Biomass Feedstock Storage for Quantity and Quality Preservation - Engineering and Science of Biomass Feedstock Production and Provision - page 185

matter loss as well as the loss in individual components of the biomass. The
mathematical models can then be incorporated in model-based studies, similar to
those highlighted in the next chapter, for whole-system design.

• The comparison of different storage methods needs to be performed using

realistic setup and storage facilities. The Energy Biosciences Institute has set up
a test facility where biomass in different forms, such as bales, chopped, and
ground, can be stored for long duration, with and without treatment [ 49 ]. The
results from such studies are likely to provide a realistic comparison of storage
alternatives.

• The analysis of the bulk storage, such as a stack of bales or a pile of biomass,

needs to be performed. When biomass is stored in a stack, material found in the
outer layer is exposed to different conditions than that which is at the center of
the stack/pile. Therefore, better understanding the parameters such as tempera-
ture and moisture inside the stack/pile is necessary to improve quality and safety.
Bedane et al. [ 50 ] conducted a similar study for a pile of woody biomass in open
storage. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies must be used to comple-
ment the experimental studies to generate fundamental understanding of the
underlying processes.

• Once the storage facility has been designed, the operation of the storage facility

also needs to be optimized. Scheduling the intake and removal of the biomass as
a function of time and biomass properties is a complex problem. Eriksson [ 51 ]
conducted an analysis for wood chips stored in open piles and concluded that last
in first out (LIFO) policy performed better than first in first out (FIFO). Such
studies for additional crops and storage options need to be performed.

• An easy to use, instantaneous, hand-held quality meter needs to be developed

[ 52 ]. Such a meter can be used to monitor storage conditions as well as to evalu-
ate biomass feedstock at the refinery gate and decide the value of the feedstock.

• The setup of regional storage facilities that also perform preprocessing has been

generating interest. The design of a storage facility that enables this will be a
challenging problem and must be addressed in the future.

References

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