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Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version. If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options. Bulk-Format Switchgrass Harvest System LogisticsPublished by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org Citation: 2012 Dallas, Texas, July 29 - August 1, 2012 121337867.(doi:10.13031/2013.41840)Authors: Mitchell D Groothuis, Alvin R Womac Keywords: Biomass logistics, GPS track logs, field capacity, field efficiency, forage harvester, tip wagon, semi-truck, bulk receiving, storage, biomass compaction This project addresses biomass feedstock supply logistics for a biorefinery using a bulk-format alternative to bales. Field-chopped switchgrass was handled in bulk as loose material, as material subjected to the confining stress of storage overburden, and as material compacted with commercial waste transfer systems. The switchgrass harvest campaign commenced on January 30, 2012 and enabled monitoring of loose bulk loads. The work reported herein tested bulk handling from the forage harvester over a short distance to storage when the benefits of simplified loose material handling out-weighed effort required to increase bulk density. Mass-weighted average moisture content of field-chopped switchgrass was 13.3% (wet basis) and geometric mean dimension of switchgrass particles from the forage harvester was 9.08 mm. Overall average dry bulk density for bulk-format switchgrass under loose conditions in dump trailers was 86.9 kg/m3. Commercial-scale transport would potentially maximize trailer volume to nearly twice that used in the demonstration. Harvest and hauling equipment logistics were tracked using GPS technology. Harvest system performance indicators are effective field capacity (Mg/hr) and field efficiency (%) for the mower-conditioner and forage harvester, and effective capacity (Mg/hr) and machine utilization (%) for the tip-wagons and trucks. Site factors identified relevant to system performance include number of row turns relative to field area, switchgrass yield, in-field haul distance to truck loading point, and on-road truck haul distance to storage. (Download PDF) (Export to EndNotes)
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