pozzolana
compared to acha husk. The magnesium oxide content was 1.81%. This satisfies the required value of
4 percent maximum.
5.2.1 Rice husk as a fuel

The husk surrounding the kernel of rice accounts for approximately 20% by weight of the harvested
grain (paddy) [65]. The exterior of rice husks are composed of dentate rectangular elements, which
themselves are composed mostly of silica coated with a thick cuticle and surface hairs. The mid
region and inner epidermis contains little silica.
In small single stage mills in developing countries, where bran (the layer within the husk) is not
fully separated from the husk, the husk plus bran stream can rise to 25% of the paddy. For larger
mills, where the husk and bran are fully separated (the type more likely to be providing the husk for
electrical generation), a husk to paddy ratio of 20% is appropriate [65].
Most heating values for rice husk fall in the range 12.5 to 14MJ/kg, lower heating value (LHV). If
some bran remains with the husk, a somewhat higher calorific value results. Rice husks have low
moisture content, generally in the range of 8% to 10% [3, 65]. The following are typical chemical
analyses of rice husks:

Table 9 Typical husk analysis from various literature sources

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The high ash content of rice husks and the characteristics of the ash impose restrictions on the
design of the combustion systems. For example, the ash removal system must be able to remove the
ash without affecting the combustion characteristics of the furnace (especially if the ash produced is
mostly bottom ash). The temperatures must be controlled such that the ash melting temperature of
approximately 1440ºC is not exceeded and care must be taken that entrained ash does not erode
components of the boiler tubes and heat exchangers [3, 65]. This influences the design of the
combustion system, a review of which is presented below.
5.2.2 Incineration
Incineration is the term usually used for deliberate combustion of husk without the extraction of
energy and encompasses:
• open burning (such as deliberately setting fire to piles of dumped husk),
• enclosed burning (typically a chamber made from fire resistant bricks with openings to
allow air to enter and flue gases to leave).
5.2.3 Boilers with integral combustion
For energy recovery from the combustion of fuels, the most common type of combustion system
incorporates heat extraction from the combustion chamber using steel tubes through which water
circulates. In so doing the water removes heat from the combustion chamber while at the same time
increasing in temperature. This type of boiler is called a “water wall boiler”.
An alternative type uses an uncooled combustion chamber (sometimes called a firebox) connected
to a large drum of water through which tubes are placed to carry the hot exhaust gases from the
combustion chamber to the boiler chimney. This type is called a “fire tube boiler”. Such boilers tend
to be less expensive for applications where a boiler size of less than 20tonne/hr and a pressure
below 20 bar is appropriate.
A variant of the fire tube boiler configuration is one in which the combustion chamber remains
uncooled but the hot gases go to a separate water tube heat exchanger. Sometimes the heat
exchanger is called a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). This configuration avoids a potential
problem that can occur with high ash fuels which can cause ash build-up in the tubes of fired tube
units.
For power production using rice husks, water tube boilers are the most common choice. The
combustion chamber is normally of rectangular cross section. The walls of the chamber are formed
either by tubes welded to each other or with the interstitial space filled with refractory. The tubes
may extend to the base of the chamber or finish at a higher level with uncooled fire-brick walls
filling the lower area.
The chamber is closed at the base. The type of closure depends on the type of boiler but there is
always a means of extracting ash from the base. This ash is called “bottom ash” to distinguish it
from “fly ash” which leaves with the hot flue gases and is removed later in the process.
Generally, the chamber tapers at the top before connection to a gas passage where the exiting hot
gases pass over additional water or steam filled tubes before release to atmosphere. Sometimes
steam or water filled tubes are suspended from the chamber roof into the central combustion zone of
the chamber.
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Combustion boilers with water cooled tubes for rice husk application may be further sub-divided
into three main categories: stoker fired, suspension fired and fluidised-bed.
• Stoker fired
Stoker fired boilers employ a grate at the bottom of the combustion chamber. Rice husks are fed
above the grate on which they form a pile where combustion mainly occurs. Secondary combustion
of released volatile gases occurs above the pile.
Typically temperatures vary over a wide range but are highest in the pile. As a result the fusion
temperature for ash can be reached. Most ash drops through the grate. The smaller volume residual
fly ash is carried away by the flue gases.
• Suspension fired
Suspension firing is an adaptation of the nozzle burners used to burn liquid fuels such as oil. This
arrangement avoids the need for a grate at the base of the combustion chamber. This has several
potential advantages including:
. the elimination of an expensive and high maintenance piece of equipment,
. improved combustion using finer particles,
. easier control of excess air to the combustion chamber,
. improved combustion efficiency.
The solid fuel has to be prepared so that it is sufficiently fine to be blown into the combustion
chamber such that combustion occurs within the short period of time available whilst the fuel is in
suspension. Otherwise, the fuel will fall to the base of the chamber which would then need to have a
grate similar to a stoker-fired unit. For rice husks, this means that the husks have to be ground to a
fine powder before combustion.
• Fluidised bed combustors
The term “fluidised bed combustor” (FBC) encompasses a range of combustion/boiler combinations
where combustion of the fuel takes place within a bed of inert material that is kept “fluid” by an
upward draught of air. The combustion chamber is similar to conventional boilers, such as stoker
fired designs, except that the floor of the boiler is covered with numerous air nozzles and some ash
removal outlets. Primary combustion air enters the boiler through the nozzles and in so doing causes
the mix of fuel and inert material to mix continuously in a manner similar to a fluid. The fuel is
often fed from apertures located some distance above the bed. Depending on the ash content of the
fuel, additional inert material may also be introduced to ensure that sufficient bed inventory exists
for stable fluidisation. The mixing caused by fluidisation produces a relatively uniform combustion
temperature and avoids the extremes in temperature that occur in other types of combustion. FBCs
are conveniently subdivided into “bubbling” and “circulating” types.
Bubbling FBCs have a relatively low fluidising air velocity. This creates a bed which remains
within the lower part of the combustion chamber (ie there is no deliberate entrainment of fuel and
inert bed material in the flue gas). Circulating FBCs employ a higher air velocity which causes a
portion of the fluidised bed material, the “lighter” particles, to be transported upward with the flue
gas. These particles are “caught” in a cyclone, or similar mechanical separation device, and returned
to the main bed, hence the term “circulating”. Circulating FBCs tend to be more efficient that
bubbling beds but the added complexity has resulted in their application only for larger boiler sizes
- typically for outputs greater than 150MWth. Relatively few FBCs have been used for rice husk
applications. Where used, bubbling bed types seem to have been employed.