Storage dynamics and fuel quality of poplar chips

Maurizio Barontini; Antonio Scarfone; Raffaele Spinelli; Francesco Gallucci; Enrico Santangelo; Andrea Acampora; Raida Jirjis; Vincenzo Civitarese; Luigi Pari

doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.01.022

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Storage dynamics and fuel quality of poplar chips

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Storage dynamics and fuel quality of poplar chips

Maurizio Barontini, Antonio Scarfone, Raffaele Spinelli, Francesco Gallucci, Enrico Santangelo, Andrea Acampora, Raida Jirjis, Vincenzo Civitarese and Luigi Pari

Biomass and Bioenergy, Vol.62, pp.17-25

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.01.022

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Abstract

Engineering

Technology

Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences

poplar

residues

wood chip

storage

fuel quality

Poplar cultivation for wood/timber production has a growth production cycle of about 10-15 years. Usually the stem is separated from the crown and used to produce material of different kind such as veneer, pallets, panels, etc. For wood industries, crowns generally represent waste material to be disposed of, causing economic and time losses. It is generally believed that the costs of managing crown biomass are higher than the potential incomes obtainable. Nonetheless, it is worthwhile investigating the possibility of using these byproducts as energy source and evaluating their value as a fuel. However, storing such residues presents several problems connected with spontaneous microbial degradation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the storage effects on chipped biomass deriving from the crown and stem wood of poplar and how they affect fuel quality and dry matter losses. A storage trial was carried out with three piles of stem wood chips and three of crown chips coming from a 15 year old poplar plantation. The piles were stored outdoors for six months under the same climatic conditions. The effect of storage on fuel quality was evaluated with respect to moisture content, gross and net calorific values, chemical composition, ash content, and bulk density. The variation of temperatures inside each pile due to heat development was continuously monitored and showed different trends between piles depending on source material. Results showed that chips from crown material had better storage properties and exhibited lower decay than chips from stem wood.

Details

Title: Storage dynamics and fuel quality of poplar chips
Authors: Maurizio Barontini (Author) - CRA ING, Italy
Antonio Scarfone (Author) - CRA ING, Italy
Raffaele Spinelli (Author) - CNR IVALSA, Italy
Francesco Gallucci (Author) - CRA ING, Italy
Enrico Santangelo (Author) - CRA ING, Italy
Andrea Acampora (Author) - CRA ING, Italy
Raida Jirjis (Author) - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Vincenzo Civitarese (Author) - CRA ING, Italy
Luigi Pari (Author) - CRA ING, Italy
Publication details: Biomass and Bioenergy, Vol.62, pp.17-25
Publisher: Pergamon
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.01.022
ISSN: 0961-9534
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449033402621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Agricultural Engineering; Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology; Energy & Fuels

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