Vidutinės rotacijos energetinių augalų biokuro, fizinių savybių tyrimas

Abstract

Timber is predominant resource of the biomass used for the purposes of energy production. Recently, plantations of medium rotation trees of hybrid species have been increasingly cultivated in order to produce timber to be used as a bio-fuel. Coppice plantations are cultivated on the basis of intense techniques in order to achieve accelerated wood production or any other production rela-ted to woody crops. Plant growth period of long rotation trees amounts for nearly 30–60 years, whereas that of medium rotation trees of hybrid species – only 15–20 years. Physical characteristics of chaffs of the following medium rotation energy plants have been determined: Quaking aspen (Populus Tremula), Robinia and the wild cherry tree (Pseudoacacia). The main fraction of the timber chipped using Pezzolato drum chipper has been comprised of the 8-16 mm sized particles. The ash content of medium rotation energy plants was found to be low: amounted from 1.87 % (of the wild cherry tree) to 2.4 % (of Robinia), whereas calorific values of the plants under investigation were found to be rather high: amounting for approx. 18.7 MJ/kg. These are close to calorific values of birch which is considered to be the main benchmark or refe-rence in Lithuania.