The influence of harvesting time to the energy plant biofuel characteristics and combustion ability

Abstract

The test results of conditional bulk density, calorofic value and combustion temperature of biomass of various plants, such as avnless bromegrass, reed canary grass and their mixtures with sweet clower or goat's rue, and topinabours harvested during various time periods have been given. The conditional bulk density chops on perennial grasses harvested in july has been estimated as 52-56 kg.m-3. At later harvest time the conditional bulk density was less and has amounted to 39-45 kg.m-3. The conditional bulk density of the chops of topinambours harvested in autumn has been 78 kg.m-3 and those harvested in spring has been 65 kg.m-3. The been 17,8 MJ.kg-1 and those harvested in spring 18,15 MJ.kg-1, respectively. The net calorific value of the dry biomass of topinambours harvested in autumn has been 18 MJ.kg-1 while those harvested in spring 18,5 MJ.kg-1, accordingly. Biofuell of energy plants harvested at the end of summer and in spring has had better combustion characteristics, therefore combustion temperature has been higher and the furnace capacity has been greater.