Moisture sorption isotherm study of Sitka spruce, larch, willow and miscanthus chips and stems

Moisture sorption isotherms were measured using saturated salt solutions in airtight Kilner jars. Data were presented at 4 °C and 15 °C for Sitka spruce and larch woodchips obtained from forest thinnings and for willow woodchips and miscanthus stems obtained from short rotation plantations. These da...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biosystems engineering 2013-08, Vol.115 (4), p.474-481
Main Authors: Fitzpatrick, John J., O'Sullivan, Conor, Boylan, Hugh, Cribben, Orla, Costello, Donal, Cronin, Kevin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural machinery and engineering
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
biofuels
Biological and medical sciences
biomass
cold
drying
engineering
forests
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Generalities. Biometrics, experimentation. Remote sensing
jars
Picea sitchensis
plantations
sorption isotherms
stems
water content
winter
wood chips
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Summary:Moisture sorption isotherms were measured using saturated salt solutions in airtight Kilner jars. Data were presented at 4 °C and 15 °C for Sitka spruce and larch woodchips obtained from forest thinnings and for willow woodchips and miscanthus stems obtained from short rotation plantations. These data are essential for the ambient drying of biomass fuels because they provide an estimate of how low a moisture content that can be attained. There was large variability in initial moisture content of individual chips and stems, although this variability reduced as the biomass dried, yet there was still significant variability in the equilibrium moisture contents. The sorption isotherm data were applied to a case-study to investigate the influence on moisture content of storing freshly harvested willow chips and dried miscanthus stems during a cold damp Irish winter. •Moisture sorption isotherm data were presented at 4 °C and 15 °C.•These data are essential for the ambient drying of woody biomass fuels.•There was large variability in initial moisture content of individual chips and stems.•There was much less variability in corresponding equilibrium moistures.•Moisture sorption during cold damp Irish winter did not impact much on heating value.
ISSN:1537-5110
1537-5129
DOI:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2013.05.004