Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/11
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences include woody biomass producers and aggregators, biomass processors, fiber buyers, biorefinery and biopower operators, and agency leaders. Changes/Problems: The project was continuously challenged by problems with flowability and metering of low grade woody biomass materials. Despite materials handling issues, we have developed good understanding of the technical improvements needed prior to commercial launch in Phase III. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results were presented at relevant regional and national conferences, inlcuding trade groups for industries that benefit from the technology. Several conference papers were prepared and published as noted in the references section. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Forest Concepts conducted two rounds of woody biomass characterization and process development. The first round included collection of woody biomass samples from urban, suburban, forest, and industrial producers in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The materials were characterized following Forest Concepts’ protocols for sieve size, particle shape, anatomical content, moisture content, and total ash. These samples and data were used to define technical and functional specifications for biomass beneficiation equipment to reduce the ash and bark content. Validation of the engineering science and research was assessed through the design, construction and testing of a “one ton per hour” prototype complete woody biomass beneficiation system. The prototype includes all equipment, conveyors and water handling devices. Design of all prototype equipment was completed as SolidWorks® computer aided design models. Three dimensional solid models for each module machine were merged into the entire beneficiation system. Detailed drawing sets were prepared for each of the process modules, as well as for the electronic control module and water recycling system. The fabrication was done in-house with all machined components being made by a set of outside shops. Design and fabrication of the prototype equipment took approximately 10 months. As each modular machine was completed, it was tested independently of the whole system. After individual performance was judged acceptable, the system was gradually combined into an end-to-end process. The entire suite of equipment was integrated and sized such that it could be transported on a single trailer. Our beneficiation objectives listed ash content as the single most important measure of woody biomass feedstock quality. Ash is a generally accepted indicator that essentially integrates the level of bark, dirt, and other contaminants within a sample of biomass. Thus, a key measure of success is how well we reduce the ash content of low grade woody biomass. We were pleasantly surprised by the performance of our beneficiation process on ground land clearing debris. The initial ash content of 12.3% was typical of other samples we have worked with over the past five years. As we expected, screening alone dramatically reduce the ash content. We expected the ash content after initial two-deck screening to be in the 4-6 percent range, but achieved 2.1 percent after screening. Subsequent processing through the dry debarker essentially cut the ash content in half again to 1.4 percent which was sufficient to meet export pellet quality. With assistance from the LARTA commercialization assistanceprogram, we carefully reviewed our preliminary commercialization plan and a number of alternative paths to commercialization. We revised our commercialization strategy from licensing to equipment suppliers, to one that focuses on site licenses to end-users of our technology. Those who directly benefit from improved biomass feedstock quality should be willing to share in the value gained as a result of our technologies. As we worked with demonstration and test partners during Phase II, we honed our value proposition and learned additional key factors to include in licensing agreements.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Dooley, J. H. (2011). Conceptual distribution of second generation biofuel producers by size - Applying a continuous power function to achieve 21 billion gallons aggregate capacity. Auburn, WA, Forest Concepts, LLC.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Dooley, J. H., D. N. Lanning, et al. (2011). Structured interview guide and template for specification of woody biomass fuel and feedstocks. ASABE Paper No. 1111088. St. Joseph, MI, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers: 19.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Dooley, J. H., D. N. Lanning, et al. (2012). Beneficiation of chipped and shredded woody biomass. ASABE Paper No. 12-1337408. St. Joseph, MI, American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers: 11.
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Since we first proposed the project with an aim to enable reprocessing of hog fuel and urban chips into high value fractions, the market demand for quality wood fiber has become much higher than we anticipated. Competition between traditional composite wood products facilities, new fuel pellet producers, and now biopower generators has become extreme, particularly as evidenced by the political debates over collateral effects of the USDA BCAP incentive program. Our technology will increase supply of fiber to those competing for existing sources and hopefully reduce the tension between wood products industry members and bioenergy industry firms. Since launching the Phase II program, we presented our concepts and approach to many potential end-users, fiber buyers, and agency leaders. Project engineer Dave Lanning presented our Phase I findings to more than 100 industry specialists at the Forest Resources Association Western Regional Conference. Dave was encouraged to move forward faster by biomass processors who see higher potential revenues from higher quality products that result from our process, and from fiber buyers who see increased supply that will reduce stress in the marketplace. With assistance from the LARTA program, we carefully reviewed our preliminary commercialization plan and a number of alternative paths to commercialization. The analysis resulted in a change to our commercialization strategy from licensing to equipment suppliers to one that focuses on site licenses to end-users of our technology. Those who directly benefit from improved biomass feedstock quality should be willing to share in the value gained as a result of our technologies. As we work with demonstration and test partners during Phase II, we are honing our value proposition and learning key factors to include in pricing and licensing agreements. Technically, we have essentially completed our two applied research and science objectives. We are shifting our focus to the detailed design of the transportable demonstration system that will be used to validate our innovations at cooperating biomass processing facilities. PARTICIPANTS: James H. Dooley, Project Director, Forest Concepts David N. Lanning, Lead Engineer, Forest Concepts Christopher Lanning, Development Engineer, Forest Concepts Michael C. Perry, Business planning and development, Forest Concepts Thomas Broderick, Biologist, Forest Concepts TARGET AUDIENCES: The audiences for the outputs for this project include biomass producers, aggregators and users throughout the woody biomass supply chain. Technological audiences include engineers at biofuel processing firms, research engineers working on feedstocks, and process engineers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Our characterization methods for chipped, shredded, and ground woody biomass have been distributed to research engineers at USDA Forest Service, US Department of Energy, and to select bioenergy firms. Presentations have been made at conferences of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and the Forest Resources Association.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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