Energy related research in the industrial forestry operations program at Virginia Tech

Wood-based energy research at Virginia Tech is being conducted in five major areas: severance and field drying; in-woods transportation, processing, and storage; forest to plant transport; plant receiving facilities; procurement, harvesting, and conversion of woody fuels. A study has been completed dealing with impact of tree size on harvesting functions in labor-intensive and machine-intensive systems. Projects are underway to evaluate: the marginal costs per inch of decrease in the lower merchantability limit in harvesting; thinning alternatives and systems for an intensively managed loblolly pine stand; seasonal variability in the moisture content of wood; the rate of moisture loss as a function of ambient weather conditions; the recovery difficulty associated with extended periods of field drying; modifications of conventional systems for full tree recovery; the skidding forces for light cable systems moving full trees, stems, and tops only; and the performance of large-scale chipping systems. Chip piles were constructed in both the pine and hardwood types to determine if there is enough heating in the piles to improve the drying rate. Preliminary studies have been conducted concerning the stacking ability of bales in in-woods storage and in-woods storage of whole trees and handling of these trees following storage. Work is underwaymore » to model the delivery system for both conventional products and energy wood following the flows from stump to the plant. A study has been completed on the transportation problems associated with moving both conventional wood and wood residues. Work is underway on the evaluation of a two-stage gasifier and a study exploring mechanical alternatives in thinning has been funded by Champion International.« less