Woodchip Fuel Supply Chain: From Forest to Hopper

1,79

MB

92

stron

5268

ID

University of Strathclyde

2002

rok

Contents:

1. Overview 4

1.1. The Kyoto Protocol and UK energy use trends 4

1.2. Biomass 5

1.3. Sweden’s example 8

1.4. The Project 9

2. Wood as a fuel 13

2.1. Properties of wood 13

2.2. Sources of wood 16

2.3. Extraction techniques 19

2.4. Comminution/Chipping 22

2.5. Drying 24

3. Drying 27

3.1. Drying techniques 27

3.2. Factors affecting drying times and efficiency 30

3.3. Drying times 34

3.4. Installation needs, energy sources and emissions 37

3.4. Costs 38

3.5. Drying technique proposal 39

4. Process costs 41

4.1. The cost calculator 41

4.2. Additions needed 42

4.3. Further cost calculations 43

5. Case study: The North Sutherland woodchip fuel supply chain 54

5.1. Fuel of choice 54

5.2. Available outlets for woodchip boilers 55

5.3. The area’s resource 55

5.4. Other considerations 61

5.2. The available resource 62

5.3. Applicable harvesting techniques 63

5.4. Processing 64

5.5. Delivery 68

5.6. Summary of proposal 69

6. Environmental impacts 71

6.1. Disadvantages of the scheme 71

6.2. Advantages of the scheme 73

7. Socio-economic impacts 76

7.1. Sustainable development 76

7.2. The new opportunities 77

7.3. The drawbacks 79

8. Conclusions 81

Bibliography 84

Appendix I: Photosynthesis 86

Appendix II: Cost calculations 87

Appendix III: The operation of woodchip boilers 89

Appendix IV: List of interviews and meetings 90

Appendix V: Mind – map of thesis considerations 91