SELECTION OF BRIQUETTING PRESS FOR BIOMASS ENERGY DENSIFICATION: APPLICATION OF THE AHP-GAUSSIAN, CRITIC-WASPAS, AND CRITIC-WISP METHODS

Abstract

This work aims to select a biomass briquetting machine for energy studies applied in the processes of continuous roasting and gasification in the pilot plant of the Polytechnic School of the Federal University of Bahia. The selection of the equipment will be carried out using the AHP-Gaussian, CRITIC-WASPAS, and CRITIC-WISP methods. Six (6) models of briquetting presses were analyzed, and selected according to their operational characteristics. The criteria used in the selection of the equipment were cost (R$), energy consumption (kW), and production (kg/h). The methods of support for decision-making applied were chosen for ranking because they do not depend on the peer-to-peer analysis of the criteria by the decision-makers. Model 03 was the best positioned in the ranking, followed by model 02 and model 01. The comparative analysis of the results provided shows that models 03 and 02 showed similarity in the ordering and that, in the case of applying the normalized Gaussian factor as weight, the WASPAS method shows sensitivity regarding the parameter λ.