Properties of open-stored wood fuel during winter months in Northern Michigan

An experimental wood fuel storage pile was constructed in January 1990 at the Viking Energy facility in McBain, Mich., and evaluated over a 3-1/2-month period. The 30-foot-high, 450-ton pile of wood chips was sampled a total of 13 times. Fuel moisture content (MC), net heating value, and higher heating value were evaluated for samples collected from the pile surface and from locations 7 feet, 15 feet, and 20 feet from the surface. Average MC of surface chips increased from less than 50 percent to about 65 percent (green basis). Average MC of 15-foot samples decreased to about 35 percent MC by the end of the study. Higher heating values showed very little variation.

You must be logged in to download any documents. Please login (login accounts are free) or learn how to Become a Member