Title:
Effect of Cutting and Baling Management Conditionson on the Ash Content of Triticale and Rye Biomass Bales for Power Plants
Author(s):
Barro, R., Ciria, P., Pérez, J., Pérez, P., Maletta, E., Fernández, M.J., Carrasco, J.E.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
The aim of this study is to estimate the effect of windrowing on the ash content of triticale and rye biomass, and thus how the quality of the biofuel can be influenced by the biomass collection methods. 162 biomass samples (straw+grain) were analyzed for their ash content: 42 samples were collected manually before mowing to avoid contamination (and set as reference values) and compared to 120 samples collected from 33 bales. Two different sampling methods of bales were tested, finding similar results for both methods. When biomass was windrowed before baling using a rotary rake at a working height below 5 cm, ash content between reference and baled samples differed strongly. Moreover, a high variability was observed among samples taken from the same bale, obtaining ash content values for some samples as high as 26.8%, as a consequence of an uneven distribution of the mineral impurities which were introduced during the process. Ash content of baled biomass increased to a much lesser extent when biomass was windrowed using a wheel rake at a working height of 5-10 cm. When biomass was not swathed before baling, the ash content of the baled biomass was not found to increase significantly.
Keywords:
bales, quality, sampling, straw, ashes
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Energy crops and energy grasses
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1DV.2.8
Pages:
495 - 502
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-1DV.2.8
Price:
FREE
