Comminution

Motor mount swing, torque arm, and force transducer

Torque-Arm Method to Measure Specific Energy in Laboratory Scale Biomass Preprocessing Equipment

/ Comminution, Forest Concepts Bioenergy, Forest Concepts Research & Development, Publications

Abstract  Specific energy for comminution and mechanical processing of lignocellulosic feedstocks provides an economically important basis to compare equipment and to provide data for lifecycle analysis of complete systems. Measurement of specific energy during equipment design and development activities enables optimization of design parameters. Forest Concepts developed a torque-arm apparatus and LabView data acquisition method […]

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Crushed Roundwood

Modeling Energy Consumption for Crushing of Roundwood as a First Stage of Feedstock Preparation

/ Comminution, Forest Concepts Bioenergy, Forest Concepts Research & Development, Publications, Siskin Ridge Roundwood

Abstract  Our objective is to apply an understanding of the modes of failure and structural biology to substantially reduce the comminution energy required to produce bioenergy feedstocks. This paper explores the modes of failure for wood materials subject to crushing forces and how they could be used to develop a mathematical model of crushing forces

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Poplar Crumbles

Protocol for Assessing Particle Shape of Comminuted Biomass

/ Comminution, Forest Concepts Bioenergy, Forest Concepts Research & Development, Publications

Abstract  Particle shape is increasingly important as a quality parameter for comminuted biomass. Shape affects flowability, pretreatment, rate of conversion, and performance of materials handling systems. This protocol applies to materials that have been subjected to commutation processes including but not limited to chunking, chipping, grinding or milling. Our objective is to enable a uniform

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Loblolly Pine Comminution

Structured Interview Guide and Template for Specification of Woody Biomass Fuel and Feedstocks

/ Comminution, Forest Concepts Bioenergy, Forest Concepts Research & Development, Publications

Abstract Lack of full technical specification for biomass fuels and feedstocks is a major source of confusion, uncertainty, and conflict throughout the supply chain. With support from US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Energy, we have interviewed scores of industry participants and reviewed both the scientific and commercial literature to develop a template

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Collecting Woody Slash

Interfacing Forest Engineering with Bioenergy Production

/ Baling, Comminution, Forest Concepts Bioenergy, Forest Concepts Research & Development, Habitats & Bioengineering, Publications

Abstract  Woody biomass from forestland, urban greenbelts, and residential areas has the potential to provide more than 150 million tons per year of cellulosic feedstocks for biorefineries, pellet fuels, and fermentation. Production sites range from urban lots to large wildland forest tracts. Destinations range from small urban boutiques to large remote industrial complexes. The systems,

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Catastrophic failure from parallel to grain tension, not shear

Mode of Failure Model for Cutting Solid Section Biomass

/ Baling, Comminution, Forest Concepts Bioenergy, Forest Concepts Research & Development, Publications

Abstract Solid section biomass, such as wood and the node-zone of crop residues, has distinct modes of failure when loaded in cross grain shear. Shear bar design plays a part in determining what the failure mode will be at a given depth of penetration. Other factors include shear location relative to an unconstrained end and

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