Publications - Forest Concepts

Field Experience with Wood-Strand Erosion Control Mulch on Mine and Pipeline Projects

June 21, 2016 August 7, 2020 / Publications, WoodStraw

Abstract Soil erosion is a significant risk during and after grading operations on mine and pipeline sites. A range of materials are commercially available to reduce the erosive effects of wind and/or rainfall, including agricultural straw, hydraulic mulches, and rolled erosion blankets. Each of the conventional materials have limitations sufficient enough that federal agencies supported …

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Conceptual Specification of Large-Bale Forest Residuals Balers

September 24, 2015 June 12, 2020 / Baling, Publications

Abstract The large-bale modular woody biomass baler is designed to maximize daily production while baling previously piled logging slash, forest residuals, thinnings from hand crews, and forest management prunings. The baler is intended to be supported by an excavator-type grapple loader to feed biomass into the baler and handle bales produced much like a grinder …

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Conceptual Specification of Forest Residues Balers using the Appreciative Design Method

July 29, 2015 July 27, 2020 / Baling, Publications

Abstract Baling of fine forest residuals such as tops, branches, and thinnings is expected to reduce the cost of collection, transport, and processing. Baling may enable economical access to currently stranded biomass resources that are inaccessible to large in-woods grinders and specialized chip hauling vehicles. The technical feasibility of baling logging slash branches and tops …

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Development and Application of Wood-Strand Material for Post-Wildfire Erosion Control and Revegetation

April 30, 2015 July 20, 2020 / Publications, WoodStraw

Abstract Soil erosion is a significant risk on burned areas following wildfires due to loss of vegetation, fine surface debris, and fireline construction. Erosion may be triggered by wind, resulting in loss of topsoil and ash with resulting air quality effects, or by rainfall that displaces seeds, creates rills, and washes topsoil downslope. A range …

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Design of a Forest Residue Baler – Specification of Bale Dimensions

January 6, 2015 June 16, 2020 / Baling, Publications

Abstract Specification of bale dimensions, configuration, and density are among the first decision decisions to be made for the design of a new class of forest biomass balers. The engineering team at Forest Concepts updated earlier work on baling of urban woody biomass to the context of forest residuals and the BRDI project. Revised functional …

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Woody Biomass Size Reduction with Selective Material Orientation

April 1, 2013 August 7, 2020 / Comminution, Crumbler, Erosion Control, Forest Concepts Research & Development, Publications

Abstract Roundwood logs from forests and energy plantations must be chipped, ground, or otherwise comminuted into small particles prior to conversion to solid or liquid biofuels. Results & discussion: Rotary veneer followed by cross-grain shearing is demonstrated to be a novel and low energy consuming method for primary breakdown of logs into a raw material …

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Advances in Woody Biomass Drying by Taking Advantage of Surface Properties

August 1, 2012 June 8, 2020 / Drying, Forest Concepts Bioenergy, Forest Concepts Research & Development, Publications

Abstract Comprehensive models for grain drying have been derived using critical data available from literature dating back to Shedd’s 1953 work on pressure drop. Although dryer design data for grains and many industrial materials are known, Forest Concepts has developed data and evidence that biomass feedstocks are sufficiently unique that published design data is not …

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Beneficiation of Chipped and Shredded Woody Biomass

August 1, 2012 June 8, 2020 / Comminution, Crumbler, Forest Concepts Bioenergy, Forest Concepts Research & Development, Publications

Abstract Forest Concepts, with funding from USDA NIFA SBIR program, developed methods and equipment to reprocess low-value dirty forest chips, tree service chips, and hog fuel into high value clean wood fiber and other valuable fractions. Traditional clean sources of mill residuals (sawdust, shavings, and chips) are declining rapidly due to improved sawmilling efficiencies and …

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Shear Processing of Wood Chips into Feedstock Particles

July 31, 2012 August 7, 2020 / Publications, Comminution, Crumbler, Forest Concepts Research & Development

Abstract We have an objective to convert cellulosic biomass raw materials into small particles that are optimized for biochemical and/or thermochemical conversion to liquid transportation fuels. As a side effort, we are interested in producing feedstocks for composite bioproducts, solid biofuels, and other uses. Wood chips that have a typical length of 50mm are a …

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Low-Energy Comminution of Woody Biomass to Create Precision Feedstock Particles

July 30, 2012 June 8, 2020 / Comminution, Forest Concepts Bioenergy, Forest Concepts Research & Development, Publications

Abstract Under funding from DOE Office of Biomass Programs, engineers at Forest Concepts are working to apply low-energy comminution methods to produce improved biomass particle geometry and sizes optimal for biochemical and thermochemical conversion to liquid transportation fuels. Designs are constrained to concurrently achieve the DOE Uniform Feedstock Format criteria for bulk handling and flowability. …

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