The impact of extra long-term storage of logging residues on fuel quality in Estonian conditions – a case study
The reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions demands a significant increase in the use of wood as a renewable energy source. However, environmental restrictions determine limits on the further growth of harvesting volume. Therefore, a viable solution to enhance the share of energy wood in Estonia...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Metsanduslikud Uurimused |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2023-0012 |
| _version_ | 1797208443559346176 |
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| author | Padari Allar Mitt Risto Pärn Linnar Kurvits Vahur Kaasik Sander Muiste Peeter |
| author_facet | Padari Allar Mitt Risto Pärn Linnar Kurvits Vahur Kaasik Sander Muiste Peeter |
| author_sort | Padari Allar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions demands a significant increase in the use of wood as a renewable energy source. However, environmental restrictions determine limits on the further growth of harvesting volume. Therefore, a viable solution to enhance the share of energy wood in Estonia’s energy balance involves focusing on less exploited assortments of raw material and implementing precise logistics planning. In recent years, mild winters have posed challenges to the extraction of residues and local transport of wood fuels, taking place on soft and unfrozen soils. In such conditions, ensuring a reliable supply of wood fuels becomes rather complicated. When piles of logging residues on unfrozen soils are inaccessible, there is a need to process older piles. The quality of wood chips from such piles is lower compared to the norm. To investigate the impact of extra long-term storage of residues in piles, a study was conducted at the Järvselja Training and Experimental Forest Centre. In 2010, sample piles were created in birch and spruce final felling areas. Over an eight-year period, samples were regularly taken from the piles to analyse the properties of woody biomass during storage. The study results indicate that the quality of fuel from covered piles changes slowly during the first two years of storage. Subsequently, the degradation speed equalizes in both uncovered and covered piles. Despite extensive degradation and loss of dry matter during long-term storage (approximately 29% for Norway spruce and 55% for silver birch after eight years), the quality of dry fuels still meets standard requirements and remains acceptable for boiler houses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:38:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8410405ced9541c0b80f340def93d74c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1736-8723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:38:53Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metsanduslikud Uurimused |
| spelling | doaj.art-8410405ced9541c0b80f340def93d74c2024-04-15T07:43:03ZengSciendoMetsanduslikud Uurimused1736-87232024-04-01791516510.2478/fsmu-2023-0012The impact of extra long-term storage of logging residues on fuel quality in Estonian conditions – a case studyPadari Allar0Mitt Risto1Pärn Linnar2Kurvits Vahur3Kaasik Sander4Muiste Peeter5Institute of Forestry and Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006Tartu, EstoniaInstitute of Forestry and Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006Tartu, EstoniaInstitute of Forestry and Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006Tartu, EstoniaInstitute of Forestry and Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006Tartu, EstoniaInstitute of Forestry and Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006Tartu, EstoniaInstitute of Forestry and Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006Tartu, EstoniaThe reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions demands a significant increase in the use of wood as a renewable energy source. However, environmental restrictions determine limits on the further growth of harvesting volume. Therefore, a viable solution to enhance the share of energy wood in Estonia’s energy balance involves focusing on less exploited assortments of raw material and implementing precise logistics planning. In recent years, mild winters have posed challenges to the extraction of residues and local transport of wood fuels, taking place on soft and unfrozen soils. In such conditions, ensuring a reliable supply of wood fuels becomes rather complicated. When piles of logging residues on unfrozen soils are inaccessible, there is a need to process older piles. The quality of wood chips from such piles is lower compared to the norm. To investigate the impact of extra long-term storage of residues in piles, a study was conducted at the Järvselja Training and Experimental Forest Centre. In 2010, sample piles were created in birch and spruce final felling areas. Over an eight-year period, samples were regularly taken from the piles to analyse the properties of woody biomass during storage. The study results indicate that the quality of fuel from covered piles changes slowly during the first two years of storage. Subsequently, the degradation speed equalizes in both uncovered and covered piles. Despite extensive degradation and loss of dry matter during long-term storage (approximately 29% for Norway spruce and 55% for silver birch after eight years), the quality of dry fuels still meets standard requirements and remains acceptable for boiler houses.https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2023-0012logging residueslong-term storingqualitynorway sprucesilver birch |
| spellingShingle | Padari Allar Mitt Risto Pärn Linnar Kurvits Vahur Kaasik Sander Muiste Peeter The impact of extra long-term storage of logging residues on fuel quality in Estonian conditions – a case study Metsanduslikud Uurimused logging residues long-term storing quality norway spruce silver birch |
| title | The impact of extra long-term storage of logging residues on fuel quality in Estonian conditions – a case study |
| title_full | The impact of extra long-term storage of logging residues on fuel quality in Estonian conditions – a case study |
| title_fullStr | The impact of extra long-term storage of logging residues on fuel quality in Estonian conditions – a case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of extra long-term storage of logging residues on fuel quality in Estonian conditions – a case study |
| title_short | The impact of extra long-term storage of logging residues on fuel quality in Estonian conditions – a case study |
| title_sort | impact of extra long term storage of logging residues on fuel quality in estonian conditions a case study |
| topic | logging residues long-term storing quality norway spruce silver birch |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2023-0012 |
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