Krizan, P., Soos, Ľ., Vukelic, Dj.

COUNTER PRESSURE EFFECTING ON COMPACTED BRIQUETTE IN PRESSING

CHAMBER
Abstract: The aim of this contribution is to present designed methodology of calculation of counter pressure
effecting in pressing chamber at compacting process. Counter pressure is very important for compacting machines
engineers because if they know counter pressure they are able to calculate radial pressure and length of pressing
chamber. These parameters are needed for design of pressing chamber. Also lonely counter pressure helps at
compacting process increase the briquette density – which is the main indicator of final briquette quality.
Key words: compacting process, briquetting process, counter pressure in pressing chamber, briquette quality

1. INTRODUCTION 2
p m  p m  dp m  π D k  μ p r π D k dx  0 (1)
Counter pressure effecting on compacted briquette 4
in pressing chamber is very important parameter at
compacting process. Disallows material to leave the
pressing chamber before compacting and helps with
briquette compacting in pressing chamber. Counter
pressure can be at horizontal way and also at vertical
way of compacting generated: by counter pressure
plug, by collet at the end of chamber with adjustable
choking, by friction coefficient between briquette and
chamber, by shape of pressing chamber (conicalness)
and by length of compacted column consist from
briquettes. For design of pressing chamber is very
useful to know the value of effecting counter pressure.

2. KNOWN MATHEMATICAL MODELS OF

COMPACTING

On our department we have done experiment for

main influencing parameters evaluation. We know that
at compacting process are more important pressing
temperature (T), compacting pressure (p), fraction
largeness (L) and input material humidity (wr). We
designed mathematical model which describes
influence of all named parameters on final briquette
density (ρ). This model is very useful at counter
pressure calculation because we know definitely
dependence ρ = f (p) [1].
The second mathematical model which we need at
counter pressure calculation is model describing pk – axial pressure of press (MPa)
pressing conditions in closed pressing chamber by pG – counter pressure in chamber (MPa)
single-axis pressing on vertical press (Fig.1). By this pr – radial pressure (MPa)
compacting process is counter pressure generated by pm – axial pressure on the briquette (MPa)
counter pressure plug. Maximal compacting pressure pk Dk – diameter of pressing chamber (mm)
which is rising by pressing depend on pressing chamber μ – friction coefficient (-)
length and shape; depend on friction relations between H – length of pressed briquette (mm)
pressed material and wall of the chamber. Drag friction
is backward assigned by radial pressure pr, applied to Fig. 1. Pressing conditions in pressing chamber by
chamber wall, by friction coefficient μ and length of single-axis pressing on vertical press [1]
pressed briquette H. Equation (1) describes Fig.1.
By equation (1) solving and by border conditions
substituting they get equation (2) and (3).

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 4. ..H influencing length of pressing chamber. Next
pk  pG .e Dk
(MPa) (2) calculation will show you how important are founded
dependence ρ = f (p) and equation (3) for calculation of
Equation (2) specifies relation between axial counter pressure which effecting on compacted
pressure pk and counter pressure effecting on briquette. For calculation we use as an example
dimensions of our experimental pressing stand. This
compacted briquette pG.
4.λ.λ.μ
stand supplies closed vertical way of compacting. If we
 want calculate the counter pressure from equation (3)
Dk
p G  p k .e (MPa) (3) we have to know other parameters in this equation. We
chose axial pressure pk according to Fig. 2 (pk = 120
3. COUNTER PRESSURE CALCULATION MPa). With this pressure we are able to compact
briquettes by Standard given quality [2 ,3, 4].
Counter pressure value with value of radial pressure

Fig. 2 Dependence of briquette density on compacting pressure at various pressing temperatures (wr=10%; L=2 mm)

a.) b.) c.) d.)

Fig.3 Single-axis pressing process on vertical press (a.) and individual phases of compacting – b.) filling of pressing
chamber; c.) pressing of the 1st briquette + filling of pressing chamber; d.) pressing of the 2nd briquette +
filling of pressing chamber

Friction coefficient between pressed material materials is this ratio from interval 0<λ<1. Diameter of
(wood) and wall of pressing chamber (steel) is μ = 0,35. pressing chamber is given by construction of pressing
λ is ratio of main strains σr/σm (Fig. 1). For dispersive stand, therefore Dk = 20 mm. For calculation of length

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of pressed briquette (H) we need also compacting ratio system of pressing is pressed briquette after each
for wood. This ratio is ratio of volume before pressing shorter because after each pressing is volume
compacting and after compacting. This ratio was of pressing chamber reduced. According to these
calculated from briquette density (by pressure 120 MPa results we can say that value of counter pressure will
and temperature 105 ºC) and from length of pressing decrease with increasing of length of pressed column.
chamber Lk. The compacting ratio is 1:8. Know we can Now we can try to apply this theory to horizontal
calculate length of pressed briquette after each pressing continuous way of pressing. On the figure 4 you can
on the pressing stand. Note, that in our case, in case of see what is situation at horizontal continuous pressing.
closed chamber, has each briquettes various length. On Figure 4 describes the compacting process and
the figure 3 you can see what is situation in closed effecting of counter pressure at horizontal continuous
chamber at compacting. In the table 1 you can see pressing. The main difference is that the length of
calculated each length of pressed briquettes. After than pressed briquette is equal for each briquette. Briquettes
we can calculate according to equation (3) and values which were pressed sooner will continuously move
in Tab.1 searched counter pressure (pG). These through the full pressing chamber until to the end of
calculated values you can find also in Tab.1. We can chamber. We use again dimensions of experimental
say that value of counter pressure increasing with pressing stand at calculation but with considering of
reduction of the length of pressed briquettes. In closed continuous way of pressing.

i 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Lki (mm) 140 122,5 107,19 93,79 82,07 71,81 62,83 54,98
Hi (mm) 17,5 15,31 13,40 11,72 10,26 8,98 7,85 6,87
pGi (MPa) 39,84 45,74 51,59 57,35 62,87 68,15 73,18 77,84
Table. 1 Table of calculated parameters for counter pressure calculation [3]

Fig.4 Counter pressure effecting at horizontal continuous pressing

In the table 2 you can see the calculated values of It will be very useful if we could execute experiment
counter pressure at continuous way of pressing. We can for radial strains find out.
say that counter pressure decreasing with increase of
length of pressed column or with increase of length of i 1 2 3 4 5
pressing chamber. With other experiment in the future lzi (mm) 87,5 70 52,5 35 17,5
we have to verify this claim. Also is much needed to pGi (MPa) 0,48 1,45 4,39 13,23 39,84
find the optimal length of pressing chamber in
Table.2 Table of calculated values of counter pressure
dependence on compacting pressure or counter
at continuous way of pressing
pressure. Optimal length of pressing chamber is when
the briquette reaches by Standard given density, when
On the figure 5 you can see the dependence of
is able to overrun the counter pressure and when it is
effecting counter pressure in pressing chamber on
able to leave the pressing chamber without fall to
length of pressed column of briquettes. This figure
pieces. Optimal length of pressing chamber will change
comes from previously calculations. You can see that
in dependence on effecting compacting pressure or
the counter pressure is higher when the length of
counter pressure. Optimal length of pressing chamber
pressed column is shorter and vice versa.
will depend also on radial strains. Radial strains we can
calculate from the ratio of main strains λ (radial / axial).

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Fig.5 Dependence of counter pressure effecting on briquette in pressing chamber on length of pressed column

4. CONCLUSION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This presented methodology and calculations are The paper is a part of the research done within the
very useful for design of pressing chambers. We are project SK-SRB-0011-07. The authors would like to
able to design the shape and dimensions of pressing thank to the Slovak Research and Development
chamber. When we will know the value of effecting Agency.
radial strains we can calculate the place in pressing
chamber when the briquette can leave the chamber
without fall to pieces. Every design and calculation has Authors: M.Sc. Peter Križan, prof. Ľubomír Šooš,
to be according to briquettes density which is given by Slovak Technical University in Bratislava, Faculty of
Standards. Mechanical Engineering, Nám. Slobody 17, 81231
Bratislava, Slovakia, Phone.: +421 2 572 96 537, Fax:
5. REFERENCES +421 2 524 97 809.
M.Sc. Djordje Vukelić, University of Novi Sad,
[1] Holm, J.; Henriksen, U.; Hustad, J.; Sorensen, L.: Faculty of Technical Sciences, Trg Dositeja
Toward an understanding of controlling Obradovica 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia, Phone.: +381
parameters in softwood and hardwood pellets 21 450-366, Fax: +381 21 454-495.
production, American Chemical Society, published E-mail: [email protected]
on web 09/09/2006. [email protected]
[2] Šooš, Ľ., Križan, P.: Analyze of forces interaction in [email protected]
pressing chamber of briquetting machine (in
Slovak), In.: Proceedings from 11. International
conference TOP 2005, pp. 299-306, Častá -
Papiernička, Slovakia, FME STU, ISBN 80-227-
2249-9, 29.06.-01.07.2005.
[3] Križan, P.: Wood waste compacting process and
conception of presses construction (in Slovak),
Dissertation thesis, FME STU in Bratislava,
Slovakia, 2009
[4] Križan, P.; Vukelić, D.: Shape of pressing chamber
for wood biomass compacting, In.: Quality Festival
2008: 2nd International quality conference,
Kragujevac, Serbia, ISBN 978-86-86663-25-2,
13.-15. May 2008.

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