Introduction:

In the commissioning stage at Ciro Redondo bioelectric power plant, located in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, an unforeseen behavior has occurred with the properties of marabou, Dichrostachys cinera (L.), used for its operation in periods of no sugar harvest. This has been related to moisture, mass and heat value, which has created difficulties in boiler operation.

Objective:

The objective of this work is to determine the behavior of the moisture, the organic mass and the heat value of the marabou harvested with machines, in its storage time, to predict its impact the performance of the boilers.

Materials and methods:

The study was based on the arrangement of three piles of marabou that remained stored for 41 days and from which samples were taken weekly for evaluating its humidity, ash content and heat value.

Results and Discussion:

The way in which the humidity and the organic mass decrease and the way in which the heat value increases with storage time, as well as the top time of its increase and the beginning of its decrease, were found.

Conclusions:

The behavior of the moisture, the organic mass and the lower heat value of the marabou harvested with machines, after being stored for a time, were determined. This new knowledge makes it possible to predict effects on the work of the boilers in order to take precautions and guarantee their correct operation.

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