Physical and frictional behaviors of loblolly pine residues

Abstract

Size reduction of biomass feedstock produces particulate material with a non-uniform particle size distribution, and this influences its behavior during handling, storage, and transport. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of particle size on the physical and frictional behaviors of ground loblolly pine residues. Loblolly pine residues were ground and fractionated into 6 sizes using screen apertures: 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.71 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.25 mm and pan. The moisture contents of the samples were kept at 8.69% (w.b). The particle densities (1316.21–1445.81 kg/m³) of the fractions significantly increased as particle size increased from <0.25 to 1.40 mm. An increase in particle size led to an increase in flow index values (2.63–4.05) of the fractionated biomass. All the fractions were classified as cohesive except for the samples with particle sizes of 1.40 mm and 1.00 mm, which were classified as easy flowing. Cohesive strength and angle of internal friction were found to significantly decrease as particle size increased. The angles of wall friction measured on stainless steel and mild steel surfaces were found to be lower than TIVAR 88 surface.

Keywords:

• Loblolly pine
• particle size
• friction
• storage
• fractionation

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge funding from USDA-NIFA project: Southeast Partnership for Integrated Biomass Supply Systems (IBSS) and Alabama Agriculture Experiment Station Hatch Funding.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest including financial, personal, or other relationships with anybody or organizations.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Institute of Food and Agriculture.