Determining the effect of pressing pressure and pressing die temperature on the compressive strength of fuel briquettes made from oak wood waste
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36930/42265213Keywords:
fuel briquettes; oak wood; Quercus robur L.; residual wood; hot pressing; pressing pressure; pressing die tempera-ture; compressive strength; mathematical modelling; design of experimentsAbstract
The paper investigates the influence of hot pressing parameters on the mechanical strength of fuel briquettes manufactured from residual oak wood (Quercus robur L.) generated by woodworking production. The objective of the study was to determine the quantitative effect of pressing pressure and pressing die temperature on the compressive strength of fuel briquettes and to develop a mathematical model for predicting the investigated response. The experimental study was carried out using a second-order response surface experimental design (Box design). The investigated factors were pressing pressure ranging from 85 to 135 MPa and pressing die temperature ranging from 90 to 150°C. Experimental results were statistically processed using Cochran`s, Student`s, and Fisher`s criteria. A second-order regression model was developed in both coded and natural variables. The results showed that increasing pressing pressure and die temperature increased the compressive strength of fuel briquettes from 12.44 MPa to 30.64 MPa. Pressing pressure was identified as the most influential factor, whereas higher die temperatures enhanced the natural bonding of wood particles due to the thermoplastic behavior of lignin. The optimal technological region was determined at 130–135 MPa and 145–150°C, where the predicted compressive strength exceeded 30 MPa. The scientific novelty of the research consists in establishing the quantitative relationships between pressing pressure, die temperature and compressive strength of fuel briquettes produced from residual oak wood, as well as developing an adequate quadratic mathematical model of the process. The practical significance of the obtained results lies in the possibility of predicting the mechanical properties of briquettes and optimizing industrial pressing regimes to improve the efficient utilization of woodworking residues
References
Alwis, U., Mandryk, J., & Hocking, A. D. (1999). Dust exposures in the wood processing industry. American In-dustrial Hygiene Association Journal, 60(5), 641–647. https://doi.org/10.1080/00028899908984485
Atamanyuk, V., & Bilyy, Y. (2017). Providing shape stability of wood composite blanks for manufacture of wood products. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 43, 26–30. https://doi.org/10.36930/42174303
Bohadana, A. B., Massin, N., Wild, P., Toamain, J. P., Engel, S., & Goutet, P. (2000). Symptoms, airway respon-siveness, and exposure to dust in beech and oak wood workers. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 57(4), 268–273. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.57.4.268
Delfino, R. J., Sioutas, C., & Malik, S. (2005). Potential role of ultrafine particles in associations between air-borne particle mass and cardiovascular health. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(8), 934–946. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.7938
Dovhopolov, A., Nekrasov, S., & Reuta, Z. (2021). Improving the productivity of Pini-Kay fuel briquettes by modernizing the working part of the PSH-250 press. Bulletin of the National Technical University «KhPI». Series: New Solutions in Modern Technologies, 4(10), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.20998/2413-4295.2021.04.05
Fomych, M. (2023). Technologies and equipment for manufacturing fuel briquettes. Agricultural Machines, 49, 53–59. https://doi.org/10.36910/acm.vi49.1020
Gayda, S. (2012). Production techniques and properties of fuel pellets produced from post-consumer wood. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 38, 112–150. https://doi.org/10.36930/42123822
Grytsak, S. (2024). Study of the technological process of bending ash wood. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 50, 52–64. https://doi.org/10.36930/42245005
Huber, Yu., & et al. (2023). Analysis of implementation of Industry 4.0 principles in furniture production. For-estry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 49, 73–84. https://doi.org/10.36930/42234906
Huber, Yu., & et al. (2023). Evaluation of color variability of sliced oak veneer in the process of its manufac-ture. Proceedings of the Forestry Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 25, 178–186. https://doi.org/10.15421/412315
Ilkiv, M., Solonynka, V., Hrytsak, S., & Bilyy, Y. (2019). Research of the influence of the operating parameters of the process of heat treatment of ash wood on the form stability of combined furniture boards. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 45, 47–54. https://doi.org/10.36930/42194507
Jarecki, W., Pałubicki, B., Wołpiuk, M., Trociński, A., Orlikowski, D., & Wieruszewski, M. (2024). The optimi-zation of the strength of wood adhesive joints supported by steel fasteners in furniture components. Forests, 15(11), 1953. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111953
Khan, A. U., Jan, Q. M. U., Abas, M., Muhammad, K., Ali, Q. M., & Zimon, D. (2023). Utilization of biowaste for sustainable production of coal briquettes. Energies, 16(20), 7025. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16207025
Kiyko, O., & et al. (2025). Ecological footprint of the woodworking enterprise: Impact assessment and ways of minimization. Scientific Bulletin of UNFU, 35(1), 68–75. https://doi.org/10.36930/40350109
Kozak, R., & Biruk, V. (2026). Operational properties of lightweight particleboard containing sunflower and miscanthus stem particles. Proceedings of the Forestry Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 29, 290–301. https://doi.org/10.36930/412539
Krystofiak, T., Lis, B., & Beker, C. (2022). Adhesive bonding of Scots pine wood for the production of garden equipment: An experimental investigation. Materials, 15(24), 8994. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248994
Kyyanka, & et al. (2024). Determination of the dynamics of the formation of wood residues and waste from production activities at LLC «Fortuna-Mebli». Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 50, 103–116. https://doi.org/10.36930/42245009
Kyyanka, & et al. (2025). Development of approaches for the utilization of wood residues and waste from the processing of wood and composite structural materials in furniture manufacturing at LLC «Fortuna-Mebli». Forest-ry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 51, 109–123. https://doi.org/10.36930/42255108
Kyyanka, & et al. (2026). The influence of cross-sections of rails on the strength characteristics of furniture boards made of oak wood. Proceedings of the Forestry Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 30, 201–212. https://doi.org/10.36930/412640
Leng, J., Wang, D., Shen, W., Li, X., Liu, Q., Chen, X., Zhang, H., Liang, P., & Chen, X. (2021). Digital twins-based smart manufacturing system design in Industry 4.0. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 60, 119–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2021.05.010
Lesiv, L., & et al. (2023). Mathematical model of forecasting volumes of post-consumer wood production. For-estry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 49, 33–47. https://doi.org/10.36930/42234903
Lesiv, L., & et al. (2024). Development of a mathematical model of the strength of joined preparations from post-consumer fir wood. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 50, 16–28. https://doi.org/10.36930/42245002
Lesiv, L., & et al. (2026). The influence of the properties of structural elements made of post-consumer wood on the strength characteristics of composite blockboards. Proceedings of the Forestry Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 29, 267–278. https://doi.org/10.36930/412537
Lu, J., & Feng, X. (2026). Advances in surface finishing of wood products: Toward functionalization, intelli-gence, and sustainability. Coatings, 16(7), 861. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16070861
Manzyuk, A., & et al. (2020). Peculiarities of determining the mechanical characteristics of cross-laminated wood panels by modeling static loads. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 46, 102–107. https://doi.org/10.36930/42204612
Mateusiak, Ł., Bednarz, B., Tylek, P., Michalec, K., Gach, M. B., & Radoń, R. (2026). Physical properties of nearly thousand-year-old oak wood compared with oak wood of different origins from previous centuries and pre-sent times. Drewno, 69(217), 00071. https://doi.org/10.53502/wood-208306
Medvid, L., & et al. (2023). Determination of the strength indicators of normal blockboard made of post-consumer wood. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 49, 85–98. https://doi.org/10.36930/42234907
Medvid, L., & et al. (2024). Construction of the mathematical model of the strength of post-consumer wood made blockboard of different designs. Proceedings of the Forestry Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 27, 189–198. https://doi.org/10.15421/412426
Medvid, L., & et al. (2025). Establishing the dependence of the surface-cleaning depth of post-consumer wood blanks on the operating parameters of a needle-milling machine. Scientific Bulletin of UNFU, 35(6), 25–32. https://doi.org/10.36930/40350603
Moroz, P., & et al. (2020). Evaluation of the quality of timber sorted according to different standards. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 46, 97–101. https://doi.org/10.36930/42204611
Orikhovskyy, R., & et al. (2024). Determination of running time losses in automated processing systems of woodworking. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 50, 29–40. https://doi.org/10.36930/42245003
Orikhovskyy, R., & et al. (2025). Choice of the sequence of productivity of machining in automated production systems of the woodworking manufacturing. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 51, 17–33. https://doi.org/10.36930/42255102.
Podibka, T. (2022). Determination of the regularities of the influence of rail characteristics on the shape stabil-ity of furniture panels made of beech wood of different constructions. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 48, 40–56. https://doi.org/10.36930/42214804
Podibka, T. (2024). Construction of the mathematical model of the strength of furniture panels made of lami-nated beech lamellas. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 50, 65–76. https://doi.org/10.36930/42245006
Podibka, T., & Kiyko, O. (2019). A study of the influence of the transverse dimensions of beech strips on the shape stability of furniture boards. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 45, 155–171. https://doi.org/10.36930/42194521
Ranskiy, A. P., Korinenko, B. V., Gordienko, O. A., & Yevdokymenko, V. O. (2023). Alternative energy: Obtain-ing fuel briquettes from pyrocarbon of polymer waste thermal destruction. Visnyk Vinnytsia Polytechnic Institute, 1, 13–20. https://doi.org/10.31649/1997-9266-2023-166-1-13-20
Salapak, L., & et al. (2021). Determination of an efficient technological process of manufacturing various sup-port elements for functional surfaces. Forestry, Forest, Paper and Woodworking Industry, 47, 58–72. https://doi.org/10.36930/42214708
Sanka, P. M., Germain, O., & Khalifa, L. (2024). Production of low-emission briquettes from carbonized faecal sludge as an alternative source of cooking energy. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00449-0
Zhong, Q., Yang, Y., Li, Q., & Jiang, T. (2017). Coal tar pitch and molasses blended binder for production of formed coal briquettes from high volatile coal. Fuel Processing Technology, 157, 12–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2016.11.005
EN 14778:2011. Solid biofuels – Sampling.
EN 14780:2011. Solid biofuels – Sample preparation.
EN 15103:2010. Solid biofuels – Determination of bulk density.
EN 15210-1:2009. Solid biofuels – Determination of mechanical durability of pellets and briquettes. Part 1: Pellets.
EN ISO 17225-1:2012. Solid biofuels – Fuel specifications and classes – Part 1: General requirements.
EN 14961-3:2011. Solid biofuels – Fuel specifications and classes. Part 3: Wood briquettes for non-industrial use.



