TY - JOUR
T1 - Lab scale studies of miscanthus mechanical conditioning and bale compression
AU - Fasick, Gregory T.
AU - Liu, Jude
N1 - Funding Information:
The West Virginia University in coordination with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection provided the Miscanthus for this research. Don Rill and the Farm Operations at the Pennsylvania State University provided a small square baler, storage space and overall recommendations to support this research. This work was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant No. 2012-68005-19703 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This work was also supported by the USDA NIFA Multistate Research Appropriations under Project PEN04671 and Accession No. 1017582.
Funding Information:
This work was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant No. 2012-68005-19703 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This work was also supported by the USDA NIFA Multistate Research Appropriations under Project PEN04671 and Accession No. 1017582 .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 IAgrE
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - Miscanthus is a dedicated biomass energy crop that can be used as an alternative energy source for biofuel production to decrease dependency on petroleum-based fuel sources. The mechanical properties of miscanthus pose harvest and handling issues because of the crop's stiff stalk, tall height, high yield and dense growth. This research examined the effects of a mechanical conditioning system for miscanthus on bale density, the compressive force during small square bale compression as well as the energy consumed during the compression process through lab scale studies. Miscanthus crop samples were collected and brought into a lab. Part of the samples was manually conditioned using a conditioning device. Then, unconditioned and conditioned miscanthus crops were baled using a small square baler. These bales were used for bale compression tests. The most significant finding was that, when compared to unconditioned miscanthus, conditioned miscanthus required a statistically significant decreased energy consumption (37%) during bale compression while also requiring a statistically significant decreased peak compressive force (37%). In addition, an increase in compressed small square bale density (10%) was obtained along with and density increase of 13% for the compression process was found for conditioned miscanthus when compared to unconditioned miscanthus. Based on these results, a regression relationship between pressure and bulk density for conditioned and unconditioned Miscanthus was obtained.
AB - Miscanthus is a dedicated biomass energy crop that can be used as an alternative energy source for biofuel production to decrease dependency on petroleum-based fuel sources. The mechanical properties of miscanthus pose harvest and handling issues because of the crop's stiff stalk, tall height, high yield and dense growth. This research examined the effects of a mechanical conditioning system for miscanthus on bale density, the compressive force during small square bale compression as well as the energy consumed during the compression process through lab scale studies. Miscanthus crop samples were collected and brought into a lab. Part of the samples was manually conditioned using a conditioning device. Then, unconditioned and conditioned miscanthus crops were baled using a small square baler. These bales were used for bale compression tests. The most significant finding was that, when compared to unconditioned miscanthus, conditioned miscanthus required a statistically significant decreased energy consumption (37%) during bale compression while also requiring a statistically significant decreased peak compressive force (37%). In addition, an increase in compressed small square bale density (10%) was obtained along with and density increase of 13% for the compression process was found for conditioned miscanthus when compared to unconditioned miscanthus. Based on these results, a regression relationship between pressure and bulk density for conditioned and unconditioned Miscanthus was obtained.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2020.10.011
DO - 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2020.10.011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85096100497
SN - 1537-5110
VL - 200
SP - 366
EP - 376
JO - Biosystems Engineering
JF - Biosystems Engineering
ER -
