Bagasse degradation, even to the extent of charring, generally does not result
in a significant (less than 5 per cent) reduction in the calorific value of dry
bagasse fibre. Stored bagasse is readily usable as a fuel under these conditions
and exhibits no combustion problems if the moisture content is less than 55 per
cent. The thermal history of several bagasse stockpiles is shown in Figure 1. After
an initial rapid heating rate which occurs over two days, stockpile temperatures in
the principal reaction zone (1-2 m depth) stabilise at approximately 64 "C. Subsequent cooling or slow heating at constant rate then proceeds for an extended
period. In other stockpiles the maximum temperature remained close to the initial stable value (64 °C) throughout the life of the stockpile (180 days).