Processing

Fuel pretreatment and processing includes all the steps necessary to produce an upgraded fuel from a harvested biomass resource and can result in a considerable reduction of fuel storage, transport and handling costs as well as the reduction of the plant’s investment, maintenance and personnel costs.

The use of an automatic fuel-feeding combustion system provides high convenience for the user, however it requires a relatively homogeneous fuel, in both characteristics and particle size. Comminution of woody biomass to usable fuel size in the forms of wood chips can be achieved with a chipper, a hammer mill or similar other devices. It is important to note that reduction of the size of fuelwood components should be delayed as long as possible to shorten chip storage time and thus minimize the risk of biomass loss and deterioration.

Agricultural residues, like bales of straw, can be shredded directly at the combustion plant since the material is relatively soft and doesn’t require the use of specialized comminution machines. Combustion of whole bales of straw is also possible, but since these tend not to burn uniformly, it is more difficult to maintain a constant heat output.

Regardless of the type and location of the comminution device, the quality of the material produced is of paramount importance to the operation of the energy plant. Poor quality biomass fuels - contaminated with soil, stones or harvesting debris – or consisting of over- or under-sized particles, can reduce the efficiency of handling and combustion equipment at the energy plant.

Charcoal making		Pelletizing machine		Harvesting and chipping equipment