Characterisation of extreme shape materials: “biomass and waste materials”

Owonikoko, A., Berry, R.J. and Bradley, M.S.A. (2010) Characterisation of extreme shape materials: “biomass and waste materials”. In: Bulk Solids Europe 2010 Conference and IMechE Symposium in New Frontiers in Bulk Materials Handling , 9-10 September 2010, Glasgow. (Submitted)

PDF Restricted to Repository staff only Download (98kB)

Abstract

The widespread usage of biomass and waste materials to generate; electricity, transport fuels, bio-chemicals and biogas are very appealing for reducing carbon emissions and as an alternative source of energy in the face of limiting oil stocks. However handling these materials is very difficult especially when they are in bulk form. These materials are classified as “Class 3” extreme shape materials (ESM) by The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology based on their practical experiences in handling various forms of biomass and waste materials. Typical examples of ESM are woodchips, chopped miscanthus,
sawdust, shredded paper, municipal solids waste (MSW) and corn stover. A PhD project at The Wolfson Centre, University of Greenwich (United Kingdom) is currently undergoing further research work on the characterisation of ESM. Various techniques have been developed and adopted to characterise the ESM. Results have shown that ESM are resistant to flow/failure inside silos because of the following key factors: inherent low bulk density, inherent moisture content, high particle aspect ratio and their stress-phobic nature.

Actions (login required)