Effect of some operating parameters on the performance of a pelleting press

One of the major challenges of fish pellets production at the micro and small scale level is the principal complement of equipment necessary for the local manufacture of the same. Imported fish pellets are quite expensive and unaffordable for the average fish farmer. Hence, the need to be able to produce fish feed at a lower cost yet achieving the objective of quantity and quality expected of pelleted feeds are paramount to the viability of the enterprise.The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of some operating parameters (moisture content of the compounded feed, die speed of the press, and the feed rate) on the pelleting efficiency, throughput capacity, pellet durability and pellet bulk density and to optimise the conditions. Three moisture content levels (M1= 13, M2= 20 and M3 = 25% wet basis) of the compounded feed were used. For each of the moisture contents, two feed rates (Q1= 500, Q2= 350 kg/hr); and two die speeds (V1=200, and V2=250 r/min) were used for a die hole size of 4 mm. The effect of the independent parameters was significant for pellet efficiency, throughput capacity, pellet durability and pellet bulk density with R2 values of 0.9399, 0.9612, 0.8806 and 0.8977 respectively. This shows that the coefficient of determination is of positive correlation as determined from the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and the model equation. ANOVA was performed to check the adequacy of the fitted models. The response surface plots showing the interaction of variables were developed in Design-Expert 6.0.6 for every response, linear variables were found more significant than quadratic variables. Optimum conditions for maximum pellet efficiency, throughput capacity, pellet durability and bulk density corresponds to moisture content 25%, feed rate 499.99 kg/hr, speed 250 r/min with the desirability of 0.986. At this condition, pellet efficiency, throughput capacity, pellet durability and pellet bulk density were recorded as 95.7893%, 166.276 kg/hr, 98.0435% 0.846702 g/cm3 respectively

EVALUATION OF SWINE ODOR MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN A FUZZY MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION ENVIRONMENT

The paper evaluates swine odor management strategies using the fuzzy extension of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which is a multiple criteria decision making approach based on fuzzy scales. The evaluation is conducted using data from our cost effectiveness study of odor management strategies and our on farm studies relating odor to various management practices. These strategies include manual oil sprinkling, automatic oil sprinkling, wet scrubber, diffusion-coagulation-separation (DCS) deduster, pelleting feed, and draining shallow pit weekly. The criteria employed to evaluate the strategies are odor reduction efficiency, costs, nutrients in manure, and other benefits. Two producer profiles are considered: (a) producers who are pressured to achieve maximum reduction in odor emissions; and (b) producers who are constrained with limited financial resources. Both of these profiles are reflective of current situations for some producers. The results show that, as the scale fuzziness decreases, the preference of the first producer profile over the strategies from high to low is DCS deduster, pelleting feed, automatic oil sprinkling, manual oil sprinkling, draining pit weekly, and wet scrubber while the preference of the second producer profile is draining pit weekly, DCS dedusters, automatic oil sprinkling, wet scrubbers, pelleting feed, and manual oil sprinkling.Livestock Production/Industries,

BIOMASS PRODUCTION AS AN ENERGY SOURCE IN COPPICES OF THE PROVINCE OF FLORENCE, ITALY: CONSIDERING THE ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT ASPECTS

Coppice management of forests in Tuscany, and particularly in the province of Florence, has had a chequered history, which has set the stage for the present problems of forestry policy. In Italy, the period between 1955 and 1975 saw a marked reduction in use of firewood in the home and its virtual elimination from the industrial context, leading to progressive abandonment of coppice management. Since 1975, wood-cutting has once again become an increasingly frequent practice, mainly in beech and deciduous oak forests, to the point that this phenomenon has been defined as a veritable revival of coppice management. This change is due partly to a rise in firewood prices but also to the greater yield obtainable from processing activities, although the observed increase is to be attributed not so much to technological progress (only a few enterprises have adequate equipment), as to the mass accumulated during the period of non-harvesting. Basing our opinion on these considerations we realized a project for assessing the "actual" economic, occupational and environmental potential of coppice management in the province of Florence for biomass production as an energy source. To this end, our work has tried to identify the new potential market area, the enterprises typology, and analyse the social and environmental impact. Moreover, we have evaluated economic efficiency and have taken into consideration the public intervention needed to develop new markets. We have seen that at the moment the possible market areas are tied not only to the traditional markets for house heating by traditional stove with low performance, but also to a new market tied to the most recent developments in heating technologies for dwelling places and small environments, that have allowed considerable technological improvement in heating systems using wood biomasses, which are now more economical and easier to use, have lower gas emission levels and offer greater safety. Another potential market is tied to the electric power production, through the transformation from energy produced by combustion of wood biomass into electric power energy, that we can use in times of peak power consumption in the area studied. The results of this study shows that use of wood biomasses in the energy sector is competitive with oil and gas fired systems, and that biomass production as an energy source is not only environmentally sustainable but also economically feasible and capable of creating job opportunities. Moreover, the possibility for development of two new market areas exists: the first is tied to production of heating energy with new technology plants that use a wood biomass, and result in a high performance; the second is the possibility to develop the electric energy market with the use of gasification or cogeneration plants. In both cases it is possible to create new activities for installation, maintenance and fueling of heating plants, for maintenance and fueling electric generator plants, which will be complementary to harvesting activityResource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Gasification of non-woody biomass: a literature review

Non-woody biomass, having a lower lignin content than woody materials, is a common waste material found in agricultural processing plants and fields. Non-woody biomass is often bulky and has a comparatively low energy content. However, non-woody materials sourced from agricultural waste are abundant and cheap. Experimental studies into gasification of non-woody biomass have been conducted by various researchers. This paper reviews feedstock characteristics, pre-treatments, gasification methods, and future directions of this technology. Due to the heterogeneous nature of non-woody biomass, it is critical to apply suitable pre-treatments prior to gasification. Combining non-woody biomass with a small percentage of high grade carbon sourced from biochar or coal into fuel pellets for co-gasification has the potential to improve fuel quality. Synergistic effects of non-woody biomass-coal/charcoal co-gasification can also reduce tar formation and increase the occurrence of mineral based catalytic reactions. Factors influencing these effects are often complex and require further investigation. 15–20% of the energy content of fuel pellets may be needed to power the biomass pre-treatment process. The gasification of pelletised non-woody waste provides an attractive alternative fuel source to achieve agricultural energy self-sufficiency and off-grid operation

Customized and Value-added High Quality Alfalfa Products: A New Concept

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 9 (2007): Customized and Value-added High Quality Alfalfa Products: A New Concept. Manuscript FP 07 003. Vol. IX. June, 2007

Techno-economic analysis of decentralized biomass processing depots

AbstractDecentralized biomass processing facilities, known as biomass depots, may be necessary to achieve feedstock cost, quantity, and quality required to grow the future U.S. bioeconomy. In this paper, we assess three distinct depot configurations for technical difference and economic performance. The depot designs were chosen to compare and contrast a suite of capabilities that a depot could perform ranging from conventional pelleting to sophisticated pretreatment technologies. Our economic analyses indicate that depot processing costs are likely to range from ∼US$30 to US$63 per dry metric tonne (Mg), depending upon the specific technology implemented and the energy consumption for processing equipment such as grinders and dryers. We conclude that the benefits of integrating depots into the overall biomass feedstock supply chain will outweigh depot processing costs and that incorporation of this technology should be aggressively pursued

Pelletting Vineyard Pruning at Low Cost with a Mobile Technology

none4noThe goal of this work was to test a patented pruning harvester and a mobile pelleting system specifically designed for the vineyard agripellet chain. Biomass was characterized before and after storage and after the pelleting stage. The performance, the fuel consumption, and the work quality of the harvester were assessed together with the productivity and the power consumption of the mobile pelleting system. Production costs of pellet were estimated for the whole logistic chain, considering two scenarios: Storage and pelleting directly at the farm site or at a dedicated location at variable distance from the fields. For comparison, the direct production of chips without pelleting was considered. Results indicate that harvester performance was quite good and comparable with commercial solutions; the chips produced exhibited excellent storage performance, allowing direct pelleting without forced drying; the pellet quality was good comparable with that produced from forestry biomass. From an economic point of view, in-field pelleting was the most cost-effective solution, with a good margin of profit up to 57  t1; on the other hand, when transport to an intermediate storage center is necessary, profit margin reduces gradually and fades off at an average 50 km distance from the fields.openGiuseppe Toscano, Vincenzo Alfano, Antonio Scarfone, Luigi PariToscano, Giuseppe; Alfano, Vincenzo; Scarfone, Antonio; Pari, Luig

D1.4 Mapping, characterization and critical evaluation of the state-of-the-art

EU/H2020; 818349publishedVersio