International Journal of Applied and Natural Sciences ISSN: 3005-3471 DOI: 10.61424/ijans Journal Homepage: www.bluemarkpublishers.com/index.php/IJANS IJANS BLUEMARK PUBLISHERS Copyright: © 2025 the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Published by Bluemark Publishers. Page | 63 | RESEARCH ARTICLE Design and Performance Evaluation of a Charcoal Briquetting Machine Using Dimensional Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Promise C. Okoye 1 , Sunday C. Anyaora 2 , Chisom V. Okeke 3 and Ifeanyichukwu U. Onyenanu 4 ✉ 14 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli – Nigeria 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria 3 Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Nigeria. Corresponding Author: Ifeanyichukwu U. Onyenanu, E-mail: iu.onyenanu@coou.edu.ng | ABSTRACT This study delineates the design and performance assessment of a charcoal briquetting apparatus created through the application of dimensional analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to augment efficiency, throughput, and energy optimization. A screw-type briquetting apparatus was constructed utilizing a 3 HP motor and achieving an optimized throughput of 41.88 kg/hr, functioning at an efficiency of 79.46%. Buckingham’s π theorem was utilized to derive dimensionless models pertinent to essential performance metrics (efficiency, throughput, and energy consumption) predicated on parameters such as pressure, moisture content, feed rate, and die geometry. CFD simulations and SolidWorks-based Finite Element Analysis were employed to substantiate stress, strain, and displacement distributions across the components of the machine. Experimental validation exhibited a strong correlation between predicted and actual values, with coefficients of determination R² = 0.7646 for efficiency and R² = 0.9532 for throughput, thereby affirming the robustness of the models. The study concludes that the integration of dimensional analysis with parametric simulation markedly enhances the prediction of machine performance. It is recommended that prospective research incorporates environmental impact assessments and cost-benefit analyses for rural-scale deployment, in addition to refining boundary conditions in CFD models for more precise heat transfer predictions. | KEYWORDS Charcoal briquetting machine, Dimensional analysis, Buckingham π theorem, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Performance evaluation, Throughput, Energy consumption, Parametric modeling, Finite Element Analysis (FEA). | ARTICLE INFORMATION ACCEPTED: 08 May 2025 PUBLISHED: 20 June 2025 DOI: 10.61424/ijans.v3.i2.334 1. Introduction In most African nations, briquetting biomass (especially charcoal) is a relatively recent technique (Mwampamba et al., 2013). However, there are several commercial briquetting systems in Asia, America, and Europe (Njenga, 2013). Briquettes, or high-density biomass fuel, are produced by converting low-density biomass waste (Onukak et al., 2017). The act of gathering flammable materials that are inappropriate because of their low density and compressing them into solid fuel in the proper shape so that it can burn is known as briquetting (Chaney, 2010). Briquettes of charcoal made from agricultural waste are being offered for sale as a substitute for lignite, petroleum coke, and natural coal (Mwampamba et al., 2013). In developed nations, the most common uses of charcoal briquettes are for cooking, heating, barbecue, and camping. Charcoal briquettes are commonly utilised in homes in