Paper details

Title:

Behaviour of Poplar Stored Outdoors as Chips or Stems

Author(s):

Pérez, P., Barro, R., Ciria, P., Esteban, L.S., Carrasco, J.E.

Document(s):

Abstract:

The objective of this work is to compare the behaviour of poplar biomass cultivated on short rotation conditions when it is stored outdoors as chips or stems. Two piles, one constituted by chips and the other one by stems were set at the CEDER­CIEMAT facilities in Soria (Central­Northern Spain), a region characterized by a continental mediterranean climate. Weather conditions were monitored during the entire period of the storage. Parameters affecting biofuel properties were controlled for both piles during a storage period of a year. In addition, dry matter and energy losses, which are likely to occur after such a long storage period, were also estimated. Results showed that moisture levels as low as 30 % can be naturally reached at the beginning of the spring after harvesting, and they are maintained until the beginning of next winter. However, after the spring­summer period, meteorological conditions make biomass moisture increase, which is particularly noticeable when biomass is stored as chips. It is also worth mentioning that dry matter losses when biomass is stored as stems are much lower (5 %) than those observed when poplar is stored as chips (18 %).

Keywords:

biomass, characterization, chip, poplar, short rotation forestry (SRF), storage

Topic:

Biomass Resources

Subtopic:

Energy crops (session 5)

Event:

19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

VP1.3.76

Pages:

770 - 777

ISBN-13:

978-88-89407-55-4

ISBN-10:

88-89407-55-7

Paper DOI:

10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP1.3.76

Price:

FREE