Steam Powered Wood Chipper: Difference between revisions
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{{Category=Farm equipment}} | {{Category=Farm equipment}} | ||
Basic concept: a steam engine is directly (mechanically) coupled to a wood chipper. No electricity is generated. The whole purpose is to process wood. A portion of the wood chips is used to power the steam engine. The heat-producing unit relies on pyrolysis rather than combustion of biomass. While this lowers the yield significantly, it generates [[biochar]] as a valuable by-product. The char can be sequestered in local soils or be transported via [[Aerial_Ropeways|ropeway]]. Modular design is certainly a possibility, whereby the a steam [[Power_Cube|power cube]] would be hooked up to a chipper module. | Basic concept: a [[Steam_Engine_Construction_Set|steam engine]] is directly (mechanically) coupled to a wood chipper. No electricity is generated. The whole purpose is to process wood. A portion of the wood chips is used to power the steam engine. The heat-producing unit relies on pyrolysis rather than combustion of biomass. While this lowers the yield significantly, it generates [[biochar]] as a valuable by-product. The char can be sequestered in local soils or be transported via [[Aerial_Ropeways|ropeway]]. Modular design is certainly a possibility, whereby the a steam [[Power_Cube|power cube]] would be hooked up to a chipper module. | ||
The steam engine can be switched over to hydraulic output, driving hydraulic motors and allowing hydraulic implements to be run, such as: <br> | The steam engine can be switched over to hydraulic output, driving hydraulic motors and allowing hydraulic implements to be run, such as: <br> | ||
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- hydraulic log splitter <br> | - hydraulic log splitter <br> | ||
- spader to sequester biochar in soil<br> | - spader to sequester biochar in soil<br> | ||
- electric generator, can power electric chainsaws | - electric generator, can power electric chainsaws and lights to work in darkness<br> | ||
- perhaps other GVCS elements such as [[CEB_Press|The Liberator]] <br> | - perhaps other GVCS elements such as [[CEB_Press|The Liberator]] <br> | ||
The steam engine's boiler may also generate some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superheated_steam superheated steam] that is used to quickly dry the wood chips. Heat recovery (to heat more water for the steam engine) can make this very energy efficient. | The steam engine's boiler may also generate some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superheated_steam superheated steam] that is used to quickly dry the wood chips. Heat recovery (to heat more water for the steam engine) can make this very energy efficient. Alternatively, wood may be dried with hot air only. | ||
''Comment from Kevin Chisholm, Biochar Y! Group: Far better than using superheated steam for drying wood would be a condensing steam engine, or turbine, with an air cooled condenser system. The large amount of condenser heat would provide lots of hot air for wood drying. Also, it would minimize the problem of water supply and treatment for the boiler. It would be very interesting to do an energy balance on the proposed process. In particular, how much energy is necessary for mechanical power and how much heat is required for drying wood.'' | |||
Related: [[The Biochar Economy]] | Related: [[The Biochar Economy]] | ||
Revision as of 12:27, 22 February 2011
Main > Food and Agriculture > Farm equipment
Basic concept: a steam engine is directly (mechanically) coupled to a wood chipper. No electricity is generated. The whole purpose is to process wood. A portion of the wood chips is used to power the steam engine. The heat-producing unit relies on pyrolysis rather than combustion of biomass. While this lowers the yield significantly, it generates biochar as a valuable by-product. The char can be sequestered in local soils or be transported via ropeway. Modular design is certainly a possibility, whereby the a steam power cube would be hooked up to a chipper module.
The steam engine can be switched over to hydraulic output, driving hydraulic motors and allowing hydraulic implements to be run, such as:
- pulley of steel ropes that are used to pull large branches and logs to the machine
- chainsaw to cut logs into smaller pieces
- hydraulic log splitter
- spader to sequester biochar in soil
- electric generator, can power electric chainsaws and lights to work in darkness
- perhaps other GVCS elements such as The Liberator
The steam engine's boiler may also generate some superheated steam that is used to quickly dry the wood chips. Heat recovery (to heat more water for the steam engine) can make this very energy efficient. Alternatively, wood may be dried with hot air only.
Comment from Kevin Chisholm, Biochar Y! Group: Far better than using superheated steam for drying wood would be a condensing steam engine, or turbine, with an air cooled condenser system. The large amount of condenser heat would provide lots of hot air for wood drying. Also, it would minimize the problem of water supply and treatment for the boiler. It would be very interesting to do an energy balance on the proposed process. In particular, how much energy is necessary for mechanical power and how much heat is required for drying wood.
Related: The Biochar Economy