Developing a system for local solid biomass fuel delivery

Community Biomass Energy has received a grant to design and prototype a container-based system for delivering and dispensing bulk biomass fuels. The initial focus will be on baled grasses. The grant, which is funded by USDA and administered by the New York Farm Viability Institute, provides consulting support for the project through SUNY Cobleskill.
We have been involved in two NYSERDA funded projects to install state-of-the-art biomass fired heating systems. The first project at the Cayuga Nature Center was completed in 2009; the second, at the Town of Danby highway department garage, will be completed this year. Experience with these projects has revealed issues related to receiving, storing, and handling bulk solid fuels that could hinder their expanded utilization. Both of these mid-scale projects require roughly 50 tons of fuel annually, about two semi-trailer loads. In both cases, the fuel is delivered into a bulk storage building and then transferred as needed with a front end loader to the boiler feeding system. In both cases, this material handling solution is acceptable because there is adequate space, and loaders and operators are available. In many potential applications, this solution is not viable due to lack of space, equipment, or personnel.
The present project aims to address these material handling issues by developing an integrated, bulk fuel delivery and metering system based on the concept of standardized, interchangeable containers. The design goal is 10 tons of fuel per container. At 20 pounds per cubic foot, a bulk density characteristic of tight bales and minimally compressed wood chips, the container volume will be about 40 cubic yards, a typical volume for commonly available large roll-offs. Fuel delivery will amount to exchanging an empty container for a full one. The system will interface with the heating system and transfer fuel from the container to the combustor as needed. Automated fuel supplier notification of nearly empty containers could be included as an added feature.
Some key advantages of this system will be: 1) minimized capital costs for consumer; 2) minimized responsibilities for consumer; 3) common shared fuel processing for all consumers; 4) minimal additional fuel densification; 5) multi-fuel capability.
This project is still in the conceptual stage, but the hope is to move it forward quickly so a prototype is tested and ready for use within 1 year maximum. Here is a list of tasks: 1) research what, if anything, is already developed and available; 2) design system; 3) perform comparative economic analysis of system vs. alternatives; 4) build and test prototype.
At the time our proposal was written, we suggested that the Danby project could serve as a test bed. Although this option remains available, it may not be the ideal venue because the project will likely be completed before the prototype is available and because ample space, manpower, and equipment are available to implement a more typical solution with larger on-site fuel storage and walking floor semi-trailer fuel delivery. If anyone reading this can suggest another potential test bed venue (a rural propane or fuel oil heated school, for example) or would like to partner with us on this project, please contact Tony Nekut (tony.nekut@communitybiomassenergy.com).

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