Modeling of off-gassing for wood pellets

拟议研究的短期目标是测量和减轻木屑颗粒在储存和处理过程中挥发物的演变。长期目标是开发低成本的造粒技术，以提高加拿大木屑颗粒的质量和价值。与其他易腐商品类似，颗粒在一段时间的储存中通过吸收水分和失去其完整性而降解。这些颗粒释放出的气体在储存和运输过程中会在密闭空间内积聚。暴露在这些气体中对人体健康造成严重危害。在木屑颗粒处理区域周围也发生了自燃事件。需要科学研究来开发和应用工程解决方案来解决这些问题。为实现研究目标，计划开展以下活动。通过实验确定并建立木屑颗粒储存空间中气体种类的浓度。开发颗粒的储存特性，以尽量减少自热和自燃的可能性。探索新的工艺（如蒸汽爆炸，脱水焙烧），以制造更耐用的颗粒，可以储存更长时间，处理更容易和更安全。开发和验证商业存储系统的仿真模型，并使用这些模型来设计和操作存储系统。制定木屑颗粒的质量规范，并验证木屑颗粒的材料安全数据表（MSDS），以确保安全处理、运输和储存。这个为期5年的项目是加拿大木屑颗粒协会、NSERC、不列颠哥伦比亚大学和NRCAN的一个多学科研究团队之间的合作研究和开发努力。该项目计划培养至少10名本科生、3名硕士、2名博士、2名博士后研究人员和1名工程技术人员。该项目包括四名教员研究员、一名工业研究员和一名政府研究员。

The short term objective of the proposed research is to measure and mitigate the evolution of volatiles from wood pellets in storage and handling. The long term goal is develop low cost pelletizing technology that would enhance the quality and value of Canadian wood pellets.  Similar to other perishable commodities, pellets degrade over a period of storage by absorbing moisture and loosing their integrity.  The pellets emit gases that would accumulate within confined space during storage and shipping.  Exposure to the gases is a serious human health hazard. There have also been incidences of spontaneous combustion around wood pellet handling areas. Scientific research is needed to develop and apply engineering solutions to these problems.  The following activities are planned to meet  the goal of the research. Experimentally identify and establish concentration of gas species in the space of stored wood pellets.   Develop storage characteristics for pellets to minimize potential of self heating and spontaneous combustion. Explore new processes (e.g. steam explosion, devolatisation of torrefaction)  to manufacture more durable pellets that can be stored longer and handled easier and safer.. Develop and validate simulation models for commercial storage systems and use these model to design and operate the storage systems. Develop quality specifications for wood pellets and validate a Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for wood pellets for safe handling, transportation and storage. This 5-year project is a Collaborative Research and Development effort between the Wood Pellet Association of Canada, NSERC  and a multi-disciplinary research team at the University of British Columbia and NRCAN. The project plans to train at least ten undergraduate students, three M.A.Sc, two Ph.D., two post doctoral researchers and an engineering technician. The project involves four faculty researchers, one industrial researcher, and one researcher from government.