Assessment of unconventional bioenergy plant chopping, milling and pelleting quality indicators and physical-mechanical properties
¹Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering,Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Kaunas-Akademija,Studentu str. 15A, LT-53361 Kauno r., Lithuania;
*Correspondence: algirdas.jasinskas@asu.lt
²Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Experimental Station, Kaunas-Akademija,LT-53361 Kauno r., Lithuania
Abstract:
This paper provides the research results of techniques for solid biofuel preparation,while usage of chopping (chipping), milling and pressing (pelleting) of the unconventionalbioenergy plants – elephant grass (Miscanthus x giganteus), fibrous hemp (Futura 75) andfibrous nettle. These energy plants were grown in the experimental fields of the Institute ofAgriculture, Aleksandras Stulginskis University and Lithuanian Research Centre forAgriculture and Forestry. It was approved as the methodology for solid biofuel preparation ofunconventional bioenergy plants, and was selected as the technique for plant chopping, milling,pressing, and the technique for determination of plant chaff, mill and pellet quality. There arepresented results of the experimental research. There were determined the unconventionalbioenergy plant stems, chaff and mill chopping quality, in justification of the use of the drumchopping and hummer milling equipment for prepared chaff and mill fractional composition.The quality of stem chaff and mill fineness was defined according to the most widely usedmethodology approved by the EU countries. There were determined physical-mechanicalproperties of these unconventional bioenergy plant chaff, mill and pellets – plant moisturecontent, bulk density, natural slope and failure angles. Key words: elephant grass, hemp, nettle, stems, chaff, mill, pellets, moisture content, bulkdensity, fractional composition.INTRODUCTION
Key words:
energy, Plant biomass (biomass – is an eco-friendly local fuel: wood, straws