What is pneumatic woodchip blowing technology?

Characteristics of pneumatic blowing technology:

Woodchips are blown directly from vehicle to the woodchip storage silo of the mobile heating plant container. The blower is installed on the rear end of the vehicle.
The woodchip blower can be installed on different types of vehicles and containers.
The blower is driven by the hydraulic system of the vehicle.
There are also electric motor or diesel engine driven blowers.
Different kind of woodchips, bark, saw dust, straw etc. can be handled with the blower.
The optimal speed of rotation of the turbine is 4500 rpm.
Blowing distance may be 20 – 80 meters or the woodchip delivery height about 20 meters depending on the blower type and material to be handled. Woodchips can be blown also into places with limited approach with the vehicle.
The capacity of the blower is 0,3 – 1,2 m3/min with typical materials. Pneumatic woodchip blowing has been designed especially for small scale heating units where the unloading time is not a critical issue. The main idea is to make it possible to utilize woodchips by flexible fuel delivery system and mobile heating units.
The blower can operate also in suction mode, e.g. when cleaning woodchip or pellet silos.
In addition to bioenergy applications pneumatic blowing technology can be utilized in several other business lines.

FACT BOX

Main components of the solution

The new woodchip logistics and heating plant concept is based on two main components:

Blowing vehicle equipped with a woodchip blower wall
Mobile woodchip heating container 50 – 700 kWth

Materials to be handled

Different materials can be handled pneumatically with the woodchip blower: woodchips, flowing crushed bark, saw dust, straw etc. When blowing pellets a different type of blower arrangement will be applied. The blower can operate also in suction mode.

Capacity

There are four different types of blowers in terms of capacity: models 400, 500, 600 and 700 (the diameter of the turbine). The capacity varies between 0,3 and 1,2 m3/min depending on material to be handled and blower type.

Driving force

The driving force of the woodchip blower is the hydraulic system of the vehicle, electric motor or diesel engine.

A new logistic solution to replace oil with bioenergy in small heating plants

The solution consists of two elements: a woodchip blower and a mobile heating unit provided with integrated woodchip silo. The purpose of the solution is to make the whole small scale woodchip heating system chain more cost effective. Investment costs of the solution are smaller than those of conventional heating systems. Fuel receiving equipments and storages are simple in mobile heating containers. No tipping sites or underground fuel storages are needed. The same vehicle can serve several heating plants. The solution is a cost effective way to promote replacing oil with bioenergy and is an action towards carbon free economy in small scale heating.

Lämpösi Oy is co-operating with the Lappeenranta – Lahti technical university to develop this new logistic solution for small woodchip heating plants. The university has launched a project called “Puhallus” to study the compatibility and market potential of the solution.

Mobile woodchip heating container

A mobile heating container manufactured at engineering works can be easily installed and commissioned
Construction work at site is minimal. Sinking costs can be avoided when using a mobile heating unit in case of changes in business circumstances
In larger heating units a separate larger woodchip storage container can be used to optimize fuel delivery schedules
Space requirements are modest. The mobile unit can be situated in tight locations
Flexible financing tools can be utilized for a mobile unit (leasing)

A mobile heating unit can be easily replaced by a larger or smaller unit, or transferred to another site if needed
It is easy to start heating with woodchips, or start heat sales business with small risks. Oil can be replaced by mobile heat containers temporarily in areas close to a DH network until the areas will be connected to the main DH grid later.
There are several manufacturers who provide mobile woodchip containers. In choosing case by case an appropriate product consultant help is available.