Characterization of biomass using instruments – Measurement of forest and crop residues - Biomass as Energy Source: Resources, Systems and Applications - page 67

First, precision and accuracy will improve as calibration techniques and hardware develop
further. The price performance ratios of the analysis systems will then decline with time so that
the systems will be increasingly attractive also to smaller plants. Further, the sampling errors
are likely to decline as the systems will sample from a larger part of the bulk of containers and
material flows. Then, additional parameters such as ash content and calorific value are likely to
be presented by a large array of analysis systems.
Proper action has to be taken in order to use the new technology and increase efficiency in
various parts of the chain from forest to boiler. Therefore, we might expect a large number of
new applications such as decision support systems and optimization platforms. Concerning price
settlement, we may expect standardization efforts since international trade would benefit, and
require, an objective and practically relevant quality assessment.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author thanks Mikael Karlsson (Bestwood AB, Stockholm, Sweden) and Torbjörn A.
Lestander (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden) for valuable comments
and reviews of this chapter.
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