Ash Content vs. the Economics of Using Wood Chips for Energy: Model Based on Data from Central Europe

Lieskovský, Martin; Martin, Jay K.; Trenčiansky, Marek; Merganič, Ján

doi:10.15376/biores.12.1.1579-1592

Cited by 25 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…This is in conformity with what was reported on woods and barks of some biomass by Deka, et al [9] and Nosek, et al [13]. Different studies have demonstrated the influence of moisture content on the combustion properties of fuelwood materials [24][25][26][27][28] and concluded that moisture had negative effect on fuel value of the wood. Thus, bio fuel materials with low moisture content are always preferred because of the high energy content per unit volume, durability and slow burning rate.…”

Section: Moisture Content (Mc)supporting

confidence: 90%

Effect of Fuel Material Compositions on Combustion Properties of Wood Chips from Smallhold Farm Plots in a Sudano-Sahelian Environment of Nigeria

Sotannde

Dadile

Umar

et al. 2020

CJAST

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Aims:The study explored the combustion properties of woods and barks of some selected trees and the mixtures of the two in order to map out how fuel material composition affect the combustion properties of biomass materials. Study Design: The study is a two-factor factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. The main factors are the tree species and fuel material types. Place and Duration of Study: Tree samples used for this study were coppiced stems harvested from smallhold farm plots along the Damaturu -Gujba fuelwood corridors in Yobe State. The analytical study was carried out in Wood and Fibre CJAST, 39(2): 93-104, 2020; Article no.CJAST.54680 94 Methodology: Ten tree species were used for this study. Each species was replicated 3-times, making a total of 30 stems with their dbh between 10 and 15 cm. A sample billet of 20 cm log was cut from each stem at 10 cm below and above dbh. Each billet was debarked, chipped separately and dried to approximately 12% moisture content. From the chips, 100% wood, 95%W-5%B, 90%W-10%B and 100% bark fuel material samples were created, grinded with mechanical grinder and sieved to approximately 0.4 mm particle size based on ASTM D2013-86. The sieved samples obtained were then analyzed for their percentage moisture content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash and gross calorific values using ASTM standard methods. The data obtained were subjected to Analysis of variance from which % variance component and LSD were computed α = 0.05 and 0.01 level of significance. Results: All the measured parameters varied significantly among the tree species and the compositions of the fuel materials obtained from them. Majority of the variation in the fuelwood properties were attributed to the composition of the fuel materials obtained from the trees rather than the species they were made of. On the average, moisture content of the samples ranged from 27.66 to 40.44%, volatile matter (61.38 to 75.11%), ash (0.52 to 2.42%), fixed carbon (24.19 to 36.20%) and gross calorific value (32.99 to 33.02 MJ.kg -1 ). The moisture and ash contents of the fuel materials obtained from all the tree species increased with the level of bark inclusion whereas, volatile matter content and gross calorific values decreased significantly with level of bark inclusion (P < 0.05). Also, gross calorific value of the fuel materials correlates positively with volatile matter and fixed carbon contents. But, correlate negatively with moisture and ash contents. Among the studied tree species, chips obtained from A. leiocarpus had the highest energy value, followed by C. arereh and B. aegyptiaca while P. reticulatum, A. sieberiana and C. lamprocarpum had the least energy value in that order. Conclusion: Based on their energy value and ash content, minimizing the bark content in wood chips is important from energy and environment point of view. Therefore, chips with 100% wood and those with 5% bark inclusions are recommended for heat generation. Original Research Article

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Section: Moisture Content (Mc)supporting

confidence: 90%

Effect of Fuel Material Compositions on Combustion Properties of Wood Chips from Smallhold Farm Plots in a Sudano-Sahelian Environment of Nigeria

Sotannde

Dadile

Umar

et al. 2020

CJAST

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“…The initial moisture content of wood chips produced in forest areas and transported to energy plants ranges from approximately 30% to approximately 55% to 62% (Talbot and Suadicani 2006;Gendek and Zychowicz 2015), which directly influences their calorific value. For fresh wood chips (50% to 60% moisture content), calorific value amounts to 6 GJ/Mg to 8 GJ/Mg, while for air-dry wood chips (10% to 20%) it increases to 14 GJ/Mg to 16 GJ/Mg, to reach approximately 19 GJ/Mg upon complete drying (Hałuzio and Musiał 2004;Gendek and Głowacki 2008;Gendek and Zychowicz 2014;Lieskovský et al 2017). These figures are comparable to previous literature data for the calorific value of timber and biomass (Borowski 2007;Kent et al 2009;Günther et al 2012;Gejdoš et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Intentional Reduction in Moisture Content of Forest Wood Chips during Transport on Truckload Price

2018

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Wood chip transportation is a widespread practice in Poland, with distances between forest sites and power or heating plants reaching 300 km and truck transport times of up to 6 h. Because the basic parameter affecting biomass quality for energy production is moisture content, the objective of the presented economic analysis was to determine its effect on the price of wood chips transported by semi-trailer trucks. This paper considered the possibility of drying biomass in the semi-trailer. No external energy consumption was envisioned; the heat needed for drying was obtained from the truck cooling or exhaust systems via heat exchangers. The moisture content of transported biomass had a dual effect on the final truckload price. While it increased biomass amount by adding to its weight, it decreased its price by lowering its calorific value. Mathematical analysis showed that a decrease in wood chip moisture content increased truckload price, justifying research on technological improvements of this process. Simulations indicated that by reducing moisture content during transportation, biomass suppliers increased their revenues approximately € 3.6 to € 30.0 per truckload, which translates into annual financial profit ranging from tens of thousands of euros (EUR) to more than € 23,810.

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“…In such situation, more biomass fuel sources are required to generate the same amount of energy. Previous studies reported a 1.18 to 1.39 % higher biomass fuel consumption for every 1 wt.% increase in ash content [48,50]. By doing so, a higher ash production and management cost is anticipated due to frequent cleaning and machinery maintenance.…”

Section: Production Trials and Physical Characteristics Of Raw Materimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides creating ash-related problem, a higher ash content also decreases the CV of the biomass pellets [47]. An increase of 1 wt.% of ash content has resulted in CV reduction of 0.11 -0.2 MJ kg -1 [48,49]. In such situation, more biomass fuel sources are required to generate the same amount of energy.…”

Section: Production Trials and Physical Characteristics Of Raw Materimentioning

confidence: 99%

Production and Characterization of Low-ash Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) Pellets as a Solid Biofuel

Nasrin

Loh

Sukiran

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Fuel quality is among the major issues encountered for commercial production and utilisation of oil palm-based biomass pellets from empty fruit bunches (EFB). In this study, a physical treatment, namely sieving and water washing, was applied to EFB prior to densification using an industrial-scale plant. The physiochemical properties of the produced EFB pellets were compared with those without physical treatment as the control. The results showed that the physical treatment process had significantly enhanced the fuel properties of EFB pellets, particularly in reducing ash content. Both the treatments; sieving alone and a combined sieving and water washing of the feedstock managed to reduce the ash content of EFB pellets to < 4 wt.% and < 2 wt.%, respectively compared to > 5 wt.% of typical commercial EFB pellets. The reduction in ash content improved the calorific value of pellets to > 17.5 MJ kg-1 which signified achieving a milestone for oil palm biomass-based heat and power generation from technical, operational, economic and environmental points of view. The findings also indicated that the combined sieving and water washing treatment method could potentially reduce further the unwanted ash-inducing elementals in EFB pellets, in particular chlorine and potassium. This study demonstrated that the employed physical treatment is an immediate and cost-effective practical commercial approach to improve the fuel properties of EFB pellets.

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Ash Content vs. the Economics of Using Wood Chips for Energy: Model Based on Data from Central Europe

Cited by 25 publications

References 38 publications

Effect of Fuel Material Compositions on Combustion Properties of Wood Chips from Smallhold Farm Plots in a Sudano-Sahelian Environment of Nigeria

Effect of Fuel Material Compositions on Combustion Properties of Wood Chips from Smallhold Farm Plots in a Sudano-Sahelian Environment of Nigeria

Effects of Intentional Reduction in Moisture Content of Forest Wood Chips during Transport on Truckload Price

Production and Characterization of Low-ash Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) Pellets as a Solid Biofuel

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