Biomass Handling - Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis and Torrefaction - page 437

TABLE 12.2 Relative Cost of Biomass-Handling System

Capacity on as-Received Basis 100 Tons/Day 680 Tons/Day

System type Manual Automated

Truck tipper 11% 5%

Conveyor to wood pile 1%

Radial stacker, adder 4%

Front end loaders, adder 5%

Reclaim feeder 5%

Conveyor 3%

Metal separator 2% 1%

Screener 1% 5%

Grinder 12% 12%

Buffer storage 3% 5%

Fuel metering 12% 1%

Controls 5% 4%

Equipment installation 24% 5%

Civil/structural work 18% 1%

Electrical work 8% 4%

Total direct cost in 2003 dollars $2,102,000 $4,857,000

Operating personnel required 5 4

Source: Prepared based on data from www.epa.gov_chp_documents_chp_catalog_part4.pdf .

design. Table 12.2 gives an example of relative costs of different elements of
a typical biomass-handling plant. This table developed for biomass-fired
combined heat and power plant gives both relative capital cost of the
biomass-handling plant for a small 100 tons/day with manual loading of bio-
mass with front loader and for a 680 tons/day automated loading plant. The
manual plant requires a larger number of operating personnel. The unit cost
of dollar per ton per day is higher for lower cost and it is lower for larger
capacity unit. This analysis found the capital cost values as a function of
0.85 power (EPA, 2007) of the capacity of the plant.

capacity 0 : 85

Unit cost (12.10)

B