Biomass
Mar 31, 2015
Biomass
Biomass Opportunities
Significant growth opportunity
Industrial wood waste
Industrial mill residues
Forest residues
Biomass Fuel
Boiler fuel – direct firing with wood Co-fire with coal Wood pellets Gasification with pyrolysis Torrefaction – still in development Cellulosic ethanol – still in development Gasification with plasma – still in
development
Forest Residues
Small trees, limbs and tops are reduced with a drum chipper or grinder depending on the operation
Grinders are needed if the material is too contaminated for a chipper
Grinders can use carbide bits for contaminated material or sharp bits for clean material
Industrial Mill Residues
Bark, chip rejects, sawdust, slabs and end-cuts, shavings, rejected lumber
Clean sawdust often has a higher value as pellet fuel than boiler fuel
Bark may also have a higher value as landscape cover
More mills are selling these higher value products and using lower value forest residues for boiler fuel
Urban Wood Residues
Wood pallets, wood crates, furniture, cabinets, yard and tree trimmings
C&D materials are often taken to a recycling center for separation
The wood separation is reduced for fuel with a grinder
Direct Combustion
Used for combustion of solid fuel Pile systems Suspension Combustion Systems Fluidized bed combustion Systems
Typical Biomass Burner
Boiler Fuel Requirements
Consistent size Overs can plug conveyers and
hoppers Common specification is three inch
minus for 90% of product Minimize dirt Minimize fines (most boilers)
Direct Combustion Biomass Energy Plant
Direct Combustion Biomass plant
Co-fired Coal & Biomass Energy Plant in England
Slash burning
Still a common practice in many areas
Burning bans becoming more common
No longer accepted!
Wood Pellets Standard grades are used in large industrial
boilers or coal plants and can contain ash Premium grades need to be low ash which
means debarked wood Premium pellets are mostly bagged and sold
through retailers Pellet feedstock typically comes from sawdust
however with increased demand pulpwood logs are being used
Wood Pellets
Home wood pellet stoves
Pellets made from different feedstock’s
Gasification
Thermo chemical gasification uses heat to decompose the woody feedstock under oxygen-limiting conditions
Gasification removes ash including most alkali metals
The gaseous form has a wider range of energy applications vs. solid fuel
Biomass Gasification Plant
Biofuels production plant
Biomass Markets
Some loggers will expand into biomass
Trucking efficiency will be a key to profitability
Transportation CostNumber one cost
Every other load is waterat 50% moisture content
Drying the Forest ResidualsWill increase the wood heating value
Transportation Cost
Some loggers will expand into biomass
Trucking efficiency will be a key to profitability
Peterson BenefitsBiomass market
High production
Consistent product size
Minimum fines High density
with sharp bits and slower rotor speeds