Large-scale transportation and storage of wood pellets: Investigation of the change in physical properties (Open Access)--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Gilvari, H., van Battum, C. H. H., van Dijk, S. A., de Jong, W., & Schott, D. L. (2021). Large-scale transportation and storage of wood pellets: Investigation of the change in physical properties. Particuology, 57, 146-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2020.12.006

Large-scale transportation and storage of wood pellets: Investigation of the change in physical properties (Open Access)

Hamid Gilvari ^{a c *}, Coen H.H. van Battum ^a, Simon A. van Dijk ^b, Wiebren de Jong ^c, Dingena L. Schott ^a

a Section of Transport Engineering and Logistics, Department of Maritime and Transport Technology, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
b Chemical Services, Uniper Benelux NV, The Netherlands
c Section of Large Scale Energy Storage, Department of Process & Energy, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

10.1016/j.partic.2020.12.006

Volume 57, August 2021, Pages 146-156

Received 15 October 2020, Revised 27 November 2020, Accepted 8 December 2020, Available online 21 January 2021, Version of Record 26 February 2021.

E-mail: h.gilvari@tudelft.nl

Highlights

• Change in physical properties of wood pellets during transportation was studied.

• A large-scale transportation system of 450 ton/h was chosen as a case study.

• On average proportion of particles <5.6 mm raised up to 5.36% due to a free drop.

• No specific changes were observed in moisture content, bulk density, and durability.

Abstract

The change in physical properties of wood pellets, with a focus on particle size distributions due to pellet breakage and attrition, was studied in a large-scale (∼450 ton/h) transportation system. Critical locations with a high probability of breakage through the whole transportation system were chosen and sampled to study the effect of transportation system design and operation on the mechanical properties of pellets. Bulk density, mechanical durability, moisture content, and particle size distribution of pellets were characterized for each sample. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences between the percentages of small particles (< 5.6 mm) in the samples taken at different locations, especially at one with a vertical free fall of 7.8 m. On average, this relatively long drop increased the proportion of particles < 5.6 mm in the samples from 8.73% to 14.09%, and that of particles < 3.15 mm from 4.82% to 9.01%. Moreover, the measurements showed a wide deviation in the mechanical durability values, between a minimum of 90.8% and a maximum of 98.7%, which were not correlated to the sampling points but related to pellet properties. It can be concluded that pellet transportation systems require more dedicated design strategies to prevent breakage and attrition.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Wood pellets; Large-scale transportation; Durability; Fines and dust; Breakage; Mechanical degradation

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