Abstract
To meet the growing need for raw materials to produce pellets and wood-based biofuels, trees killed by natural disturbances have increasingly been considered as potential feedstock in bioenergy development scenarios in the Western U.S. and Canada. While much research has focused on utilization of beetle-killed and fire-salvaged timber from federal lands in this region, small private landowners make up a large portion of land holdings in the Rocky Mountain Region and may also provide an important potential supply of uniform feedstock pellets in decentralized energy supply systems in the future. In this paper, we evaluated the quality of pellets produced from green, beetle-killed, and burned lodgepole pine with and without bark using a chipper, hammer mill, and pellet mill intended for use by small landowners. Results show that green, beetle-killed, and fire-salvaged lodgepole pine produced by small landowners, including material with bark, are suitable as feedstock for pellet production. Further, pellet quality can be varied through the blending of source lodgepole pine products when needed to meet pellet quality standards.
Highlights
Wood pellets have been increasingly developed in Northern America for export to meet Europe’s demand for renewable energy over the last ten years and demand for exports from the U.S to China and other Asian markets is expected to increase
We examine the quality of wood pellets produced from green, beetle-killed, and post-fire lodgepole pine with and without bark using a chipper, hammer mill, and pellet mill sized for small landowners
The results suggest that green, beetle-killed, and fire-salvaged lodgepole pine produced with small landowner equipment are all suitable for wood pellet production either as a product used directly for home heat and power, for international export, or as an interim feedstock for subsequent wood-based biofuel production
Summary
Wood pellets have been increasingly developed in Northern America for export to meet Europe’s demand for renewable energy over the last ten years and demand for exports from the U.S to China and other Asian markets is expected to increase. We examine the quality of wood pellets produced from green, beetle-killed, and post-fire (burned) lodgepole pine with and without bark using a chipper, hammer mill, and pellet mill sized for small landowners. We further evaluate their potential fuel yield as intermediate feedstock for biofuel production by a commercial biofuel producer. MayHowever, increase the ash impacts content and hemicellulose contents than green wood from sound lodgepole pine beetle of wood pellets produced from fire-salvaged trees [30].orHowever, studies haveproportions shown no are not associated with changes in either the calorific value density of past pellets [26]. Order to consistently produce pellets that are quality, both the pre-treatment and pelletization process should be optimized
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
