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Biomass issues for wood transactions (green weight vs dry weight)FIA user group meeting and Biomass/Bioenergy workshop

John Paul McTague - NCASI BMG-Chairman & Rayonier Inc.

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Problem with green weight

Green weight remains relatively constant as the increase in moisture content compensates for the decrease in specific gravity.

Moisture content and specific gravity vary greatly with age of tree, and position in the bole.

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Green weight is a poor and inaccurate way of determining biomass

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Forest products industry has had an interest in estimating dry weight yields since 1965

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Dry Weight

Dry weight is a function of specific gravity Highly correlated to pulp yield and strength

characteristics Rapid measurement and computation of dry weight

is problematic

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Moisture content is a function of physiographic region, site quality, species, size, and age

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Effect of age on dry weight density

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Effect of tree size on dry weight density

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CHST will provide eligible material owners (EMOs) matchingpayments at the rate of $1 for each $1 per dry ton paid, up toa maximum of $45 per dry ton

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Washington Post, January 10, 2010 – ‘program has gone awry’

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Three Three options under consideration, seeking comment: > Option 1: $/$ match up to $16/dry ton for heat, power or biobased

products. Match up to $45/dry ton for cellulosic ethanol or advanced biofuels. Inconsistent on whether or not this includes pellets

> Option 2: Match up to $45/dry ton. No payments made for conversion of biomass unless material is converted to heat or power above facility’s historical baseline as established by the Deputy administrator

> Option 3: >> Match up to $45 per dry ton for facilities that

» >>> Convert from fossil fuel consumption to biomass

» >>> For eligible material showing exceptional promise for producing innovative advanced biofuels

» >>> For every ton of remewable biomass above a facility’s historical baseline

>> Match of $16/dry ton for sale of eligible material to BCFs that do not increase renewable biomass consumption above historical baseline

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Eligible material for BCAP payment• Eligible material: thinned trees, tops and branches,

salvage, chips and bark• Ineligible material: mulch, pulp, black liquor, finished

lumber

New proposed rulesFebruary, 2010

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Solid wood

Chips and bark

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Problem: moisture meters can not be used if the moisture content exceeds the fiber saturation point (fsp)

Below 30% moisture

content (dry weight

basis)

The traditional kiln drying technique must be used if themoisture content > 30% (dry weight basis)

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Near infrared prediction of moisture content works well with consistent chip material, controlled light, and consistent height to material

Alternatives to kiln drying of samples

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In Sweden, the STFI extracts large cores from load at scale house

If the process is speeded up, the core could heat up,dry, and give an incorrect estimate of moisture content

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STFI schema

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Investigate the applicability of NIR spectroscopy for estimating the moisture content and specific gravity of wet-stored logs

NIR widely used to rapidly estimate many wood properties, mainly lab-based measurement

Studies indicate that NIR can be used on green logs

Alternatives: a NCASI funded project at the University of Georgia

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NIR testing

I

III II

IVSED

LED

~ 16’ (4.9 m)×

×

×

×

×

×

××

SED: Small-end diameterLED: Large-end diameter

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Collecting NIR spectra on green discs

custom-made holder

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Probes are coaxial cables soldered to stainless steel rods. The soldered assembly is potted in hard plastic resin

Alternatives: a NCASI funded project at the University of Georgia

Estimating moisture content of wet deck storage logs with TDR

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Wood sample with TDR probe

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Initial Analysis

Points with seemingly consistent distances were second inflection and second dropoff point

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Initial Analysis

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In the West, it’s common to estimate board foot volume for the truckload as a function of green weight and piece count

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Hypothesis: It is easier to construct a green weight-dry weight prediction equation than build a green weight – Scribner MBF Dec. C volume relationship

Why not estimate dry weight as a function of green weight and other auxiliary variables such as: number of logs, average diameter, and stacking factor?

Vol (mbf) = 1.836 + 64.79 Weight (lbs) R2 = 0.29

Vol (mbf) = 2.466 + 79.35 Weight (lbs) – 0.085 (number of logs on truckload) R2 = 0.58

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Lasers can mounted at the scale house to instantaneously scan the load and estimate number of stems and diameter

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Estimate of piece count and diameters