Sågspånets malningsgrad

I denna undersökning har torkat sågspån malts med olika sållgrovlekar (2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm och 8 mm) och använts för pelletstillverkning. Som jämförelse har icke malt, endast material som passerar 4 x 4 mm använts. Materialen har konditionerats till fukthalter mellan 10 % och 13 % innan pelletering. Försöken gjordes på SLU:s pilotanläggning med en kapacitet på ca 400 kg/h. Under försöken uppmättes energiåtgång vid malning, energiåtgång vid pelletering samt fysikaliska kvalitetsegenskaper på produkten. Även askhalter, extraktivämnesinnehåll och styckedensitet på pellets producerade av olika spånfraktioner uppmättes. Två prover, pellets tillverkade av 8 mm spån och 2 mm spån, togs ut för att studera emissioner av kolmonoxid, koldioxid och metan vid lagring och för att se om det är skillnader mellan pellets tillverkade av olika grovt malda råvaror. Resultaten visade att spånets malgrad påverkar framför allt bulkdensiteten på produkten genom att mer finmalt spån ger en högre bulkdensitet. Övriga kvalitetsparametrar påverkades i mindre grad eller inte alls av spånets malgrad. Det är också möjligt att producera pellets av acceptabel kvalitet helt utan malning av spånet. Endast en bortsållning av övergrovt material verkar vara tillräckligt för att ge en acceptabel råvara. Emissionstesterna visade att det är ingen skillnad mellan pellets tillverkade av spån malt på 2 mm såll och spån malt på 8 mm såll. Extraktivämneshalten i pelleterat material var något lägre än i den icke pelleterade råvaran. Detta beror antagligen på lättflyktiga ämnen som avgår vid de förhöjda temperaturerna som uppstår i pelletringsprocessen

Using macromolecular composition to predict optimal process settings in ring-die biomass pellet production

This study was performed to investigate if the process settings that give high pellet durability can be modelled from the biomass’ macromolecular composition. Process and chemical analysis data was obtained from a previous pilot-scale study of six biomass assortments that by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was confirmed as representative for their biomass types: hardwood, softwood bark, short rotation coppice (SRC), and straw and energy crops. Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Projections to Latent Structures (OPLS) models were created with the content of macromolecules as factors and the die compression ratio and the feedstock moisture content at which the highest pellet durability was obtained as responses. The models for die compression ratio (R2X = 0.90 and Q2 = 0.58) and feedstock moisture content (R2X = 0.87 and Q2 = 0.60), rendered a prediction error for obtained mechanical durability of approximately ±1%-unit, each. Important factors for modelling of the die compression ratio were: soluble lignin (negative), acetyl groups (negative), acetone extractives (positive), and arabinan (positive). For modelling of the feedstock moisture content, Klason lignin (negative), xylan (positive), water-soluble extractives (negative), and mannan (negative), were the most influential. Results obtained in this study indicate that it is possible to predict optimal process conditions in pelletizing based on the macromolecular composition of the raw material. In practice, this would mean a higher raw material flexibility in the pellet factories through drastically reduced risk when introducing new raw materials

Pelleting torrefied biomass at pilot-scale – Quality and implications for co-firing

The co-firing of solid biofuels in coal plants is an attractive and fast-track means of cutting emissions but its potential is linked to biomass densification. For torrefied materials this topic is under-represented in literature. This pilot-scale (121–203 kg h−1) pelleting study generated detailed knowledge on the densification of torrefied biomass compared to untreated biomass. Four feedstock with high supply availability (beech, poplar, wheat straw and corn cob) were studied in their untreated and torrefied forms. Systematic methods were used to produce 180 batches of 8 mm dia. pellets using press channel length (PCL) and moisture content (MC) ranges of 30–60 mm and 7.3–16.6% (wet basis) respectively. Analysis showed that moderate degrees of torrefaction (250–280 °C, 20–75 min) strongly affected pelleting behaviour. The highest quality black pellets had a mechanical durability and bulk density range of 87.5–98.7% and 662–697 kg m−3 respectively. Pelleting energy using torrefied feedstock varied from −15 to +53 kWh t−1 from untreated with increases in production fines. Optimal pelleting MC and PCL were reduced significantly for torrefied feedstock and pellet quality was characterised by a decrease in mechanical durability and an increase in bulk density. Energy densities of 11.9–13.2 GJ m−3 (as received) were obtained

Complications and survival after surgical treatment of 214 metastatic lesions of the humerus

Background: The humerus is the second most common long-bone site of metastatic bone disease. We report complications, risk factors for failure, and survival of a large series of patients operated on for skeletal metastases of the humerus. Materials and methods: This study was based on 208 patients treated surgically for 214 metastatic lesions of the humerus. Reconstructions were achieved by intramedullary nails in 148, endoprostheses in 35, plate fixation in 21, and by other methods in 10. Results: The median age at surgery was 67 years (range, 29-87 years). Breast cancer was the primary tumor in 31%. The overall failure rate of the surgical reconstructions was 9%. The reoperation rate was 7% in the proximal humerus, 8% in the diaphysis, and 33% in the distal part of the bone. Among 36 operations involving an endoprosthesis, 2 were failures (6%) compared with 18 of 178 osteosynthetic devices (10%). In the osteosynthesis group, intramedullary nails failed in 7% and plate fixation failed in 22%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that prostate cancer was associated with an increased risk of failure after surgery (hazard ratio, 7; P < 0.033). The cumulative survival after surgery was 40% (95% confidence interval [CI] 34-47) at 1 year, 21% (95% CI, 15-26) at 2 years, and 16% (95% CI, 12-19) at 3 years. Conclusions: Our method of choice is the cemented hemiprosthesis for pathologic proximal humeral fractures and interlocked intramedullary nail for lesions in the diaphysis. Pathologic fractures in the distal humerus are uncommon and associated with a very high reoperation rate. Level of evidence: Level IV, Case Series, Treatment Study. (C) 2012 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees