1.6 Techno-Market Survey Findings
India
i) For energy related applications, rice husk is being utilized as a fuel for various applications i.e.
* As a fuel in rice mill furnaces, specially in mills producing parboiled rice, energy is utilized for Steam/Hot water and hot air for dying. Inclined step grate type rice husk furnaces are in use at majority of installations although high efficiency cyclone/ suspension furnaces are being designed & developed. This is the largest single source of rice husk consumption for energy.
* As a fuel in boilers for steam generation in rural based industries, generally Lancashir type boilers are in use, although trend is towards fluidized bed combustion boilers. This constitutes the second largest application of rice husk for energy.
* As a fuel in rice husk gasifier, for generation of producer gas used for various applications such as electricity generation, running of diesel pumpsets, furnaces etc. Down draft design of rice husk gasifier are popular.
* As a fuel in brick kilns, domestic stoves in rural areas.
ii) In India paddy is milled at various levels i.e. hand pounding, small hullers, shellers, modern rice mills. Modern rice mills account for about 55% of paddy processed.
iii) The husk price varied from Rs. 300 -Rs. 800/t and is high in industrialized states/regions. The average husk price would be around Rs. 400/t.
iv) Major non-energy applications of rice husk include animal feed, filling of low lying lands, particle boards/chemical manufacture.
v) Rice mills producing parboiled rice utilize 40-45% of husk generated at mill itself for energy whereas mills producing raw rice sell 100% of rice husk generated. Approximately 50%of total rice produced in India is consumed as parboiled rice.
vi) Major R&D Organizations/institutes/private organizations working in the field of development and commercialization of rice husk energy utilization systems include:
A) Energy Efficient Furnaces
* Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
* IIT, Kharagpur
B) Gasifiers
* Grain Processing, Calcutta
* Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
* Associated Engineering Works, A.P.
* IIT, Bombay
* IIT, Delhi
C) Briquetting Machines
* Solar Sciences Consultancy (P) Ltd., New Delhi
* School of Applied Research, Sangli
* NRDC, New Delhi.
D) Stoves
* IIT, Delhi
* IISc, Bangalore
* Central Fuel Research Institute, Dhanbad
E) Utilization of Ash (Cementitious Materials)
* Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee
* IIT, Kharagpur
F) Fluidized Bed Combustion Boilers
* Thermax, Pune
* Cethar Vessels Ltd., Delhi
* Since rice husk is utilized for various applications (mills, non-energy related applications, boilers, kilns, etc.) it is estimated that out of 20 mt of husk generated per annum about 40% i.e. 8 million tonnes would be available for energy related uses in rural areas.
Abroad
vii) Total Production of rice in the world during 1989 was estimated at 473 mt. generating about 140 mt. of husk. China is the world leader with about 37% share.
viii) The utilization pattern of rice husk differs from country to country but major end uses include fuel for rice mill furnace boilers, stoves, gasifiers etc. and briquetting. Countries in which rice husk is being utilized on large scale include China, Philippines, Thailand, Japan Italy Brazil, Korea, etc.
ix) China is the world leader in rice husk gasification technology, open more (throat less, topless) down draft gasifiers of capacity 60 kW/160 kW have been commercialistic. More than 100 rice husk gasifiers are working at present in China, basically for electricity generation at rice mills. Other major countries where rice husk gasifiers have been developed include Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, USA.
x) Rice husk stoves are being used in Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines. Three types of stoves are being manufactured i.e. packed, natural draft and smouldering.
xi) Rice husk briquetting machines have been designed and commercialized in Japan, Switzerland, Thailand, USA etc. Briquetting machine based on ‘Fred Hausmann’ design are popular. Back
