Abstract
Energy is the key factor in economic development and as weapproach the turn of the century our requirement of energy will increaserapidly with the advancement of industrialization and urbanization. It isestimated that approximately 450 million tons of coal, 80 million tons of crudeoil and 150 million tons of firewood will be required at that time to meetdomestic demand.
The silk industry, which is by and large, considered to be ahouse hold industry has much of the middle and lower middle class segments ofthe society in its fold. The component sectors viz. reeling and dyeing sectorsgenerate wafer thin margins to the entrepreneurs. In a situation where theentrepreneur is ought to use his every wisdom to minimize the cost ofproduction, it is quite likely that the expenditure on the part of fuel oftenplays spoilsport on his margins. On the flip side of this, the health hazardsof using the wood or coal as fuel are another cause of concern for him.
We can meet this demand easily, can prevent the deteriorationof ecology and can reduce the health hazards by replacing the firewood, coaletc with biomass fuels.
To minimize the expenses on the firewood, to reduce therelease of carbon dioxide and to prevent deforestation, it is ascertainedbriquettes as an alternative fuel for boilers of silk industry. Briquettesproduced from biomass are fairly good substitute for coal, lignite, fire woodand offer numerous advantages as they easily replace the conventional fuels forwater heating, hot air generation, steam generation etc. Briquettes, apart fromother various advantages, there is 20% reduction of firewood consumption.
The authors are associated with Central Silk TechnologicalResearch Institute.
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