Waste to Wisdom Biomass Conversion Technologies Demo: July 28

Date: Thursday, July 28, 2016

Location: Arcata, California and surrounding area.

Depart from and return to: Humboldt State University (HSU)

Cost: FREE

Description:

Spend a day with the Waste to Wisdom project team and view demos of three innovative biomass conversion technologies – a sawdust machine from Korea, a torrefier, and a briquetter. While on the ground, learn more about the Waste to Wisdom project – a $5.88 million U.S. Dept. of Energy-funded project – and its efforts to convert wasted forest residues into bioenergy and bio-based products.

Sawdust Machine

We will test the productivity and fuel consumption of a 400 hp Beaver Korea sawdust machine that produces approximately 10–20 green tons of sawdust per hour.

The machine will be tested to see 1). how much it costs to operate, and 2). how well it produces fine particles, which are the desired feedstock when making briquettes or pellets. The fine particles can also be torrefied prior to densification to produce a hydro-phobic product further adding to its value.

Demo participants will get to see all aspects of our field testing. The tour will start with a description of the various feedstocks we use to produce sawdust. You will then get to see the machine in action as it is fed by a log loader to generate sawdust. In addition, you will observe the sample collection process and may be lucky enough to walk away with samples of your own. Questions about the study are welcome.

Torrefier

Torrefaction is a process to heat biomass to moderate temperatures (270C to 350C) to remove moisture and light volatiles, which improves the fuel handling characteristics and energy density of biomass. Through the process of torrefaction, woody biomass is converted into a drop in replacement for coal fired boilers or power plants. The torrefier being tested in Samoa is a 1,000 lb/hr machine produced by Norris Thermal Technologies. By attending the public demonstration, you will be able to see the torrefier in operation to get a better sense of the process and the properties of torrefied wood.

Briquetter

Briquetting compacts woody biomass into a dense, solid heating fuel. Biomass briquettes are commonly used for residential or industrial heating, but densifying forest residuals can also allows trucks to haul more material per truckload and increase transportation efficiency. During the public demonstration, a 900 lb/hr briquetter produced by RUF Briquetting Systems will be on display compacting raw wood chips as well as torrefied wood. You will learn how the briquetter works, what feedstock inputs are acceptable, and you may even be able to take a few briquettes home.

About Waste to Wisdom

Waste to Wisdom is an innovative biomass research project funded by a $5.88 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Biomass Research and Development Initiative program: Award Number DE-EE0006297. Humboldt State University and 15 regional partners are building on existing research on the conversion of forest residues into bioenergy and other valuable bio-based products.

SEATS ARE LIMITED. REGISTER TODAY!

July 28, 2016 Waste to Wisdom Public Demo Agenda

Open to everyone.

• 9:00am – Meet the buses at HSU's G11 parking lot.* Check in and sign a liability waiver.
• 9:30am – Depart for sawdust machine demo
• 10:15am – Sawdust machine demo begins
• 12:00pm – Eat lunch at the site (participants bring their own lunch)
• 12:45pm – Depart for the torrefier/briquetter demos
• 1:30pm – Torrefier/briquetter demos begin
• 3:00pm – Depart to HSU
• 3:30pm – Arrive at HSU

*Parking in the G11 lot requires a parking permit which can be obtained at the drive up Parking Services kiosk nearby. Find the G11 lot on the HSU campus map.