Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
7
Biomass Harvest and Logistics
Tom L. Richard, Doug Brownell, Kusumal
Ruamsook, Jude Liu, and Evelyn Thomchick
Pennsylvania State University
contents
7.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 119
7.2 Herbaceous Biomass Harvest ............................................................................................... 120
7.2.1 Mowing or Swathing ................................................................................................ 120
7.2.2 Field Drying, Tedding, Raking, or Merging ............................................................. 121
7.2.3 Baling and Bale Handling ........................................................................................ 121
7.2.4 Herbaceous Biomass Chopping ................................................................................ 122
7.3 Biomass Storage .................................................................................................................... 123
7.4 Forest Biomass Harvest ........................................................................................................ 123
7.4.1 Felling, Delimbing, and Debarking .......................................................................... 123
7.4.2 Chipping ................................................................................................................... 124
7.4.3 Forest Residue Bundling ........................................................................................... 124
7.5 Short-Rotation Woody Biomass Harvest .............................................................................. 124
7.6 Densification ......................................................................................................................... 124
7.6.1 Pelletizing and Briquetting ....................................................................................... 125
7.6.2 Bale Compression ..................................................................................................... 126
7.7 Supply Chain and Logistics Management ............................................................................ 126
7.8 Factors Affecting Biomass Logistics Costs .......................................................................... 127
7.8.1 Competitive Factors .................................................................................................. 127
7.8.2 Product Factors ......................................................................................................... 128
7.8.2.1 Density ...................................................................................................... 128
7.8.2.2 Physical Form ........................................................................................... 128
7.8.3 Spatial Factors .......................................................................................................... 128
7.9 Paths Forward ....................................................................................................................... 130
References ...................................................................................................................................... 131
7.1 IntroductIon
The harvest, handling, and transport of biomass feedstocks represents a massive materials handling
challenge, requiring rapid innovation and investment if bioenergy systems as a whole are to achieve
policy goals. The International Energy Agency estimates biomass will need to provide 23% of
global primary energy by 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% (IEA 2008). This target
would require sufficient biomass to supply 150 EJ/year (1 EJ = 10
18
J), which translates to 15 billion
metric tons (Mg) annually (Richard 2010). This projected biomass tonnage is more than 7 times
greater than the approximately 2 Mg of grains and oilseeds currently traded worldwide (World
Agricultural Outlook Board 2011). Without effective densification, this biomass would exceed the
current trade volumes of grain, oil, and coal combined by a factor of 4 assuming typical woodchip
119
