Evaluation of Two Forage Harvesting Systems for Herbaceous Biomass Harvesting

The objective was to analyze three innovative harvesting systems for early thinnings and compare forest-to-industry supply costs. FlowConv consists of a harvester equipped with an innovative continuously cutting, accumulating and bunching head (the FlowCut head), a forwarder and a truck to transport loose tree-parts. FlowFix consists of a harvester equipped with the same cutting head but also a bundling unit (the Fixteri system), plus a forwarder and roundwood truck for biomass transport. FlowCin consists of a new conceptual biomass harvester (the Cintoc system) equipped with the same cutting head and a second crane to pass the cut trees from the front of the machine to a bundling unit at the back, plus the same forwarding and trucking units as in the FlowFix system. Empirical data were used to assess the FlowConv system’s performance, while the FlowFix and FlowCin systems’ performance was simulated. Results indicate that supply costs of the FlowCin system would be 6–10% and 24–29% lower than those of the FlowFix and FlowConv systems, respectively. Thus, it would be more suitable to be equipped with an innovative cutting head, which is up to 100% more efficient than the current commercially available options. Key features of the Cintoc-based system (which minimize possible waiting times during operation) include its buffering cradle and delivery of biomass acquired in two cutting crane cycles to the intermediate delivering crane. The apparent superiority of the FlowCin system is consistent with previous conclusions regarding developments needed to maximize the cost-effectiveness of harvesting young dense stands.

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Biomass Harvesting Systems and Analysis

Wood-Based Energy in the Northern Forests ◽

10.1007/978-1-4614-9478-2_6 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 101-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jingxin Wang ◽

Damon Hartley ◽

Weiguo Liu

Keyword(s):

Biomass Harvesting ◽

Harvesting Systems

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Examples of Biomass Harvesting Systems

Utilization of Residual Forest Biomass - Springer Series in Wood Science ◽

10.1007/978-3-642-74072-5_7 ◽

1989 ◽

pp. 329-351

Author(s):

Pentti Hakkila

Keyword(s):

Biomass Harvesting ◽

Harvesting Systems

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Development of Microalgae Cultivation and Biomass Harvesting Systems for Biofuel Production

SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science - Solar-to-fuel conversion in algae and cyanobacteria ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-16730-5_15 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 83-88

Author(s):

Cinzia Formighieri

Keyword(s):

Biofuel Production ◽

Microalgae Cultivation ◽

Biomass Harvesting ◽

Harvesting Systems

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Evaluating the Economic Incentives of Biomass Removal on Site Preparation for Different Harvesting Systems in Australia

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11121370 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1370

Author(s):

Michael Berry ◽

John Sessions

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Model ◽

Market Price ◽

Economic Incentive ◽

Economic Incentives ◽

Site Preparation ◽

Biomass Harvesting ◽

Biomass Removal ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

A Site ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting

Research Highlights: This study evaluated the impacts of biomass recovery on site preparation costs while proposing a mathematical model and framework to catalogue the benefits depending on harvesting system. Background and Objectives: Biomass as a viable product depends on the requisite costs of production compared to the price paid by relative markets. The removal of biomass directly impacts site preparation costs, and the operational and economic ramifications of this should inform the feasibility of biomass harvesting and market viability. The relative incentives for biomass removal depend on the quantity, presentation, and location of the residues and are thus a result of the commercial sawlog harvesting system. This incentive also largely depends on the required work to prepare a site for replanting. Materials and Methods: This study developed a mathematical model to connect the concepts of site preparation, harvesting, and biomass costs and revenues to determine the maximum net revenue. This work also developed a framework for understanding and calculating the key model inputs related to site preparation and the relative economic site preparation incentive for biomass harvesting. The framework was then illustrated by using industry data from plantations in Queensland, Australia. Results and Conclusions: The analysis identified a potential reduction in site preparation costs due to biomass harvesting of USD 75–450 ha−1, with a greater incentive when using cut-to-length harvesting systems compared with whole-tree harvesting due to the greater volume of residues after cut-to-length harvesting. For example, a removal of 20 t ha−1 of recoverable biomass after cut-to-length harvesting may equate to an economic incentive of USD 22 t−1. Depending on the biomass market, this incentive may represent a significant percentage (or even exceed) the biomass market price. The combination of biomass market price plus site preparation economic incentive may make biomass an attractive market opportunity, even in challenging biomarkets.

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Comparison of Productivity and Cost Between Two Integrated Harvesting Systems in South Korea

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10090763 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 763 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cho ◽

Choi ◽

Paik ◽

Mun ◽

Cha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Korea ◽

Low Cost ◽

Forest Biomass ◽

Mixed Forest ◽

Biomass Harvesting ◽

Logging Residues ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Tree Harvesting

Interest in the production of renewable energy using forest biomass is increasing in South Korea, and improved knowledge on operations logistics to lower biomass harvesting costs is needed. This study aimed to build a low-cost forest-biomass harvesting system by analyzing the costs of two integrated (cut-to-length and whole-tree) harvesting systems for logs and logging residues. Two integrated harvesting systems were carried out in the clear-cut mixed forest on a steep slope. Compared to the cut-to-length system that separately extracts logs and logging residues in a forest, the cable whole-tree harvesting system can save $8.8/green weight ton (Gwt) because it requires no additional yarding operation cost of logging residues. Moreover, a breakeven analysis shows that the required machine utilization rates that favor whole-tree harvesting systems over cut-to-length harvesting were more than 70% for cable harvesting systems. The introduction of the whole-tree harvesting system is, therefore, required to produce forest biomass at a low cost. In the future, studies on forest-biomass processing and transportation systems will be needed to provide a biomass feedstock supply cost from stump to biomass power plant.

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Analysis of magneto rheological elastomers for energy harvesting systems

International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics ◽

10.3233/jae-209350 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (1-4) ◽

pp. 439-446

Author(s):

Gildas Diguet ◽

Gael Sebald ◽

Masami Nakano ◽

Mickaël Lallart ◽

Jean-Yves Cavaillé

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Energy Harvesting ◽

Shear Strain ◽

Magnetic Induction ◽

Magnetic Particles ◽

Homogeneous Magnetic Field ◽

Electrical Signal ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Dc Bias ◽

Magneto Rheological

Magneto Rheological Elastomers (MREs) are composite materials based on an elastomer filled by magnetic particles. Anisotropic MRE can be easily manufactured by curing the material under homogeneous magnetic field which creates column of particles. The magnetic and elastic properties are actually coupled making these MREs suitable for energy conversion. From these remarkable properties, an energy harvesting device is considered through the application of a DC bias magnetic induction on two MREs as a metal piece is applying an AC shear strain on them. Such strain therefore changes the permeabilities of the elastomers, hence generating an AC magnetic induction which can be converted into AC electrical signal with the help of a coil. The device is simulated with a Finite Element Method software to examine the effect of the MRE parameters, the DC bias magnetic induction and applied shear strain (amplitude and frequency) on the resulting electrical signal.

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