Spatial Analysis of Stover Moisture Content During Harvest Season in the U.S.

Abstract. The moisture content of a maturing crop varies as the harvest season progresses. For crop residues such as corn stover, moisture content at the time of harvest can be as high as 75% (wet mass basis) to less than 20% depending on the geographic location (climate conditions) and stage of harvest. Biomass moisture content is critical for baling and extended storage. It is therefore essential to have an estimate of the quantities of corn stover available as wet or dry for various parts of the U.S. To this end, we analyzed hourly weather data (temperature, humidity, and rainfall) from the Typical Meteorological Year v.3 (TMY3) dataset developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. A recently published set of equations for calculating the moisture content of stover as a function of hourly temperature, humidity, and rainfall were used. The annual start and end of corn grain harvest along with annual grain production (in bushels) for each state were extracted from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service reports. Using these datasets and moisture sorption equations, the percentage of corn stover tonnage with moisture content less than 20%, between 20% and 40%, or greater than 40% was estimated from the length of time that the biomass was in these moisture content ranges. These calculations were carried out for several locations within each of the states for which TMY data were available. It was concluded that about 37.2% of corn stover is dry (<20% moisture content), whereas 36.5% is wet (>40% moisture content) nationwide. The remaining 27.0% of corn stover is between 20% and 40% moisture content. Keywords: Corn stover, Equilibrium moisture content, Field drying, Moisture content, Stover harvest, Typical Meteorological Year data.

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Geographical Limitations on Integral Collector Storage Collectors Due to Freezing

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.4028913 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 137 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Frederick S. Schollenberger ◽

Frank Kreith ◽

Jay Burch

Keyword(s):

Cold Weather ◽

Weather Data ◽

Data Correlation ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Active Systems ◽

Water Heaters ◽

Solar Water Heaters ◽

Freeze Protection ◽

The U.S

Passive integral collector storage (ICS) solar water heaters can potentially heat water at lower costs then active systems with freeze protection. However, ICS panels can freeze in cold weather. This study developed a model relating the freeze behavior to climate conditions, validated the model experimentally and then ran the model with long term U.S. weather data to delineate regions safe for the passive solar heaters. Both, a single- and a double-glazed tubular ICS panels were modeled and tested. It was found that freezing begins when the water in the supply/return lines freezes and initiates a pressure build up in the collector which can eventually burst the large collector tubes when the water inside freezes and expands. It was found that freezing can be delayed by installing heat tape over the supply/return lines. Using a model of the collector and TMY2 weather data, correlation maps were developed to show in which regions of the U.S. ICS panels with and without heat tapes can be installed safely.

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Moisture Sorption Characteristics of Corn Stover and Big Bluestem

Journal of Renewable Energy ◽

10.1155/2013/939504 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

C. Karunanithy ◽

K. Muthukumarappan ◽

A. Donepudi

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Corn Stover ◽

Sorption Isotherms ◽

Moisture Sorption ◽

Isotherm Models ◽

Big Bluestem ◽

Moisture Sorption Isotherms ◽

Typical Type ◽

Different Temperatures ◽

Gab Model

Moisture content is an important feedstock quality in converting it into energy through biochemical or thermochemical platforms. Knowledge of moisture sorption relationship is useful in drying and storage to preserve the quality of feedstocks. Moisture sorption isotherms for potential feedstocks such as corn stover and big bluestem are missing. EMC values of corn stover and big bluestem were determined using static gravimetric technique with saturated salt solutions (ERH 0.12–0.89) at different temperatures (20, 30, and 40°C). Depending upon the ERH values, EMC values were ranged from 8.0 to 19.6 and 8.8 to 19.2% db for corn stover and big bluestem, respectively, and they followed typical type II isotherm found in food materials. Nonlinear regression was used to fit five commonly used three-parameter isotherm models (i.e., modified Oswin model, modified Halsey model, modified Chung-Pfost model, modified Henderson model, and the modified Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) model) to the experimental data. Modified Halsey emerged as the best model with highF-statistic andR2values with lowEmandEsand fairly random scattered residual plot for corn stover and big bluestem. These models can be used to predict the equilibrium moisture content of these feedstocks starting from harvesting, drying, preprocessing, transportation, storage, and conversion.

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Effects of Non-uniform Kernel Moisture Content on Moisture Measurement of Corn

Progress in Agricultural Engineering Sciences ◽

10.1556/progress.1.2005.1.5 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 77-93

Author(s):

Bíborka Gillay ◽

David B. Funk

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Moisture Measurement ◽

Safe Storage ◽

Grain Moisture ◽

Moisture Meter ◽

Percent Moisture ◽

New Crop ◽

The U.S

The price paid for corn is usually based on 15.0 or 15.5 percent moisture content. However, corn must be dried below 13 percent moisture to ensure safe storage for a year or more. In the U.S., such stored corn cannot be directly remoistened before selling it, but it can be mixed with moist new-crop corn. Accurate moisture measurement of mixtures of dry and moist corn is important to permit adjustment of blending ratios to maximize profitability, but grain moisture meters are less accurate for mixtures of wet and dry grain. This research evaluated the differences between dielectric-type moisture meter results for mixed and equilibrated corn samples at different moisture levels and different measurement frequencies. Equilibrated grain samples tended to give lower moisture results than recently mixed grain samples - especially in the 1 to 10 MHz region. These differences permitted detection of mixtures by using moisture measurements at two frequencies.

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PARAMETER OPTIMIZATION AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ON THE HAMMER MILL 锤片式粉碎机参数优化与试验研究

INMATEH Agricultural Engineering ◽

10.35633/inmateh-62-36 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 341-350

Author(s):

Di Wang ◽

Changbin He ◽

Haiqing Tian ◽

Liu Fei ◽

Zhang Tao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Orthogonal Experiment ◽

Electricity Consumption ◽

Spindle Speed ◽

Hammer Mill ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Evaluation Indexes ◽

Grain Moisture ◽

Validation Experiment ◽

Corn Grain

Low productivity and high electricity consumption are considered problems of the hammer mill, which is widely used in current feed production. In this paper, the mechanical properties of corn grain ground by a hammer mill were analysed, and the key factors affecting the performance of the hammer mill were determined. The single-factor experiment and three-factor, three-level quadratic regression orthogonal experiment were carried out with the spindle speed, corn grain moisture content and number of hammers as experimental factors and the productivity and electricity consumption per ton as evaluation indexes. The results showed that the order of influence on the productivity was spindle speed > corn grain moisture content > number of hammers and that the order of influence on the electricity consumption per ton was corn grain moisture content > spindle speed > number of hammers. The parameters were optimized based on the response surface method with the following results: the spindle speed was 4306 r/min, the corn grain moisture content was 10%, and the number of hammers was 24. The validation experiment was carried out with the optimal parameters’ combination. The productivity and electricity consumption per ton were 988.12 kg/h and 5.37 kW·h/t, respectively, which were consistent with the predicted results of the model.

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Geographic Shift and Environment Change of U.S. Tornado Activities in a Warming Climate

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12050567 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 567

Author(s):

Zuohao Cao ◽

Huaqing Cai ◽

Guang J. Zhang

Keyword(s):

Wind Shear ◽

Convective Available Potential Energy ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Reanalysis Data ◽

Cyclonic Circulation ◽

Upward Motion ◽

Environment Change ◽

Low Level ◽

High Event ◽

The U.S

Even with ever-increasing societal interest in tornado activities engendering catastrophes of loss of life and property damage, the long-term change in the geographic location and environment of tornado activity centers over the last six decades (1954–2018), and its relationship with climate warming in the U.S., is still unknown or not robustly proved scientifically. Utilizing discriminant analysis, we show a statistically significant geographic shift of U.S. tornado activity center (i.e., Tornado Alley) under warming conditions, and we identify five major areas of tornado activity in the new Tornado Alley that were not identified previously. By contrasting warm versus cold years, we demonstrate that the shift of relative warm centers is coupled with the shifts in low pressure and tornado activity centers. The warm and moist air carried by low-level flow from the Gulf of Mexico combined with upward motion acts to fuel convection over the tornado activity centers. Employing composite analyses using high resolution reanalysis data, we further demonstrate that high tornado activities in the U.S. are associated with stronger cyclonic circulation and baroclinicity than low tornado activities, and the high tornado activities are coupled with stronger low-level wind shear, stronger upward motion, and higher convective available potential energy (CAPE) than low tornado activities. The composite differences between high-event and low-event years of tornado activity are identified for the first time in terms of wind shear, upward motion, CAPE, cyclonic circulation and baroclinicity, although some of these environmental variables favorable for tornado development have been discussed in previous studies.

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Possibilities of Decreasing Hygroscopicity of Resonance Wood Used in Piano Soundboards Using Thermal Treatment

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11020475 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 475

Author(s):

Petr Zatloukal ◽

Pavlína Suchomelová ◽

Jakub Dömény ◽

Tadeáš Doskočil ◽

Ginevra Manzo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Dynamic Modulus ◽

Moisture Sorption ◽

Acoustical Properties ◽

Longitudinal Dynamic ◽

Moisture Content Level ◽

Longitudinal Sound Velocity ◽

Tan Δ ◽

Resonance Wood

This article presents the possibilities of decreasing moisture sorption properties via thermal modification of Norway spruce wood in musical instruments. The 202 resonance wood specimens that were used to produce piano soundboards have been conditioned and divided into three density groups. The first specimen group had natural untreated properties, the second was thermally treated at 180 °C, and the third group was treated at 200 °C. All specimens were isothermally conditioned at 20 °C with relative humidity values of 40, 60, and 80%. The equilibrium moisture content (EMC), swelling, and acoustical properties, such as the longitudinal dynamic modulus (E’L), bending dynamic modulus (Eb), damping coefficient (tan δ), acoustic conversion efficiency (ACEL), and relative acoustic conversion efficiency (RACEL) were evaluated on every moisture content level. Treatment at 180 °C caused the EMC to decrease by 36% and the volume swelling to decrease by 9.9%. Treatment at 200 °C decreased the EMC by 42% and the swelling by 39.6%. The 180 °C treatment decreased the value of the longitudinal sound velocity by 1.6%, whereas the treatment at 200 °C increased the velocity by 2.1%. The acoustical properties EL′, Eb, ACEL, and RACEL were lower due to the higher moisture content of the samples, and only the tanδ increased. Although both treatments significantly affected the swelling and EMC, the treatment at 180 °C did not significantly affect the acoustical properties.

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Performance Evaluation of Neural Network-Based Short-Term Solar Irradiation Forecasts

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14113030 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 3030

Author(s):

Simon Liebermann ◽

Jung-Sup Um ◽

YoungSeok Hwang ◽

Stephan Schlüter

Keyword(s):

Neural Network ◽

Goodness Of Fit ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Solar Irradiation ◽

Weather Data ◽

Short Term ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Lstm Network ◽

The Time Domain

Due to the globally increasing share of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, precise forecasts for weather data are becoming more and more important. To compute such forecasts numerous authors apply neural networks (NN), whereby models became ever more complex recently. Using solar irradiation as an example, we verify if this additional complexity is required in terms of forecasting precision. Different NN models, namely the long-short term (LSTM) neural network, a convolutional neural network (CNN), and combinations of both are benchmarked against each other. The naive forecast is included as a baseline. Various locations across Europe are tested to analyze the models’ performance under different climate conditions. Forecasts up to 24 h in advance are generated and compared using different goodness of fit (GoF) measures. Besides, errors are analyzed in the time domain. As expected, the error of all models increases with rising forecasting horizon. Over all test stations it shows that combining an LSTM network with a CNN yields the best performance. However, regarding the chosen GoF measures, differences to the alternative approaches are fairly small. The hybrid model’s advantage lies not in the improved GoF but in its versatility: contrary to an LSTM or a CNN, it produces good results under all tested weather conditions.

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Model Based Biomass System Design of Feedstock Supply Systems for Bioenergy Production

Volume 2B: 33rd Computers and Information in Engineering Conference ◽

10.1115/detc2013-13559 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Kara G. Cafferty ◽

David J. Muth ◽

Jacob J. Jacobson ◽

Kenneth M. Bryden

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Corn Stover ◽

Cellulosic Ethanol ◽

Supply System ◽

Cellulosic Biomass ◽

Systems Dynamics ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Unit Operations ◽

Supply Systems

Engineering feedstock supply systems that deliver affordable, high-quality biomass remains a challenge for the emerging bioenergy industry. Cellulosic biomass is geographically distributed and has diverse physical and chemical properties. Because of this feedstock supply systems that deliver cellulosic biomass resources to biorefineries require integration of a broad set of engineered unit operations. These unit operations include harvest and collection, storage, preprocessing, and transportation processes. Design decisions for each feedstock supply system unit operation impact the engineering design and performance of the other system elements. These interdependencies are further complicated by spatial and temporal variances such as climate conditions and biomass characteristics. This paper develops an integrated model that couples a SQL-based data management engine and systems dynamics models to design and evaluate biomass feedstock supply systems. The integrated model, called the Biomass Logistics Model (BLM), includes a suite of databases that provide 1) engineering performance data for hundreds of equipment systems, 2) spatially explicit labor cost datasets, and 3) local tax and regulation data. The BLM analytic engine is built in the systems dynamics software package Powersim™. The BLM is designed to work with thermochemical and biochemical based biofuel conversion platforms and accommodates a range of cellulosic biomass types (i.e., herbaceous residues, short-rotation woody and herbaceous energy crops, woody residues, algae, etc.). The BLM simulates the flow of biomass through the entire supply chain, tracking changes in feedstock characteristics (i.e., moisture content, dry matter, ash content, and dry bulk density) as influenced by the various operations in the supply chain. By accounting for all of the equipment that comes into contact with biomass from the point of harvest to the throat of the conversion facility and the change in characteristics, the BLM evaluates economic performance of the engineered system, as well as determining energy consumption and green house gas performance of the design. This paper presents a BLM case study delivering corn stover to produce cellulosic ethanol. The case study utilizes the BLM to model the performance of several feedstock supply system designs. The case study also explores the impact of temporal variations in climate conditions to test the sensitivity of the engineering designs. Results from the case study show that under certain conditions corn stover can be delivered to the cellulosic ethanol biorefinery for $35/dry ton.

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Corn Grain and Stover Nutrient Uptake Responses from Sandy Soil Treated with Designer Biochars and Compost

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11050942 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 942

Author(s):

Jeffrey M. Novak ◽

Donald W. Watts ◽

Gilbert C. Sigua ◽

Thomas F. Ducey

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Corn Stover ◽

Pinus Contorta ◽

Panicum Virgatum ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Extractable P ◽

Soil Fertility Improvement ◽

Corn Grain

Biochars are used for soil fertility improvement because they may contain certain elements that plants use as nutrients. However, few studies have demonstrated enhanced crop nutrient uptake. Our study examined nutrient uptake responses of corn (Zea Mays L.) grain and stover over 4 years (Y) after a Goldsboro sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, sub-active, thermic Aquic Paleudults) received different designer biochars and a compost. The designer biochars were produced from lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) chip (PC), poultry litter (PL), blends with switchgrass (SG; Panicum virgatum), and a SG compost alone. Topsoil treated with 100% PL biochar and blended PC:PL biochar had significantly greater Mehlich 1 (M1) extractable P, K and Na contents compared to the control or other treatments. No significant differences were detected in annual grain nutrient concentrations. In the first corn stover harvest (Y1), significantly greater concentrations of P and K were taken up after treatment with 100% PL biochar, with PC:PL blend and with SG when compared to control. By the fourth corn stover harvest (Y4), nutrient uptake between treatments was not significantly different. Biochar impact on corn stover P, K and Na concentrations was time dependent, suggesting that repeated biochar applications may be needed.

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Corn silage as a source of aflatoxin B1 in feed for dairy cattle

ROMANIAN BIOTECHNOLOGICAL LETTERS ◽

10.25083/rbl/26.4/2759-2764 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 2759-2764

Author(s):

DRAGAN GLAMOČIĆ ◽

MIROSLAVA POLOVINSKI HORVATOVIĆ ◽

IGOR JAJIĆ ◽

SAŠA KRSTOVIĆ ◽

MIRKO IVKOVIĆ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Aflatoxin B1 ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Aflatoxin M1 ◽

Fresh Matter ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Corn Grain

Nutrition of dairy cattle is based on two components, concentrates and forages. The main forages in Vojvodina, north province of Serbia is silage made from the whole plant of corn. After the outbreak of aflatoxin B1 in corn in 2012, the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 in corn as a source of contamination of aflatoxin M1 in milk was very broadly investigated. There is no data regarding the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 in silage and how much silage can contribute to the overall intake of aflatoxin B1 in this region. This work is an attempt to estimate how much silage, in condition and practice used in Vojvodina, contributes to the intake of aflatoxin B1, and consequently aflatoxin M1 in milk. In total, 82 samples of corn grain and 72 samples of corn silage were analyzed on the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 during 2017-2018 period. Aflatoxin B1 was found in 13.41% of corn samples in the range from 6.82 to 187.5 ppb (average 63.5 ppb). All positive samples were from 2017, while no positive samples were found during 2018. Incidence of aflatoxin B1 in silage was 54.17% in the range of 3.5-58.0 ppb (12% moisture content) or 0.95-16.1 ppb in the fresh matter. Results suggest that silage can be a significant factor to overall intake of aflatoxin B1 and that further research is needed.

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