Activating Private Forest Owners to Increase Forest Fuel Supply IEE/08/435/SI2.

529239
Task 4.2.1 D13

WOODFUEL MEASURING GUIDE BOOK TO FINNISH PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Edited by Martti Kuusinen Original Guide Book in Finnish by Jari Lindblad, Olli ijl and Arto Koistinen

Contents
1. 2 3 4 4.1 4.2 5 5.1 5.2 6 6.1 6.2 7 7.1 7.2 7.3 8 PREFACE .............................................................................................................. 2 TERMINOLOGY...................................................................................................... 3 UNITS.................................................................................................................. 3 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 4 Purpose............................................................................................................. 4 Selection of measuring method ............................................................................ 4 MEASURING WOODFUEL WITH SCALES ................................................................... 5 Application ........................................................................................................ 5 Converting weight into volume............................................................................. 5 MEASURING VOLUME OF WOOD CHIPS IN A CONTAINER ........................................... 7 Application ........................................................................................................ 7 Conversion factors from loose to solid chip volume ................................................. 7 MEASURING SMALL-DIAMETER WOODFUEL IN PILES................................................. 7 Application ........................................................................................................ 7 Measuring length, height and width of the pile ....................................................... 8 Converting bulk volume to solid volume ................................................................ 9 DETERMINATION OF ENERGY CONTENT AT THE PLANT .............................................. 9

The sole responsibility for the content of this report lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that maybe made of the information contained therein.

Wood fuel measuring Guide book

1. Preface
This publication is a part of the AFO-project (Activating Private Forest Owners to Increase forest Fuel Supply-IEE/08/435/SI2.529239, www.afo.eu.com) funded by the European Unions Intelligent Energy Programme. The AFO-project is coordinated by VTT, Technical Research Centre of Finland. The other partners are Forestry Development Centre Tapio (Finland), Technical Center of Forest, Wood Products and Furniture (France), Institute for Forestry Development IDF-CNPPF (France), Forestry Commission (UK), South Yorkshire Forest Partnership (UK), Energy Restructuring Agency (Slovenia), BIOENERGY 2020+ GmbH(Austria) and Environmental Projects State Ltd (Latvia). The AFO's main objective is to increase woodfuel supply from privately owned European forests. In terms of EU-level biomass production, private forest owners (PFO's) form an active forest owner group, as they possess most of the European woodfuel potential. The AFO carries out various activation procedures to initiate woodfuel supply clusters among PFO's. These clusters are brought together with the potential wood energy users, focusing on local small and medium scale heat plants. The project operates from 2009-12 in six countries and five specific target areas. Finland and Austria is countries of high woodfuel utilization and long experience of bioenergy harvesting and procurement systems. Best practices are transferred from these countries to less experienced partner countries with large areas of woodland in private ownership (France, Slovenia, Latvia and UK). Results and best practices acquired in the project will be disseminated throughout all EU member states. This publication is originally compiled on behalf of the Finnish stakeholders agreement on woodfuel measuring in relation to woodfuel trading. A corresponding guide was written and published in Finland in 2008 as a result of a project called Sopimus energiapuun mittauksen jrjestmisest (Arrangements for woodfuel measurements) carried out by Tapio and the Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla). The original authors were Jari Lindblad (Metla), Olli ijl (Tapio) and Arto Koistinen (Tapio). To make it more adaptable in EU 27 context, some details have been removed and on the other hand e.g. hard wood factors have been added in the tables.

Martti Kuusinen Helsinki, Finland October 2010

Wood fuel measuring Guide book

2 Terminology
Basic density Bulk volume Dry weight Fresh volume Fresh weight Mass density Mixed stand Dry weight divided by fresh solid volume. Volume of woodfuel or wood chips with air in-between the particles. Weight of a woodfuel or chip sample dried e.g. in oven. Volume of a non-dried woodfuel or wood chip sample Weight of a non-dried woodfuel or wood chip sample. Fresh weight divided by solid volume. A stand where none of the growing tree species comprises over 70 % of the total stand volume. Fresh weight is subtracted with dry weight and then divided by dry weight. Bulk volume subtracted with the volume of air in-between the particles.

Moisture content

Solid volume

3 Units
Fresh weight Dry weight Solid volume Loose volume Mass density (fresh weight divided by fresh solid volume) Basic density (dry weight divided by fresh solid volume) Energy content kg kg m3 m3 kg/m3 kg/m3 MWh (1 MWh = 1,000 kWh)

Wood fuel measuring Guide book

4 Introduction
4.1 Purpose
This guide covers the different measuring methods of woodfuel harvested from thinnings and final fellings. Strengths and weaknesses of the methods are described along with suitable coefficients related to their adaptation. The aim is to give examples of proven routines for users to compare with their existing measuring methods.

4.2 Selection of measuring method

The 3 basic methods for measuring the amount and value of woodfuel are 1. Weight based measurements (scaling with crane scale or weighbridge in connection to harvesting or road transportation) 2. Volume based measurements (cubic capacity of woodfuel storages or chip containers) 3. Energy content based measurements (measuring energy density of a woodfuel sample in connection to combustion) Measuring methods are preferred depending on the supply arrangements. Seasoning periods and in fuel quality are the factors that cause challenges. Measuring can be conducted most easily when few stakeholders are involved and the duration of the supply process is short. Each method possesses benefits and problems depending on the woodfuel supply chain, from the timber sellers point of view, it is usually most profitable to get payment based on volume or weight measurements immediately after harvesting. Even though, these measurements are often challenging in terms of accuracy. The woodfuel user, on the other hand, has to invest his money in fuel many months or even years before combustion and realisation. They need to ensure the quality of the fuel at the time of combustion, hence why woodfuel users prefer energy content based measurements. To make the measurements as justified as possible, it is also possible to combine different methods. For example, a forest owner can be paid (e.g. 50 %) in the first phase for the woodfuel upon tons or volume measured with forwarders crane scale or weighbridge. Rest of the payment (50 %) is delivered later on the basis of energy content. In woodfuel supply clusters such as cooperatives, forest owners often take care of harvesting and storing, and the cooperatives subcontractor handles the chipping and transportation. In a chain like this it is generally most preferable to compensate woodfuel on the basis of energy content. This way the quality of the fuel and the efficiency of the woodchip production process is maximized, along with the competitiveness of the business.

Wood fuel measuring Guide book

5 Measuring woodfuel with scales

5.1 Application
Measuring woodfuel with scales is a reliable method to estimate the green weight and volume (including bark) of small-diameter thinnings destined woodfuel, logging residues and stumps. The weight can be measured either during the hauling (with forwarders crane scale) or during the road transportation (with trucks crane scale or a weighbridge at the plant or terminal). Accuracy of 10 kilograms is sufficient enough. If necessary, the weight is converted to solid cubic meters with conversion factors described in the next chapter.

Pictures 1 and 2: Scale integrated to forwarders crane and a weighbridge (photos by Martti Kuusinen).

5.2 Converting weight into volume

To estimate the solid volume of a weighted woodfuel sample reliably, conversion factors based on research are needed. These factors are affected e.g. by the diversity of the raw material, weather conditions and length of seasoning period. Measuring or estimating the moisture content is most crucial. Therefore exact factors to suite all European circumstances are impossible to establish. Still, in Table 1 there are coarse factors mainly based on Finnish studies to describe the affects of raw material quality and tree species. Table 1. Mass density conversion factors for small-diameter woodfuel from thinnings. Tree species Moisture content, % Mass density, kg/m3 Soft wood 55 1000(1 < 40 600(1 Hard wood (Beech) 13 % 750(2 45 % 860(3 89 % 1110(4 Birch 45 1000(1 < 35 700(1 Other broad-leaved 50 900(1 < 40 600(1 Mixed stands 50 1000(1 < 40 650(1
(1 Data from the original Finnish publication by Lindblad, ijl and Koistinen;

Wood fuel measuring Guide book

(2 (3 (4

www.aebiom.org/IMG/pdf/WOOD_FUELS_HANDBOOK_BTC_EN.pdf Converted on the basis of Coford Connects, Harvesting / Transportation No. 6/2006.

First results of Field work 2009-2010, from the EMERGE project, supported by the ANR (French National Research Agency) in its Bioenergy program 2008.

Table 2. Mass density conversion factors for logging residues. Description of woodfuel heap Non-seasoned or exceptionally wet residues, with/or masses of snow and ice Fresh logging residues (seasoned for less than 2 weeks) Short seasoning (< 1 month) Long seasoning (> 1 month)
(1 Data from the original publication by Lindblad, ijl and Koistinen

Moisture content, % 55 45 54 35 44 < 35

Mass density, kg/m3 1050(1 900(1 750(1 600(1

In case the moisture content is measured, it is possible to estimate the fresh solid volume of the sample more accurately. This is implemented with basic density conversion factors described in table 3. The moisture content of wood chips can be measured either with moisture meters or in connection to combustion (see references of standardised routines for drying chips in oven on page 9). Moisture meters have been successfully applied in many regions, but in conditions where there is snow and/or ice amongst the chips, meters analysing the resistance or capacitance of the material can be very inaccurate. Table 3. Basic density conversion factors for all woodfuel fractions. Woodfuel fraction Small-diameter woodfuel from thinnings (delimbed and undelimbed) Description Pine Spruce Birch Salix Aspen Alder Beech Soft wood, with needles Soft wood, with 50 % of needles Soft wood, without needles Beech, branch diameter < 7 cm, without leaves Maple, branch diameter < 7 cm, without leaves Oak, branch diameter < 7 cm, without leaves Ash, aspen; branch diameter < 7 cm, without leaves Pine Spruce Wood fuel measuring Guide book Basic density, kg/m3 385(2 - 440(1 370(2 - 400(1 475(1 - 500(2 370(2 - 380(1 380(1+2 380(1 - 430(2 445(3 - 550(2 425(1 445(1 465(1 - 505(2 597(2 515 - 550(2 530 - 657(2 501 - 539(2 475(1 435(1 6

Logging residues

Stumps

(1 (2

Finland. Data from the original publication by Lindblad, ijl and Koistinen.

France. First results of Field work 2009-2010, from the EMERGE project, supported by the ANR (French National Research Agency) in its Bioenergy program 2008 (3 Czech Republic. Source: E. Pemyslovsk, J. lezingerov & L. Gandelov, 2008. Tree ring width and basic density of wood in different forest types. In: Elferts D, Brumelis G, Grtner H, Helle G, Schleser G (eds.) (2008) TRACE - Tree Rings in Archaeology, Climatology and Ecology, Vol. 6: Proceedings of the DENDROSYMPOSIUM 2007, May 3rd 6th 2007, Riga, Latvia. GFZ Potsdam, Scientific Technical Report STR 08/05, Potsdam, p. 118 - 122.

6 Measuring volume of wood chips in a container

6.1 Application
The volume of a wood chip delivery can be presented either as a bulk volume or a solid volume. The conversion factors are presented in the next chapter. The bulk volume of a rectangular container is the product of length, width and height. The length and the width of the container containing wood chips are easy to measure. The height of the pile is an estimate of the level of flattened top layer, presented usually with steps of 5 cm.

6.2 Conversion factors from loose to solid chip volume

The density of wood chips does not vary significantly depending on tree species or particle size. Thus the conversion factors established in Table 4 are commonly adapted. The recommended accuracy is 0,1 m3. Table 4. Conversion factors for bulk and solid volumes of wood chips and crush. To Bulk volume 1 2.50 To Solid volume 0.40 1

From Bulk volume From Solid volume

7 Measuring small-diameter woodfuel in piles

7.1 Application
Volume measurements of woodfuel piles can be executed with piles of delimbed or undelimbed woodfuel from thinnings. Since the shapes of the undelimbed woodfuel piles and the lengths of singular stocks tend to vary greatly, measurements are not as accurate as the ones of delimbed or round wood piles. In case the fuel wood pile consists mainly of delimbed round wood that meets the size and quality requirements of timber, proven procedures for round wood pile measurements are applied. The routine for measuring a pile of woodfuel from thinnings goes as follows: 1. Measure the height, width and length of the pile 2. Multiply height with width and length to get the bulk volume of the pile 3. Determine the solid volume percentage upon the mean diameter of the stocks and the height of the pile 4. Multiply the bulk volume of the pile with the solid volume percentage. Wood fuel measuring Guide book 7

7.2 Measuring length, height and width of the pile

The length of the pile is measured from the front side, which is normally also the road side of the pile. Recommended accuracy is 0.1 m. For the height measurements, the length of the pile is divided into 2-3 meter blocks (see picture 2). The last block is measured with the accuracy of 0,1 m. Heights are then measured from the front side of the pile at the center of each block, with the accuracy of 5 cm. In each block, possible chunks of snow or ice are subtracted from the measurements. If the length on the backside of the pile is significantly unequal to the front side, it is compensated in the height measurement of the last block.

Picture 2. Division of blocks for height measurements. In this case, the pile is divided in to 2 m blocks and the total length of the pile is 15,2 m. The width of the pile is in other words the mean length of the woodfuel stock. The width is approximated from the front side of the pile backwards to the point, where the mean diameter of the stocks is 2-3 cm (see picture 3). The top parts of the stocks, below 2-3 cm, are compensated in the height measurement, which is done only from the taller front side. However, this fraction constitutes only 0-2 % of the total solid volume of the pile.

Picture 3. The starting point of the width measurement is the flattened front side of the pile. The ending point is drawn to estimated level, where the mean stock diameter is 2-3 cm. The rest of the pile is estimated to compensate the lowering of the pile towards the back side. The total bulk volume of the pile is a sum of block volumes, which are calculated by multiplying block lengths with measured heights and piles mean width. Wood fuel measuring Guide book 8

7.3 Converting bulk volume to solid volume

Solid volume percentage (solid volume divided by bulk volume) is a unit used to describe the density of the pile. Solid volume percentage can be determined on the basis of pile height and mean stock diameter. Increase in pile height or mean stock diameter increases the density of the pile. The height of the pile is the mean height of the measuring blocks demonstrated in picture 2 rounded to whole numbers (meters). The mean diameter of the stocks is the arithmetic average diameter of the cut surfaces on the front side of the pile. This can be either approximated or measured through sampling. The solid volume of the pile is the product of bulk volume and solid volume percentage, tabulated in Table 5. Table 5. Solid volume percentages for undelimbed whole tree woodfuel piles, based on Scots pine. NOTE: For measurements of delimbed woodfuel, values should be increased with 10 units. Mean diameter of Height of the front side of the pile, m cut surfaces, cm 2 3 4 5 5 24 26 28 30 7 25 27 29 31 9 27 29 31 33 11 29 31 33 35 13 30 32 34 36 15 32 34 36 38

8 Determination of energy content at the plant

There are internationally standardized routines for evaluating the energy content of a wood chip Sample at a heat or power plant, which are always recommendable to apply. Several factors, such as tree species, moisture content, chip dimensions etc. determine the value of the fuel in terms of energy production. Some widely used documents are listed below. All CEN (European Committee for Standardization) standards are available at www.cen.eu. CEN standards for moisture content determination: - CEN/TS 14774-1:2009 (Solid biofuels - Determination of moisture content - Oven dry method Part 1: Total moisture - Reference method) - CEN/TS 14774-2:2009 (Solid biofuels - Determination of moisture content - Oven dry method Part 2: Total moisture - Simplified method) - CEN/TS 14774-3:2009 (Solid biofuels - Determination of moisture content - Oven dry method Part 3: Moisture in general analysis sample) CEN standard for heat value determination: - CEN/TS 14918:2009 (Solid biofuels - Determination of calorific value) CEN standard for woodfuel quality specifications and classes - CEN/TS 14961:2010 (Solid biofuels - Fuel specifications and classes - Part 1: General requirements) Wood fuel measuring Guide book 9