Conference presentation
Reducing moisture content of pulpwood by natural drying: A case study near Mt Gambier, SA
Australian New Zealand Biochar Conference 2019 (Melbourne, Australia, 24-Oct-2019–26-Oct-2019)
AgriFutures Australia
2019
Abstract
The moisture content of logs, stemwood pieces and other harvesting residues can significantly impact the energy content (or calorific value) of the forest biomass product. Moisture content may also affect the economics of chipping and transportation. In this project, the natural drying process of logs and harvest residues was studied to better understand how the moisture content of harvest residues varies when stored at the roadside for a period of 7 months. The study site consisted of a log pile located at the roadside in a Pinus radiata plantation near Mt Gambier, South Australia. The logs were produced from a first thinning operation using a cut-to-length (CTL) harvesting method. The moisture content of the log pile was sampled monthly. From the data collected, natural drying curves over time were produced. The total rainfall per month (mm) and average min. and max. temperatures were collected from the closest weather station to each site. Based on the results, as the temperature increased and the rainfall decreased, the log pile dried and the pile reached a very low moisture content during the summer months. During first month of drying the moisture content dropped rapidly from 61% to 41% (20% moisture loss). For the second month, due to heavy rainfall there was only very small moisture loss (from 41% to 39%). From the third month to the last month of sampling the moisture loss was about 27% (from 39% to 12%). Main conclusion of the study is that the natural drying process will reduce the moisture content of logs and harvest residues. The study results highlight the benefits of including a drying scheme as a component in a company strategy to reduce transport costs and to increase calorific values of biomass products for use in energy generation or biochar production.
Details
- Title
- Reducing moisture content of pulpwood by natural drying: A case study near Mt Gambier, SA
- Authors
- Mohammad R Ghaffariyan (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Conference details
- Australian New Zealand Biochar Conference 2019 (Melbourne, Australia, 24-Oct-2019–26-Oct-2019)
- Publisher
- AgriFutures Australia
- Date published
- 2019
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450814602621
- Output Type
- Conference presentation
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