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Author

Shahab Sokhansanj

Bio: Shahab Sokhansanj is an academic researcher from University of British Columbia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Pellets & Moisture. The author has an hindex of 54, co-authored 355 publications receiving 11677 citations. Previous affiliations of Shahab Sokhansanj include University of Saskatchewan & Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Topics: Pellets, Moisture, Biomass, Corn stover, Pellet


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, wheat and barley straws, corn stover and switchgrass at two moisture contents were ground using a hammer mill with three different screen sizes (3.2, 1.6 and 0.8 mm ).
Abstract: Wheat and barley straws, corn stover and switchgrass at two moisture contents were ground using a hammer mill with three different screen sizes (3.2, 1.6 and 0.8 mm ). Energy required for grinding these materials was measured. Among the four materials, switchgrass had the highest specific energy consumption ( 27.6 kW h t −1 ), and corn stover had the least specific energy consumption ( 11.0 kW h t −1 ) at 3.2 mm screen size. Physical properties of grinds such as moisture content, geometric mean diameter of grind particles, particle size distribution, and bulk and particle densities were determined. Second- or third-order polynomial models were developed relating bulk and particle densities of grinds to geometric mean diameter within the range of 0.18– 1.43 mm . Switchgrass had the highest calorific value and the lowest ash content among the biomass species tested.

629 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the framework development of a dynamic integrated biomass supply analysis and logistics model (IBSAL) to simulate the collection, storage, and transport operations for supplying agricultural biomass to a biorefinery.
Abstract: This paper describes the framework development of a dynamic integrated biomass supply analysis and logistics model (IBSAL) to simulate the collection, storage, and transport operations for supplying agricultural biomass to a biorefinery. The model consists of time dependent events representing the working rate of equipment and queues representing the capacity of storage structures. The discrete event and queues are inter-connected to represent the entire network of material flow from field to a biorefinery. Weather conditions including rain and snow influence the moisture content and the dry matter loss of biomass through the supply chain and are included in the model. The model is developed using an object oriented high level simulation language EXTEND™. A case of corn stover collection and transport scenario using baling system is described.

382 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an economic analysis of a biomass pelleting process was performed for conditions in North America, and the cost of the process was analyzed for a base case plant capacity of 6 t/h, where the average cost was about $51/t of pellets.
Abstract: An engineering economic analysis of a biomass pelleting process was performed for conditions in North America. The pelletization of biomass consists of a series of unit operations: drying, size reduction, densifying, cooling, screening, and warehousing. Capital and operating cost of the pelleting plant was estimated at several plant capacities. Pellet production cost for a base case plant capacity of 6 t/h was about $51/t of pellets. Raw material cost was the largest cost element of the total pellet production cost followed by personnel cost, drying cost, and pelleting mill cost. An increase in raw material cost substantially increased the pellet production cost. Pellet plants with a capacity of more than 10 t/h decreased the costs to roughly $40/t of pellets. Five different burner fuels – wet sawdust, dry sawdust, biomass pellets, natural gas, and coal were tested for their effect on the cost of pellet production. Wet sawdust and coal, the cheapest burner fuels, produced the lowest pellet production cost. The environmental impacts due to the potential emissions of these fuels during the combustion process require further investigation.

327 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a review of current and future potential technologies for production, harvest, storage, and trans- portation of switchgrass. But they do not consider the use of feed stocks.
Abstract: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a promising cellulosic biomass feedstock for biorefi neries and biofuel production. This paper reviews current and future potential technologies for production, harvest, storage, and trans- portation of switchgrass. Our analysis indicates that for a yield of 10 Mg ha -1 , the current cost of producing switch- grass (after establishment) is about $41.50 Mg -1 . The costs may be reduced to about half this if the yield is increased to 30 Mg ha -1 through genetic improvement, intensive crop management, and/or optimized inputs. At a yield of 10 Mg ha -1 , we estimate that harvesting costs range from $23.72 Mg -1 for current baling technology to less than $16 Mg -1 when using a loafi ng collection system. At yields of 20 and 30 Mg ha -1 with an improved loafi ng system, harvesting costs are even lower at $12.75 Mg -1 and $9.59 Mg -1 , respectively. Transport costs vary depending upon yield and fraction of land under switchgrass, bulk density of biomass, and total annual demand of a biorefi nery. For a 2000 Mg d -1 plant and an annual yield of 10 Mg ha -1 , the transport cost is an estimated $15.42 Mg -1 , assuming 25% of the land is under switchgrass production. Total delivered cost of switchgrass using current baling technology is $80.64 Mg -1 , requiring an energy input of 8.5% of the feedstock higher heating value (HHV). With mature techno- logy, for example, a large, loaf-collection system, the total delivered cost is reduced to about $71.16 Mg -1 with 7.8% of the feedstock HHV required as input. Further cost reduction can be achieved by combining mature technology

264 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study develops cost, energy input and carbon emissions for a number of switchgrass supply options using the Integrated Biomass Supply Analysis and Logistics (IBSAL) model developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

261 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A broad review of the state-of-the-art biomass pyrolysis research can be found in this article, where three major components (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) are discussed in detail.

1,613 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A classification scheme and a comprehensive literature review are presented in order to uncover, classify, and interpret the current research on PROMETHEE methodologies and applications.

1,325 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the application of ionic liquids to the deconstruction and fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass, in a process step that is commonly called pretreatment, is discussed.

1,260 citations

ReportDOI
01 Aug 2011
TL;DR: The report, Biomass as feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply (generally referred to as the 2005 BTS), was an estimate of “potential” biomass within the contiguous United States based on numerous assumptions about current and future inventory and production capacity, availability, and technology as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The Report, Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply (generally referred to as the Billion-Ton Study or 2005 BTS), was an estimate of “potential” biomass within the contiguous United States based on numerous assumptions about current and future inventory and production capacity, availability, and technology. In the 2005 BTS, a strategic analysis was undertaken to determine if U.S. agriculture and forest resources have the capability to potentially produce at least one billion dry tons of biomass annually, in a sustainable manner—enough to displace approximately 30% of the country’s present petroleum consumption. To ensure reasonable confidence in the study results, an effort was made to use relatively conservative assumptions. However, for both agriculture and forestry, the resource potential was not restricted by price. That is, all identified biomass was potentially available, even though some potential feedstock would more than likely be too expensive to actually be economically available. In addition to updating the 2005 study, this report attempts to address a number of its shortcomings

1,144 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A critical review of the literature on furfural, a promising, rich platform for lignocellulosic biofuels, presents new results and analysis in this area and highlights challenges and areas that need improvement.
Abstract: Furfural offers a promising, rich platform for lignocellulosic biofuels. These include methylfuran and methyltetrahydrofuran, valerate esters, ethylfurfuryl and ethyltetrahydrofurfuryl ethers as well as various C(10)-C(15) coupling products. The various production routes are critically reviewed, and the needs for improvements are identified. Their relative industrial potential is analysed by defining an investment index and CO(2) emissions as well as determining the fuel properties for the resulting products. Finally, the most promising candidate, 2-methylfuran, was subjected to a road trial of 90,000 km in a gasoline blend. Importantly, the potential of the furfural platform relies heavily on the cost-competitive production of furfural from lignocellulosic feedstock. Conventional standalone and emerging coproduct processes-for example, as a coproduct of cellulosic ethanol, levulinic acid or hydroxymethyl furfural-are expensive and energetically demanding. Challenges and areas that need improvement are highlighted. In addition to providing a critical review of the literature, this paper also presents new results and analysis in this area.

1,113 citations