Forest Biomass Supply Chain Management

Taraneh Sowlati
Biomass and Bioenergy Workshop May 17, 2007

Agenda
Background why I am here and collaborate with BBRG Projects
Brief explanation Objective Progress Next steps

Projects
Analysis of biomass use for greenhouse heating application Simulation of forest biomass supply and logistics Optimization of forest biomass supply chain

Analysis of biomass use for greenhouse heating application

Increase in natural gas prices Biomass as an alternative energy source
Price
Engineering economics analysis

Availability
Inventory assessment wood chips and wood pellets Simulation study

Emissions
Life Cycle Assessment of using wood chips, wood pellets and natural gas as a fuel cradle to gate
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Optimization of forest biomass supply chain

Study of wood pellet quality Study the wood pellet industry Optimization of wood pellet production

Simulation of forest biomass supply and logistics

Dynamic analysis of forest biomass supply to a power plant in Quesnel
Availability of biomass Finished unit cost ($/tone) Moisture content Forest-to-plant delivery time Emissions

Steps
Understand the system Gather data/ information Develop the simulation model Run the model Analyze the results

Forest operations
Felling, processing, transportation

Logging schedule Estimated volumes/areas/yields

Current volumes/areas and percentages of fuel wood and sawlog (Forest Inventory and
Analysis Branch)

5,10 and 20-year volumes/areas and percentages of fuel wood and sawlog (FERICs
shelf life model)

Skidding distance (Average of 200m) Equipment data

Production rates Horse power Speed (Empty and full) Average hours before failure Average maintenance hours Cost data (Equipment Rental Rate Guide)

Hauling Distances
From cutblock to power plant (4 road classes) From cutblock to satellite yard From satellite yard to power plant

Space limitations Weather data (Williams Lake, 2005/2006) 8

Data and Assumptions

Equations
Equipment production rate equations 3 Feller-bunchers m / pmh based on stem volume 3 Skidders m / pmh based on skidding distance Moisture content equations based on daily T and RH Carbon emission equations based on HP and working hours of equipment

Logistics of Forest Biomass

Felling trees

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Logistics of Forest Biomass

Processing trees into logs
Delimbing Topping Bucking

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Logistics of Forest Biomass

Primary transportation of logs/trees
Ground based (skidding) Cable Aerial

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Logistics of Forest Biomass

Transporting logs/trees

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Logistics of Forest Biomass

Sorting

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Logistics of Forest Biomass

Collecting residues

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Logistics of Forest Biomass

Chipping logs/trees/residues

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Logistics of Forest Biomass

Transporting chips

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MPB Problem in Interior BC

The largest recorded outbreak in NA
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/bcmpb/cumulative/1 999.htm

Over 400 M m of dead wood Over 8 Mha of infested area MPB Action Plan
Increase AAC levels Recover the greatest value from dead timber before it burns or decays
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Study Area
Proposal: To use the MPB killed wood Quesnel TSA in Quesnel TSA as the feedstock for a power plant (BIOCAP)
Nazko 300MW 220MW Quesnel 300MW 220MW

Over 120 M m of dead wood AAC=5.28 M m

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Quesnel TSA
20 15 10 Years 5

% Fuel wood increases

Decay

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Shelf Life Model

100 90 80 70
Fuel Wood Saw Log Total

Percent

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 5 10 15 20

YPM

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Harvest schedule (MoFRs Harvest

Billing System)
Distrbution of Volumes Harvested in Quesnel TSA (2005/2006)
14 12 10

100 90 80 70 60 50

8 6 4 2

40 30 20 10

0 MAR. MAY. AUG. APR. NOV. SEP. JAN. JUL. OCT. DEC. FEB. JUN.

Month

Cumulative Percent

Percent

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Logistics Systems
Conventional system (fuel wood <50%)
Roadside

Processing

Hauling

Sawmill

Residues Forest Felling Skidding

Chipping

Hauling

Power plant

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Logistics Systems
Satellite system (50%<fuel wood<95%)
Roadside

Forest

Felling

Skidding

Transporting whole tree Loading

Sort/Chip Yard
Saw Log Sawmill Hauling Fuel Wood

Power plant

Hauling Chipping Sorting

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Logistics Systems
Full chipping system (fuel wood >95%)

Roadside 0
Forest Felling Skidding Chipping Hauling Power plant

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