Sprocket Wear and Chain Run Direction
Introduction Are your chain conveyor sprockets wearing out quickly? The chains might be running in the wrong direction and contributing to excessive sproc
By Paul Janzé
biomass engineering
Technical Articles
Expert insights on biomass handling, processing, and project development
Biomass Sampling
With the current emphasis on the use of biomass for green energy purposes, the importance of having good quality hog fuel cannot be over-emphasized. And to ensure good quality fuel, good sampling procedures must be followed.
By Paul Janzé
biomass sampling quality control pulp and paper
Design of Conveyors for Extreme Northern Climates
Designing material handling systems for use in extreme northern environments requires special care. Temperatures in northern Canada can vary between -45°C in winter to +35°C in summer.
By Paul Janzé
conveyors cold climate design winter conditions belt conveyors
TRANSPORTING WOODY BIOMASS BY RAIL
Introduction In North America, most woody biomass is transported by truck, whether it is logs, lumber, pulp chips, shavings, sawdust, wood pellets or wastewood
By Paul Janzé
biomass engineering
SOLID BIOFUEL STANDARDS
Introduction Woody biomass has been used for hundreds of years as a fuel source, primarily as solid wood being burned in a fireplace or stove. For much of the 2
By Paul Janzé
biomass engineering
PROJECT DEFINITION AND PLANNING
Introduction Too often a client will want to jump straight from a preliminary project concept into construction, giving little thought or effort to project plan
By Paul Janzé
biomass engineering
VENDOR DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
Vendor Documentation Vendor documentation is required for equipment purchased as part of a project. It is very important information to have, if the equipment
By Paul Janzé
biomass engineering
The Benefits of Chip Thickness Screening
Why chip thickness screening is important for consistent biomass quality. It has been well documented that a Kraft wood pulp digester fed with a uniform chip size and a controlled volume of pins and fines provides a measurable improvement to the pulping process and pulp quality.
By Paul Janzé
chip screening thickness screening quality control biomass processing pulp mills
Biomass Trucks and Dumpers
Most raw materials for plants that process woody biomass are delivered in bulk trucks and some are delivered by railcar. This article concerns biomass delivery by truck and the systems available for unloading the trucks.
By Paul Janzé
biomass trucks dumpers truck unloading hog fuel transportation
Rock Removal from Woody Biomass
Methods and equipment for removing rocks and other contaminants from woody biomass materials. The upsurge of interest in biomass-fired power plants is accompanied by a corresponding increase of interest in methods for removing non-combustible, non-organics.
By Paul Janzé
rock removal contamination screening biomass cleaning air density separation
Determining the Natural Compaction of a Biomass Pile
Methods for measuring and calculating the natural compaction of biomass storage piles to accurately determine material density and inventory.
By Paul Janzé
biomass compaction pile density inventory measurement storage
A Practical Guide to Metrication
Converting between imperial and metric units in engineering and biomass applications.
By Paul Janzé
metrication unit conversion engineering measurements
Biomass Storage Pile Basics
Essential considerations for designing and managing biomass storage systems, including pile sizing, fire prevention, and inventory tracking.
By Paul Janzé
biomass storage pile management fire prevention inventory
Chip Storage and Handling for Pulp Mills
Comprehensive guide to designing and managing wood chip storage systems for pulp mill operations, including pile sizing, reclaiming methods, and inventory management.
By Paul Janzé
chip storage pulp mills inventory management reclaiming FIFO LIFO
Conveyor Safety and Guarding
Guidelines for conveyor safety requirements, guarding regulations, and implementation across BC, Alberta, and Ontario jurisdictions.
By Paul Janzé
conveyor safety guarding WorkSafe OHSA regulations
Disc Screen Fundamentals
Comprehensive guide to disc screen design, sizing, and operation for biomass screening applications including scalping, unloading, and thickness screening.
By Paul Janzé
disc screens biomass screening equipment design scalping screens particle sizing
Plastic Contamination in Pulp
Understanding the challenges of plastic contamination in pulp manufacturing, prevention strategies, and the difficulties in plastic removal from wood chips.
By Paul Janzé
plastic contamination pulp manufacturing chip quality prevention strategies pulp-safe materials
Helical Chute for Wood Pellets
Design and implementation of spiral/helical chutes to minimize wood pellet breakage and dust generation during high-drop silo loading operations.
By Paul Janzé
wood pellets helical chutes pellet handling breakage prevention dust control
Screens for Woody Biomass
Selection and application of screening equipment for woody biomass materials. Because of the wide variation in material characteristics, selecting the appropriate screen for woody biomass is not as straightforward as it is for other materials.
By Paul Janzé
screening equipment selection biomass processing size separation disc screens
Biomass Dust Fire and Explosion Control
Safety considerations for dust control, fire prevention, and explosion mitigation in biomass facilities. Fires have always been a problem in wood processing plants, particularly in those that handle dry material.
By Paul Janzé
safety dust control fire prevention explosion control biomass safety
So you want to build a biomass plant
A Beginner's Guide to the Project Development Process. The days are long gone when developing a project was as simple as pitching an idea to a bank, getting some cash, building a plant and selling your product.
By Paul Janzé
project development biomass plant feasibility engineering construction
Chip Biomass Pile Inventory Management
Where any bulk, raw resource is used in an industrial process, there is a requirement to track both usage and inventory. With the increased movement to utilizing biomass as a fuel source, more companies are discovering the difficulty in accurately measuring biomass inventory.
By Paul Janzé
inventory management pile management biomass storage stock rotation density measurement
Handling Pellets - Things to Consider
Wood pellets are uniform in size and moisture content, are very free flowing, but are quite fragile and easily degrade and require special handling. This article covers the challenges and solutions for wood pellet handling systems.
By Paul Janzé
wood pellets handling storage degradation torrified pellets
Biomass Handling System Design – Things to Consider
Biomass is not an easy material to handle. It appears in a myriad of species, forms and sizes; it knits together, doesn't flow well, consolidates and packs easily. Care must be taken in the design of your biomass handling system.
By Paul Janzé
biomass handling system design hog fuel wood pellets