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Title: Development of a size reduction equation for woody biomass: The influence of branch wood properties on Rittinger's constant

Abstract

Size reduction is an essential but energy-intensive process for preparing biomass for conversion processes. Three well-known scaling equations (Bond, Kick, and Rittinger) are used to estimate energy input for grinding minerals and food particles. Previous studies have shown that the Rittinger equation has the best fit to predict energy input for grinding cellulosic biomass. In the Rittinger equation, Rittinger's constant (kR) is independent of the size of ground particles, yet we noted large variations in kR among similar particle size ranges. In this research, the dependence of kR on the physical structure and chemical composition of a number of woody materials was explored. Branches from two softwood species (Douglas fir and pine) and two hardwood species (aspen and poplar) were ground in a laboratory knife mill. The recorded data included power input, mass flow rate, and particle size before and after grinding. Nine material properties were determined: particle density, solid density (pycnometer and x-ray diffraction methods), microfibril angle, fiber coarseness, fiber length, and composition (lignin and cellulose glucan contents). The correlation matrix among the nine properties revealed high degrees of interdependence between properties. The kR value had the largest positive correlation (+0.60) with particle porosity across the species tested. Asmore » a result, particle density was strongly correlated with lignin content (0.85), microfibril angle (0.71), fiber length (0.87), and fiber coarseness (0.78). An empirical model relating kR to particle density was developed.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (Canada)
  2. Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (Canada); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1334477
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Transactions of the ASABE
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 59; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 2151-0032
Publisher:
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS

Citation Formats

Naimi, Ladan J., Sokhansanj, Shahabaddine, Bi, Xiaotao, and Lim, C. Jim. Development of a size reduction equation for woody biomass: The influence of branch wood properties on Rittinger's constant. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.13031/trans.59.11347.
Naimi, Ladan J., Sokhansanj, Shahabaddine, Bi, Xiaotao, & Lim, C. Jim. Development of a size reduction equation for woody biomass: The influence of branch wood properties on Rittinger's constant. United States. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.59.11347
Naimi, Ladan J., Sokhansanj, Shahabaddine, Bi, Xiaotao, and Lim, C. Jim. Wed . "Development of a size reduction equation for woody biomass: The influence of branch wood properties on Rittinger's constant". United States. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.59.11347. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1334477.
@article{osti_1334477,
title = {Development of a size reduction equation for woody biomass: The influence of branch wood properties on Rittinger's constant},
author = {Naimi, Ladan J. and Sokhansanj, Shahabaddine and Bi, Xiaotao and Lim, C. Jim},
abstractNote = {Size reduction is an essential but energy-intensive process for preparing biomass for conversion processes. Three well-known scaling equations (Bond, Kick, and Rittinger) are used to estimate energy input for grinding minerals and food particles. Previous studies have shown that the Rittinger equation has the best fit to predict energy input for grinding cellulosic biomass. In the Rittinger equation, Rittinger's constant (kR) is independent of the size of ground particles, yet we noted large variations in kR among similar particle size ranges. In this research, the dependence of kR on the physical structure and chemical composition of a number of woody materials was explored. Branches from two softwood species (Douglas fir and pine) and two hardwood species (aspen and poplar) were ground in a laboratory knife mill. The recorded data included power input, mass flow rate, and particle size before and after grinding. Nine material properties were determined: particle density, solid density (pycnometer and x-ray diffraction methods), microfibril angle, fiber coarseness, fiber length, and composition (lignin and cellulose glucan contents). The correlation matrix among the nine properties revealed high degrees of interdependence between properties. The kR value had the largest positive correlation (+0.60) with particle porosity across the species tested. As a result, particle density was strongly correlated with lignin content (0.85), microfibril angle (0.71), fiber length (0.87), and fiber coarseness (0.78). An empirical model relating kR to particle density was developed.},
doi = {10.13031/trans.59.11347},
journal = {Transactions of the ASABE},
number = 6,
volume = 59,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Nov 25 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Wed Nov 25 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Trends in the production of cellulose nanofibers from non-wood sources
journal, November 2019