Bale decomposition, feedstock degradation, “spontaneous combustion” and hay fires, unnecessary (and costly) transportation of water, shortened storage window, processing and conveying complications, equipment malfunctions . . .
Obviously these are some worthwhile motivations to control and closely manage biomass moisture. In the biomass feedstock world, much time and attention is given to properly managing moisture content since high moisture levels in biomass typically introduce operational problems, ultimately driving up the final cost of feedstock.
Step one should include monitoring moisture levels and having reliable data that will guide management decisions. Visual analysis, especially with bales, can be quite misleading. There are several useful tools that provide hard evidence of just how much moisture is in a feedstock. Bale moisture probes and windrow moisture testers are great methods for tracking the moisture in perennial grasses. When dealing with high moisture bioenergy crops that are typically chopped in the field (sorghum, sugarcane, arundo), using lab scale moisture analyzers are quite effective sampling tools. Genera Energy is currently working with a technology partner to develop a near-infrared sensor that can provide instant feedback of not only moisture, but a full chemical composition of materials. By mounting this unit on a piece of equipment, we expect to be able to have fully comprehensive data of entire lots of feedstock, further enhancing our management practices.
As mentioned in one of my previous blog posts, timing is critical when it comes to supplying feedstock at a specified moisture. Depending on the biomass, it is important to accurately schedule the harvest to maximize crop dry down in the field as well as meet the end user’s demand. As quickly as possible, harvested biomass must be just-in-time delivered to the processing facility or put into storage to avoid exposure to rain or snow.
Additionally, proper storage is absolutely necessary to protecting inventory. Genera has put a tremendous amount of effort into refining the best case storage scenario. We have pinpointed high quality tarps, defined ideal bale configurations, determined the optimal storage footprint, and developed detailed Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that storage operations are consistent and meet a high standard of specifications. Genera is also researching the effectiveness of a proprietary protective bale covering that wraps each bale in a material that allows internal moisture to escape but prohibits external moisture from entering. This technology could potentially take the tarping process out of the operation, which would provide a number of efficiencies. At the end of our research study we will fully evaluate this wrap’s protective benefits and weigh the economic costs.
Controlling the negative effects of moisture takes careful planning, but it is a feedstock supply chain requirement to ensure high quality material is delivered and processed efficiently, one that Genera Energy has mastered.
By Lance Stewart, Supply Chain Manager
