Calorific Value of Dried Branches of Coconut Plant at Different Moisture Contents

Abstract

The reserves of non-renewable energy sources such as coal, crude oil and natural gas are not limitless, they gradually get exhausted and their price continually increases. This project showed how coconut branches could be an alternative source of energy. The calorific values of dried coconut branches were determined by using the bomb calorimeter along with the data of moisture content. The calorific values were noticed to be indirectly proportional to the moisture content. The calorific values (kJ/kg) of the sample as a function of the moisture content is correlated with correlation coefficient (R²) was 0.96. Ten out of fifteen specimens collected were shown to have moisture content in the range of 10% to 30%. With this moisture content, the amount of calorific values acquired were shown to be in the range of 14-16 MJ/kg which is enough to show its importance and practicality as a source of renewable energy.