Re: Research Topics

[FMurrl@aol.com]

In a message dated 4/18/02 1:37:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time, dglickd@pipeline.com writes:


> The Brazilian State of Minas Gerais has an area of 588 000 km2  = 58,800,000
> hectares.  Estimating that 30% of Minas could be planted in leucaena, or an
> equivalent giant legume, the total productive area available would
> be17,600,000 hectares that, when multiplied by the annual energy consumed
> by11 persons -- would provide the annual energy for 193 million
> Brazilians -- the approximate Brazilian population.


Fellows:

One of the facts of life of most biomass is that it does not travel well. One writer asked why is our current hydrocarbon fuel delivery system so successful? To me it seems simple -- low price and ease of access (existing infrastructure). Most biomasses don't avail themselves of the same infrastructure system that is in place. 

Wood and grasses don't travel as well as coal, due to the difference in weight per cubic meter. As a result, they just don't travel far without getting unreasonably expensive. Unfortunately as well, many biomass grasses and woods have high alkalinity levels which can be bad actors in existing boilers. 

The issue seems always to come down to the simple questions of: Can I get the fuel cheaply? and Can I gain access to the fuel readily?

Fred Murrell
Biomass Development
Bradenton Florida USA