Sustainable Bioenergy Solutions for Tomorrow (BEST) research program

Petri Österberg, Measurepolis Development LtdJukka Antikainen, The Finnish Forest Research Institute

Timo Melkas, Metsäteho Oy

www.metsateho.fi

Metsätehon tuloskalvosarja

The main goal of the study• is to gather the measurement needs and knowledge of potential

measurement technologies related to biomass in the bioenergy supply chain. – The report provides information for decision-making and information on

potential solutions for measurements carried out in a new terminal concept (Virkkunen, M., Kari, M., Hankalin, V. & Nummelin, J. 2014.Definition of future concepts and a cost analysis of a satellite terminal concept.)

– The report covers biomass measurement technologies in Finland from forest measurements to power plants.

• The PowerPoint presentation based on report Österberg, P., Antikainen J. & Melkas T. 2014. State-of-the-art study of biomass measurement technologies in the bioenergy supply. Measurepolis Develoment Oy. Report 1/2014. 54 p.

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Metsätehon tuloskalvosarja

Requirements for the measurement• The new terminal concept creates new demands and requirements for the

measurement of raw material (forest-based biomasses – like small sized stemwood, logging residues, stumps, forest chips, logging residues, stumps, industrial chips, sawdust, bark, etc.).

• In the future, there will be a need to measure or estimate moisture content of biomass at every stage in the supply chain – at the roadside, at the terminal and at the plant.

• Nowadays, the weight of biomass is measured during forwarding and transporting, and volume is usually based on common conversion factors.

• If the energy content of the raw material can be defined in real time, the timing of deliveries can be optimized and the quality of the raw material of biofuel can be improved.

• The moisture content is therefore one of the most important features of biomass throughout the bioenergy supply chain.

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Requirements for the measurement

• Especially for bio-terminals of the future there is a need to develop cost-effective measuring methods for biomass.

• The most important measurable variables are weight, moisture content, volume, particle size and foreign matter.

• Measurements should be taken as part of the logistics chain.

• Automatic measurements may increase the value of the biomass during the processing.

• The goal should also be for laboratory measurements to be replaced with fast measurements during the process.

• This would make it possible to develop feedback systems so that the driver can get quality reports online and the quality of the raw material can be improved.

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Following measurement techologies are used in biofuel measurements

– Electric– Visible range cameras– NIR-technology– LASER-technology

– Microwaves– X-rays– NMR technology– Magnetic

– Acoustic– Mechanic

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A diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum showing frequencies and wavelengths and some applications.

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Measurement technologies I

• Electric measurements– Resistance based– Impedance based (capacitance, Inductance)– Moisture measurement instruments, scales

• VIS-camera based measurements– Foreign objects, volume flow, lightness and

particle size of wood chips– Surface moisture

• IR-camera based measurements– Surface moisture measurement (NIR-region)

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Metsätehon tuloskalvosarja

Measurement technologies II

• X-ray technology basedmeasurements– Moisture measurements– Volume flow– Unwanted objects, foreign matter– Material quality

• Measurements based on laser technology– Passive (laser line + camera) and active

lasers (reflecting laser pulse)– Volume flow on conveyor (passive laser)– Bulk mass volume in truck load and in

stock pile (active laser)

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Measurement technologies III

• Microwave technogy based measurements– Moisture measurements– Laboratory and online applications

• Measurements based on NMR technology– Laboratory moisture measurements

• Measurements based on magnetics– Unwanted ferromagnetic objects

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Measurement technologies IV

• Measurements based on acoustics– Unwanted objects (stones, ice blocks etc.)

• Mechanical measurements– Hydraulic, pneumatic, spring based etc. operation principles– Scales (e.g. bridge scales)

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Finnish companies providing measurement instruments

www.metsateho.fi

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Finnish companies providing measurement instruments

www.metsateho.fi

Metsätehon tuloskalvosarja 1/2015 10 February 2015 12Österberg, Antikainen & Melkas

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Conclusions

• The variety of available technologies is high and some new technologies, such as NMR, microwaves and X-rays, have entered the market in the past few years.

→ Results of new technologies are promising.

• However, there is a need to develop automatic, fast and cost efficient measurement devices to measure the moisture content, volume, particle size and foreign matter of biofuels during the bioenergy supply chain all year around.

• There is also a need to develop fast laboratory measurements, which make the real time feedback system possible, while improving the quality of the material.

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Metsätehon tuloskalvosarja

Remarks

This work was carried out in the Sustainable Bioenergy Solutions for Tomorrow (BEST) research program coordinated by FIBIC Ltd and CLEEN Ltd with funding from the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, Tekes.

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