Handling and Storage

Transporting the biomass between shredders, classifiers, silos, dryers and biomass burners.

Biomass conveyor projects combine different types of transportation systems. The most appropriate handling option will depend on the type, quantity and density of the biomass.

Transportation options

• Belt conveyors
• Screw conveyor
• Screw extractor
• Bucket elevators
• Vibratory feeders
• Chain conveyor
• Pneumatic conveyor
• Reception and dosage tables
• Feeder Valve

Extracting biomass the storage facility 

The facility of extraction

The design and implementation of a biomass store must take into account the facility of extraction of the content and supply to its next destination, whether this is a boiler combustion unit, conversion plant, briquetting plant, or some other need. If appropriate, the use of natural gravity should be applied, reducing energy requirements.

The 'take off' point

It is important to design the store system such that if the content is in a form that can flow, such as pellets, chips or sawdust, this naturally brings the fuel to the take off point the store. This take off point should not leave on places the biomass can build up or get stuck, forming dead areas it can stay indefinitely and potentially allow moulds and fungus to form.

Transferring biomass the store

There are many different methods for transferring biomass, depending upon its form.

Possible methods include:

• Simply gravity feed or chute
• Screw type auger feed
• Conveyor belt
• Pneumatic blower

Fuel type and specifications

There are biomass systems designed to make use of a very wide range of biomass feedstock and wood fuel, however most systems are designed to operate efficiently using a particular fuel type and specification. Each type has its own calorific fuel value and specific patterns of burning, as well as sorting and quality of these factors should be carefully considered in the initial phase of the project with a consulting company.