Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of British Columbia
$82,010.00
Biomass densification testing equipment for the development of high quality biomass pellets
EF 2006-07
Résumé
Biomass generally comes from the fibrous part of the plant material and thus it is inherently light weighted with low bulk density. Transporting and storing it in a loose form is prohibitive in cost and in practice. The overall objective is to deliver premium quality biomass at a low cost to bioconversion facilities. Increasing the bulk density of biomass through densification is critical to the success of the bioenergy systems. High density granulated biomass can be handled using conventional bulk handling equipment thus making handling of the biomass safe and inexpensive. Approximately one million tonnes of wood pellets have been produced in Canada each year from forest residues, with plants mainly located in British Columbia. The industry is growing at a rate of more than 20%, with more than 80% pellets exported to Europe. To assist this industry in Canada and to promote the use of renewable biomass energy, we have been conducting researches at UBC's Clean Energy Research Center to solve problems associated with wood pellets processing and handling, such as quality control (moisture, density and composition) of the wood pellets, off-gassing and safety issues related to processing and storage and transport environment. Our researches at UBC in collaboration with Wood Pellet Association of Canada, BIOCAP, Agriculture Canada, FERIC, NRCan and NSERC will demonstrate the environmental benefit of using wood pellets as renewable fuel for heat and power generation, ensure health and safety in storage and handling of wood pellets, optimize durability and shelf-life of wood pellets, enhance energy density of wood pellets and integrate and optimize wood pellet supply chain with respect to cost, quality, and quantity. The proposed laboratory-scale grinding and compaction equipment is essential for us to achieve those goals, because size reduction and compaction are two key steps of the biomass densification process, which are energy-intensive and determine the quality of wood pellet product.
Programme
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
British Columbia, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
345999-2007
Name nom
Bi, Xiaotao(Tony)
Department département
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2006
Competition year année de concours
2007
Award amount
82010
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
4
Committee name en
Chem. & Metallurgical Eng.
Committee name fr
Génies chimique et métal.
Area of application code
300
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy resources (including production, exploration, processing, distribution and use)
Area of application fr
Ressources d'énergie (production, exploration, traitement, distribution et utilisation de l'énergie)
Research subject code
2303
Research subject group en
Fuel and energy technology
Research subject group fr
Combustibles et technologie de l'énergie
Research subject en
Other sources of energy (solar, wind, etc.)
Research subject fr
Autres sources d'énergie (combustibles solaire, éolien, etc).
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Biomass densification testing equipment for the development of high quality biomass pellets
Keyword
NA
Application summary
Biomass generally comes from the fibrous part of the plant material and thus it is inherently light weighted with low bulk density. Transporting and storing it in a loose form is prohibitive in cost and in practice. The overall objective is to deliver premium quality biomass at a low cost to bioconversion facilities. Increasing the bulk density of biomass through densification is critical to the success of the bioenergy systems. High density granulated biomass can be handled using conventional bulk handling equipment thus making handling of the biomass safe and inexpensive. Approximately one million tonnes of wood pellets have been produced in Canada each year from forest residues, with plants mainly located in British Columbia. The industry is growing at a rate of more than 20%, with more than 80% pellets exported to Europe. To assist this industry in Canada and to promote the use of renewable biomass energy, we have been conducting researches at UBC's Clean Energy Research Center to solve problems associated with wood pellets processing and handling, such as quality control (moisture, density and composition) of the wood pellets, off-gassing and safety issues related to processing and storage and transport environment. Our researches at UBC in collaboration with Wood Pellet Association of Canada, BIOCAP, Agriculture Canada, FERIC, NRCan and NSERC will demonstrate the environmental benefit of using wood pellets as renewable fuel for heat and power generation, ensure health and safety in storage and handling of wood pellets, optimize durability and shelf-life of wood pellets, enhance energy density of wood pellets and integrate and optimize wood pellet supply chain with respect to cost, quality, and quantity. The proposed laboratory-scale grinding and compaction equipment is essential for us to achieve those goals, because size reduction and compaction are two key steps of the biomass densification process, which are energy-intensive and determine the quality of wood pellet product.
