Biomass sampling and analysis play decisive roles in determining the characteristics and value of the woody biomass fuel used in bioenergy systems in Canada. Sampling and analysis standards help harmonize the procedures that are used to monitor biomass quality. Because there are no Canada- wide biomass sampling standards, facilities that produce and use woody biomass have developed and implemented in-house sampling procedures of varying degrees of complexity. Given that the use of woody biomass in Canada is predicted to increase, the ability to ensure the quality of biomass will become increasingly important in order to control costs and maximize system efficiency.
BIOMASS
Biofuels
Bioenergy
MOISTURE CONTENT
BULK DENSITY
Bark content
Contamination
ASH
Lignin
CARBOHYDRATES
EXTRACTIVES
Abstract
L’échantillonnage et l’analyse de la biomasse jouent un rôle décisif dans la détermination des caractéristiques et de la valeur des combustibles de biomasse ligneuse utilisés dans les systèmes de bioénergie au Canada. Les normes d’échantillonnage et d’analyse contribuent à harmoniser les méthodes utilisées pour évaluer la qualité de la biomasse. Il n’existe pas de normes d’échantillonnage pancanadiennes; les usines qui produisent ou utilisent la biomasse ligneuse ont donc élaboré et appliqué des méthodes d’échantillonnage maison de niveau de complexité variable. Comme on prévoit une augmentation de l’utilisation de la biomasse ligneuse au Canada, les compétences permettant de garantir sa qualité deviendront de plus en plus importantes pour limiter les coûts et maximiser l’efficacité des systèmes.
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Evaluating a selective harvest operation as a forest fuel treatment as a forest fuel treatment. A case study in a mature douglas-fir forest in central interior British Columbia
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Figure 5. Reduction in overall stem density due to removal of less viable conifers
The City of Quesnel, B.C. has applied an innovative selective harvesting technique in a mature Douglas-fir forest stand with the objectives of maintaining biodiversity and reducing fuel-load buildup and consequent wildfire threat. FPInnovations researchers monitored and documented the harvesting operations and measured machine productivity to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the operation.
To support the assessment of fuel-load reduction, FPInnovations’ Wildfire Operations group conducted pre- and post-harvest fuel-sampling activities to evaluate changes in forest fuel components.
Forest fuels engineering is one of the primary wildfire mitigation strategies advocated by FireSmart™ Canada and applied by partnering wildfire management agencies and industry operators. Fuel treatments have been extensively applied in and around communities in the wildland-urban interface, through a broad range of fuel modification techniques. A primary objective of fuel treatments is to modify fire behaviour to a ‘less difficult, disruptive, and destructive’ state (Reinhardt et al. 2008) which can allow for safer, more effective fire suppression operations (Moghaddas and Craggs 2007).
Black spruce is one of the most prevalent fuel types surrounding communities in central and northern Alberta, as well as other parts of boreal Canada. The densely stocked black spruce forest stands in the Red Earth Creek FireSmart research area exhibit typical crown fuel properties of black spruce: high crown bulk density and low crown base height, which contribute to crown fire initiation (Van Wagner 1977). These fuel characteristics, combined with low fuel moisture contents and strong winds, create ideal conditions for high-intensity, rapidly-spreading catastrophic wildfire (Flat Top Complex Wildfire Review Committee 2012).
Mulch fuel treatments use various types of equipment to masticate forest vegetation resulting in a reduction in crown bulk density and the conversion of canopy and ladder fuels to a more compacted and less available fuel source in the surface layer (Battaglia et al. 2010). Mulch thinning and strip mulch treatments create a more open surface fuel environment with both negative and positive impacts. Due to increased exposure to sun and wind flow, the chipped debris and other surface fuels in the open areas of the treatments dry more quickly than fine fuels in enclosed stands (Schiks and Wotton 2015). From a control perspective, the open thinned areas of the treatments allow more effective penetration of water/suppressant through canopy fuels to surface fuels (Hsieh in progress). Additionally, fine fuels at the surface of openings respond more quickly to water and suppressant application. Open areas of the treatments that have been wetted by sprinkler systems or aerial water delivery should reduce the potential for ignition and sustained burning, providing a potential barrier to fire spread.
Experimental crown fires have been conducted to challenge fuels treatments in other forest fuel types (Schroeder 2010, Mooney 2013) to evaluate the efficacy of these treatments in moderating fire behaviour. Mechanical (shearblading) fuel treatments in black spruce fuels (Butler et al. 2013) have been shown to reduce fire intensity. However, documentation of crown fire challenging mulch fuel treatments in black spruce fuels is limited. Fire and fuels managers would like to evaluate the effectiveness of mulch fuel treatments in reducing fire intensity and rate of spread and, ultimately, their ability to mitigate wildfire risk to communities surrounding these hazardous fuels.
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AAF) Wildfire Management Branch fuels managers designed the Red Earth Creek FireSmart research area with the objective of conducting research that will lead to a better understanding of mulch fuel treatments and how these changes in the black spruce fuel environment affect fire behaviour. On May 14, 2015, Slave Lake Forest Area personnel conducted an experimental fire at this site; FPInnovations and research partners collected data to document changes in fire behaviour.
Fire behaviour in jack pine / black spruce forest fuels following mulch fuel treatments: a case study at the Canadian Boreal Community FireSmart project
Forest fuels engineering is one of the primary wildfire mitigation strategies advocated by FireSmart™ Canada (Partners in Protection, 2003) and applied by partnering wildfire management agencies and industry operators. Over the past two decades, mechanical forest fuel treatments (including mulching) have been extensively applied in and around communities in the wildland-urban interface to mitigate the risk of wildfire. Fuel managers and fire operations managers would like to better understand how manual and mechanical fuel treatments modify fire behaviour.
Fuel treatment efficacy has been evaluated through post-wildfire case studies (Mooney, 2014; Pritchard et al., 2011), fire behaviour modelling (Fernandes, 2009; Stephens et al., 2009) and subjective expert opinion based approaches (Hayes et al., 2008). The use of experimental fire to evaluate the effectiveness of fuel treatments is limited.
This study investigated the effects of applying three mulch treatment intensities on fuel bed characteristics and the resultant fire behaviour. This is a companion report to a previously published report titled Mulching productivity in black spruce fuels: Productivity as a function of treatment intensity. The findings of these fire behaviour trials, in conjunction with productivity results, can assist fuel management practitioners in developing appropriate cost-effective mulching prescriptions.
This study is a subtask under the “lab experiment on drying” project. This investigation consists to: 1) screen the main factors of the formulations impact on the drying process of the ultra-low density fiber composites (ULDC); 2) evaluate the effects of these main factors and try to optimize the formulations to shorten the drying process of ULDC; 3) have parameters for setting-up the new dryer.
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In 1994, FERIC surveyed open-topped chip vans in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario to assess their payloads and the characteristics of the chips being loaded. Based on these observations, recommendations are presented on payload optimization strategies as related to trailer configuration, loading method, and chip characteristics.
