Biomass Pelletization Workshop November 2013

Biomass Pelletization Workshop

November 18, 2013

 Biomass & Bioenergy Research Group

Clean Energy Research Center

Chemical & Biological Engineering Department

University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada

 During the past six years, the Biomass & Bioenergy Research Group (BBRG) at the University of British Columbia has conducted extensive research on wood pellet production, storage, handling, life cycle analysis, and characterization of new generation of torrefied pellets. A Collaborative Research and Development program between UBC, Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) and Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has funded this project. The British Columbia Ministry of Forest, Natural Resources Canada, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, FPInnovations, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (U.S. Department of Energy), and several private sector partners have also contributed to the development of feedstock engineering research at UBC. BBRG is organizing a 1-day Workshop at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown on November 18, 2013 to share the latest research and development on wood pellets. In addition to members of the BBRG, key members of the industry are invited to present the state of technology of wood pellet processing, handling, and market trends.

Topics to be covered

• Uses and applications of biomass pellets – international and domestic (current regional consumers)
• Unit operations for pellets production – sorting, grinding, drying, densification, and cooling
• Integration of process equipment and the supporting systems for a sustainable operation
• Physical and chemical properties of biomass and measurements; characteristics that are desirable and undesirable for pellet production
• Emissions from pellets and pellet production operation
• Techno-economical and life cycle analysis
• Pellet logistics – feedstock resource transportation, and storage
• Process control, optimization and instrumentation
• Calculations – energy and mass balances for pellet production
• Solid biofuel classification, certification and testing standards under development around the world (CEN, ISO, ASTM, ASABE, DIN etc.)
• Safety issues related to pellet handling and storage
• Differences between pellets, pucks and bricks – can feedstock characteristics determine which to produce?
• Torrefied wood pellets – what are they, current state of commercial production, how do they compare to conventional pellets?
• Challenges in manufacturing pellets/pucks/bricks from roadside residues that remain after sawlog recovery (i.e. tops, branches and long-butts) and contain varying proportions of white wood, bark, foliage and contaminants (sand, gravel)

 For more information please contact :

fyazdanpanah@chbe.ubc.ca

604-827-4286