Evaluating Factors That Influence The Feedstock Quality Of Comminuted Forest Residues

Woody biomass residues generated from timber harvest or fuel reduction thinning operations are a potential feedstock for emerging biomass conversion technologies. However, forest residues typically produce a low quality feedstock which may not be suitable for certain biomass conversion technologies. In an effort to increase feedstock quality, this study separated non-merchantable trees and tops from piled limbs during a timber harvest operation. A portion of the separated material was further processed to remove limbs to create five material types: processed and unprocessed, conifer and hardwood stems, and slash (limbs and chunks). These materials were comminuted with a disc-chipper, grinder, and micro-chipper, two and 12 months after harvest. The quality of the feedstock produced from each machine was characterized by moisture content, particle size distribution, bulk density and ash content. Chapter one reviews the comminution of 2-month old material. There was no difference in moisture content between the chipped materials, however, slash material was significantly lower. Processing material did not have an effect on the size distribution nor bulk density of chips. A lower ash content was observed in the conifer type material after processing. Overall, we learned that through sorting and chipping, we were able to improve feedstock quality compared to ground slash. An improvement in feedstock quality may justify the additional cost to sort. In Chapter two, 12-month old material was comminuted and results were compared to those found in Chapter one. The moisture content of chips collected in the study ranged between 18% and 29%. There was a 7.25% decrease in moisture content across all material types. The size distribution of chip samples were dependent on tree type, moisture content and treatment. The bulk density of the 12-month chips decreased by 12% over the 2-month period due to moisture loss. Results show that additional processing (i.e., delimbing stems) does not have a big impact on ash content, bulk density, nor moisture content. Allowing the material to sit for an additional 10 months did have a significant influence on moisture content, which contributed to changes in particle size and bulk density. The chipper produced 30.1 bone dry metric tonne (BDmT)/productive machine hour (PMH) at an estimated cost of $11.87/BDmT. In Chapter three, 12-month material was comminuted using a micro-chipper designed to produce a 3 mm chip. Micro-chips had a smaller particle size distribution, which raised the bulk density 13% over bulk density results found in Chapter 2. The micro-chipper produced 33.9 BDmT/PMH at an estimated cost of $11.16/BDmT. Our findings show that with proper handling and comminution methods, forest residues, once considered a waste bi-product, have the potential to be a high quality feedstock for biomass conversion technologies. These technologies may provide added value and different options for land managers to handle forest residues.

"Woody biomass feedstock that is both high-quality and low-cost has become increasingly important for the bioenergy and bioproducts industries. Logging generates forest residues – low-quality feedstock – and4 additional operations that also incur additional cost, such as biomass sorting and treetops processing (BSTP),5 micro-chipping, and screening, are required to improve the feedstock’s quality. Considering recent6 developments in technologies and BSTP to generate high-quality feedstocks, economic models were7 developed in this study to estimate various forest residues logistics operational costs and analyze the8 economics of delivering feedstocks to near-woods Biomass Conversion Technology (BCT) sites or to9 faraway-located power plants in the form of chips, hog-fuel, and bales. The results show that the cost of10 BSTP can vary between 0 and2/Oven Dry Metric Ton (ODMT) based on the biomass sorting intensity.11 The most economical way to deliver forest residues was transporting processed stem-wood from landings12 to near-wood BCT sites and comminuting it into woodchips there [~0/ODMT, assuming a one-way13 (32-km) road-distance and no-cost of BSTP at landings]. Grinding slash at the landing and transporting14 ground-biomass (i.e., hog-fuel) to a plant (

This book comprises select proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Recent Advances in Bio-energy Research (ICRABR 2022), providing comprehensive coverage on bio-energy-related fields and prospects of bio-energy in terms of waste management for energy generation, storage, and application. The content includes themes such as optimisation of energy systems, recent advances in biofuels and bioenergy, biomass hybrid systems, energy efficiency, electrochemical conversion of biofuels to renewable energy, energy management and policy, and the inter-linkages between energy and sustainable development. This book is of use to academics, researchers, consultants, and policymakers alike.

Biochar is the carbon-rich product when biomass (such as wood, manure or crop residues) is heated in a closed container with little or no available air. It can be used to improve agriculture and the environment in several ways, and its stability in soil and superior nutrient-retention properties make it an ideal soil amendment to increase crop yields. In addition to this, biochar sequestration, in combination with sustainable biomass production, can be carbon-negative and therefore used to actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, with major implications for mitigation of climate change. Biochar production can also be combined with bioenergy production through the use of the gases that are given off in the pyrolysis process. This book is the first to synthesize the expanding research literature on this topic. The book's interdisciplinary approach, which covers engineering, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, economics and policy, is a vital tool at this stage of biochar technology development. This comprehensive overview of current knowledge will be of interest to advanced students, researchers and professionals in a wide range of disciplines.

Lord Rutherford has said that all science is either physics or stamp collecting. On that basis the study of forest biomass must be classified with stamp collecting and other such pleasurable pursuits. Japanese scientists have led the world, not only in collecting basic data, but in their attempts to systematise our knowledge of forest biomass. They have studied factors affecting dry matter production of forest trees in an attempt to approach underlying phYf'ical principles. This edition of Professor Satoo's book has been made possible the help of Dr John F. Hosner and the Virginia Poly technical Institute and State University who invited Dr Satoo to Blacksburg for three months in 1973 at about the time when he was in the final stages of preparing the Japanese version. Since then the explosion of world literature on forest biomass has continued to be fired by increasing shortages of timber supplies in many parts of the world as well as by a need to explore renewable sources of energy. In revising the original text I have attempted to maintain the input of Japanese work - much of which is not widely available outside Japan - and to update both the basic information and, where necessary, the conclusions to keep them in tune with current thinking. Those familiar with the Japanese original will find Chapter 3 largely rewritten on the basis of new work - much of which was initiated while Dr Satoo was in Blacksburg.

Bioenergy from Sustainable Forestry synthesizes information needed to design or implement sustainable forest management systems for production of biomass for energy in conjunction with other forest products. It is organized around the criteria for sustainable forest management: productivity, environment, social issues, economics, and legal and institutional framework. More than 25 international experts from 10 countries have brought together available ecological, physical, operational, social and economic information and identified gaps in knowledge related to biomass production and harvesting systems. This is the first time that such comprehensive information has been brought together under one cover, using an integrated, holistic approach. Guiding principles and state of the art knowledge are emphasized. The book will enable forest resource managers and planners to evaluate the ability of specific forest regions to sustainably meet bioenergy production demands.

Changes in production, demand, supply, and trade patterns; the impact of green building and bioenergy on industry practices and policy infrastructure; and new economies with production advantages and large consumption bases all present challenges and opportunities in the forest sector. With contributions from leading experts in academia and professional organizations, The Global Forest Sector: Changes, Practices, and Prospects fills a gap in the literature that is preventing students, scholars, and policy makers from developing a timely, structured, big-picture view of forest sector business. In addition, the book reviews current thinking on a wide variety of business management issues in the forest sector. The book covers managing change in the global forest sector and the impact of globalization on forest users. It discusses markets and market forces, new products and product categories, and the influence of China and Russia. The book then examines the environmental paradigm, including environmental activism, sustainability, and the impact of green building and bioenergy. The book concludes with coverage of the role of information technology, corporate social responsibility, innovation, and next steps. Overall, this book helps readers both develop a bird’s eye view of the changes surrounding the forest sector as well as have a magnified view of numerous managerial issues associated with these changes. The content paints a picture of the current and changing forest sector including the state of forests, the nature of markets, the newly emerged patterns of stakeholder impact, and evolution of key business practices. It provides the foundation needed to develop the conservation-based economy required for future success in the global forest sector.

The Fire and Fuels Extension (FFE) to the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) simulates fuel dynamics and potential fire behavior over time, in the context of stand development and management. Existing models of fire behavior and fire effects were added to FVS to form this extension. New submodels representing snag and fuel dynamics were created to complete the linkages. This report contains four chapters. Chapter 1 states the purpose and chronicles some applications of the model. Chapter 2 details the model's content, documents links to the supporting science, and provides annotated examples of the outputs. Chapter 3 is a user's guide that presents options and examples of command usage. Chapter 4 describes how the model was customized for use in different regions. Fuel managers and silviculturists charged with managing fire-prone forests can use the FFEFVS and this document to better understand and display the consequences of alternative management actions.