Biomass and Gasification Properties of Young Catalpa Trees

Authors

  • Wayne A. Geyer
  • Walter P. Walawender

Keywords:

Catalpa, Catalpa speciosa, wood energy, specific gravity, calorific value, fiber length, gasification, biomass yield

Abstract

Studies were conducted to establish baseline information for use in characterizing catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) as an energy or fiber feedstock. Characteristics of whole-tree chips and wood from 7-year-old trees were similar to those of soft hardwoods: the calorific value was 18.4 kJ/g (4,401 cal/g); the fiber length was relatively short (0.63 mm); the ash content was 0.38%; and the individual whole-tree chip specific gravity was 0.39. Specific gravity values for the wood only were 0.42 at the tree base, 0.40 at DBH, and 0.38 for middle level-branch wood (all based on green volume). Air-blown gasification of whole-tree catalpa chips in a downdraft gasifier produced a low energy gas (4.8-5.2 MJ/m3). Trials at dry-chip feed rates of 95 and 123 kg/h resulted in an average gas-to-feed mass ratio of 2.6 and average char yield of 2.5% of the dry wood fed. Annual oven-dry biomass yield at an upland site in eastern Kansas was 1.9 t/ha for an operational-sized plantation (1/2 ha) with a stocking density of 2,980 trees/ha.

References

American Society For Testing Materials (ASTM). 1981. Standard test method for gross calorific value of solid fuel by the adiabatic bomb calorimeter. ASTM D 2015-77, Philadelphia, PA.nAmerican Society For Testing Materials (ASTM). 1995. Standard test method for ash in wood. ASTM D 1102-84, Philadelphia, PA.nArola, R. A. 1976. Wood fuels—how do they stack up? Forest Products Research Society Proc. No. 14. Madison, WI.nBarnes, D. P., and S. A. Sinclair. 1984. Gross heat of combustion of living and spruce budworm-killed balsam fir. Wood Fiber Sci. 16(4):518-522.nClarke, R. 1985. Forest, trees, and people. Forestry Topics Report No. 2. FAO United Nations, Rome, Italy. 40 pp.nGeyer, W. A. 1981. Growth, yield, and woody biomass characteristics of seven short-rotation hardwoods. Wood Sci. 13(4):209-215.nGeyer, W. A. 1993. Influence of environmental factors in woody biomass productivity in the Central Great Plains, USA. Biomass & Bioenergy 4(5):33-37.nGeyer, W. A. and G. G. Naughton. 1980. Biomass yield and cost analysis (4th year) of various tree species grown under short-rotation management scheme in Eastern Kansas. In B. L. Browning, ed. Proc. Central Hardwood Forest Conference, Columbia, MO. 465 pp. Interscience Publishers, New York, NY.nGeyer, W. A. and W. P. Walawender. 1997. Biomass properties and gasification behavior of 7-year-old silver maple. Wood Fiber Sci. 29(1):85-90.nGeyer, W. A. R. M. Argent, and W. P. Walawender. 1987. Biomass properties and gasification behavior of 7-year-old Siberian elm. Wood Fiber Sci. 19(2):176-182.nGeyer, W. A. R. M. Argent, and W. P. Walawender. 1994. Biomass properties and gasification behavior of young black locust. Wood Fiber Sci. 26(3):354-359.nJenson, W., K. E. Fremer, P. Sierla, and V. Wartiovaara. 1963. The chemistry of bark. In B. L. Browning, ed. Chemistry of wood. Interscience Publishers, New York, NY.nMurphey, W. K., and B. E. Cutter. 1974. Gross heat of combustion of five hardwood species at differing moisture contents. Forest Products J. 24(2):44-45.nNaughton, G. G. 1985. Production and harvesting costs of an 8-year-old energy plantation. In Proc. 2nd Annual Meeting of the Poplar Council of the U.S. June 25-27, Lawrence, KS. 63 pp.nNeenan, M., and K. Steinbeck. 1979. Caloric values for young sprouts of nine hardwood species. Forest Sci. 25(3):455-461.nPanshin, A. J., and C. de Zeeuw. 1970. Textbook of wood technology. (3rd ed.) McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, NY. 722 pp.nPanshin, A. J., and C. de Zeeuw. 1980. Textbook of wood technology. (4th ed.) McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, NY. 722 pp.nRaile, G. K., and J. S. Spencer, Jr. 1984. Kansas forest statistics, 1981. USDA Forest Service For. Exp. Sta. Res. Bull. NC-70. 124 pp.nRoberts, H. F. 1902. The hardy catalpa. Kan. Agric. Exp. Sta. Circ. No. 108. 214 pp.nScott, C. A. 1912. The hardy catalpa. Kan. Agric. Exp. Sta. Circ. No. 20. 19 pp.nTsoumis, G. 1968. Wood as raw material: London, England. 275 pp.nWalawender, W. P., C. S. Chee, and L. T. Fan. 1988. Operating parameters influencing downdraft gasifier performance. Pages 411-445 in D. L. Klass, ed. Energy from biomass and wastes XI. Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL.n

Downloads

Published

2007-06-25

Issue

Number 1 / January 1999

Section

Research Contributions

License

The copyright of an article published in Wood and Fiber Science is transferred to the Society of Wood Science and Technology (for U. S. Government employees: to the extent transferable), effective if and when the article is accepted for publication. This transfer grants the Society of Wood Science and Technology permission to republish all or any part of the article in any form, e.g., reprints for sale, microfiche, proceedings, etc. However, the authors reserve the following as set forth in the Copyright Law:

1. All proprietary rights other than copyright, such as patent rights.

2. The right to grant or refuse permission to third parties to republish all or part of the article or translations thereof. In the case of whole articles, such third parties must obtain Society of Wood Science and Technology written permission as well. However, the Society may grant rights with respect to Journal issues as a whole.

3. The right to use all or part of this article in future works of their own, such as lectures, press releases, reviews, text books, or reprint books.