Corn cobs versus corn stalks: a comparison of energy values for drying corn

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · ASAE Publ.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6378556

Riggins, J K; Vaughan, D H; Lambert, A J

Corn residue samples were tested as potential fuel sources for drying corn. Samples were taken during August and September, 1979 at Suffolk, Virginia. Each sample included the entire corn plant cut five inches above ground level. For each sample, bomb calorimeter tests were performed both on representative cob sections and representative plant sections (excluding kernels). All tests were made on non-dried samples and thus reflected variations in energy as a function of moisture content. The combustion results of cob versus the entire plant were compared at different harvested kernel moisture contents to determine the practical use of each fuel, from a combustion standpoint, in drying corn. Combustion results indicated: (1) cobs and stalks contained near identical energy values at the same moisture content and for the same weight of dry matter; (2) cobs averaged 5 percent higher in energy due to a lower moisture content when cobs and stalks were harvested simultaneously; and (3) cob energy can be predicted as a function of kernel moisture content.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg
• OSTI ID: 6378556
• Report Number(s): CONF-8009144-(Vol.2)
• Conference Information: Journal Name: ASAE Publ.; (United States) Journal Volume: 4-81
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090400 -- Solid Waste & Wood Fuels-- (-1989)
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
CALORIFIC VALUE
CALORIMETERS
CENTRAL REGION
CEREALS
COMBUSTION HEAT
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
DRYING
ENERGY
ENTHALPY
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HEAT
MAIZE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MOISTURE
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC WASTES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANTS
REACTION HEAT
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
USA
VIRGINIA
WASTES