Researchers examined storing residue infield compared to transporting it fresh to roadside.When utilising logging residues for energy, two of the key aims are to obtain a high biomass yield per hectare and to reduce the biomass moisture content. Logging residues are often left in heaps infield to dry in Sweden, and are then transported to roadside for processing. However, this requires equipment to be brought on site as a separate operation. If the residues could be transported fresh to roadside, then the same logging equipment used for roundwood harvesting could be used. However, doubts existed regarding whether the residue would dry sufficiently in large piles on roadside.
Researchers compared these two scenarios, and found that fresh-stacked logging residues contained a higher amount of needles (8%) compared with dried-stacked. The moisture content of both methods was considered acceptable, although the dried-stacked residues had lower moisture content than the fresh-stacked (31% versus 36%). It was discovered that the weather and forest conditions had greater impact on the moisture content than the handling method, and this opens up opportunities for new technologies, reduced costs and greater biomass volume deliveries.
This article, titled “The influence of two different handling methods on the moisture content and composition of logging residues”, was published in the Biomass and Bioenergy Journal, Vol. 52 (2013). The authors were B Nilsson, A Blom and T Thornqvist. Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09619534