Adaptation of Forage Handling Systems for Collecting Biomass Feedstock

S. Sokhansanj
Environmental Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422 U.S.A.
and
L. O. Pordesimo and W. E. Hart
Dept. of Biosystems Engineering and Environmental Science
The University of Tennessee
2506 E. J. Chapman Dr.
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-4531 U.S.A.

Paper Number: 026060
An ASAE Meeting PresentationWritten for presentation at the 2002 ASAE Annual International Meeting/CIGR XVth World Congress Sponsored by ASAE and CIGR Hyatt Regency Chicago Chicago, Illinois, USA July 28-31, 2002

ABSTRACT: Field experiences using existing forage handling equipment in biomass applications indicate that these equipment can be used for handling biomass provided the equipment are reinforced and equipped with more power. Since stover and straw, crop residues available for utilization, are the mature stage of the plant material they are tougher than green forage especially alfalfa, the predominant forage crop. In some specific applications such as collecting corn stover, modifications are required to minimize contamination of material with soil. The nature and extent of modifications to existing machinery have not been quantified. Field data is needed to identify critical developments in machinery to handle large quantities of biomass for biorefineries of the future. Keywords.

Keywords: crop residue, corn stover, straw, switchgrass, collection, harvest, energy, handling

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