Re: GAS-L: Transportation Cost and Storage

[David Reynolds-Lacey <d.rl@virgin.net>]

Dear James and all,

Kevin Chisholm wrote:

>       1: It may very well be that drying
>      the wood "on site" will not reduce
>      your freight costs at all....
>      generally chip trucks are limited by
>      VOLUME rather than weight; drying the
>      wood "on site" could result in the
>      same "cost per load" even though the
>      weight is less.
>
 Thank you for bringing this to my attention,
regulations obviously vary from country to
country. I am aware that woodchip is a little
different to some other products insofar as
reducing the weight by say 40 percent only reduces
the volume by around 10 percent but at least it's
dry.  There are several haulage options available
in the UK, for example there are twin deck press
containers (sandwich type) in which the floor of
the top deck compresses the chip below, and also
"blow in" tankers into which the load is
compressed giving up to 35 percent more weight for
given volume (may be a little less with chip),
there are also bulk transporters that can haul up
to 30 percent greater volume on the same axle
configuration as the smaller volume (but heavier)
trucks. I would have thought that these options
and maybe others must be available in the US, but
maybe not.  When I looked into transportation
costs I was informed by the UK Road Haulage
Association that there is a strong prejudice
amongst UK hauliers to the hauling of dead weight,
especially water. Finally, you must also take into
account that hauling lighter loads consumes less
fossil fuel and even if fuel cost is not a major
issue, then the environmental benefits must still
make the hauling of dry, lightweight woodchip the
method of choice.

Gavin Guliver-Goodall wrote:

Your name sounds familiar, have we met?

No, not yet but I believe we will soon.


I am interested in your recirculating steam dryer?

I think that you misunderstood, I didn't say that
I was using an RS dryer but I only suggested the
use of one if transportation was unavoidable. Our
prototype burner is at the source of the fuel and
is capable of burning fresh cut hazel chip at up
to 50 percent moisture content, the current one
runs at >50kW(t) with CO o/p at around 150ppm, a
larger version is to follow soon. I would also add
that I would only suggest the the use of a RS
dryer for wood chip if you have a use for the
"waste"  heat, an atmospheric forced hot "air"
blower, fired from the waste methane at the
landfill or a sustainable fuel may be more
suitable,  RS dryers would come into their own (in
my applications) more for drying logs for firewood
or prior to making charcoal. I am working on an RS
dryer, fired by our chip burner and will advise
you of progress.

Regards,

David




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