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Article
Investigation of Process Variables in the Densification of Corn Stover Briquettes
Energies
  • Curtis Peder Thoreson, Iowa State University
  • Keith E. Webster, Iowa State University
  • Matthew J. Darr, Iowa State University
  • Emily J. Kapler, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-24-2014
DOI
10.3390/en7064019
Abstract

The bulk density of raw corn stover is a major limitation to its large-scale viability as a biomass feedstock. Raw corn stover has a bulk density of 50 kg/m3, which creates significant transportation costs and limits the optimization of transport logistics. Producing a densified corn stover product during harvest would reduce harvest and transportation costs, resulting in viable pathways for the use of corn stover as a biomass feedstock. This research investigated the effect of different process variables (compression pressure, moisture content, particle size, and material composition) on a densification method that produces briquettes from raw corn stover. A customized bench-scale densification system was designed to evaluate different corn stover inputs. Quality briquette production was possible using non-reduced particle sizes and low compression pressures achievable in a continuous in-field production system. At optimized bench settings, corn stover was densified to a dry bulk density of 190 kg/m3. Corn stover with a moisture content above 25%wb was not suitable for this method of bulk densification, and greater cob content had a positive effect on product quality.

Comments

This article is from Energies 7 (2014): 4019–4032, doi:10.3390/en7064019. Posted with permission.

Access
Open
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Curtis Peder Thoreson, Keith E. Webster, Matthew J. Darr and Emily J. Kapler. "Investigation of Process Variables in the Densification of Corn Stover Briquettes" Energies Vol. 7 Iss. 6 (2014) p. 4019 - 4032
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/matthew_darr/50/