Over 20 participants attended including a number of IrBEA members from across the country who work as wood chip suppliers. Tom Kent of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) started the day with an introduction to WIT's work assessing drying techniques for timber.
A practical demonstration was then given of the process to sort and test a sample of woodchip for particle size and moisture content. These are the most important criteria to understand to ensure a reliable supply of woodchip.
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Sieve used to separate woodchip particles of various sizes |
Sample of Woodchip separated into various size categories |
The group then travelled to WIT's lab where Dr Eleanor Owens gave a demonstration of the process for testing ash content, gross calorific value and chemical analysis of various wood fuels.
After lunch Jim Dudley of Technical Energy Solutions gave a tour of a 150 kW wood chip fired KWB boiler installed in the Edmund Rice Centre in Waterford City. This boiler is neatly placed in the middle of the city with a small fuel store filled by local woodchip supplier Nicholas Garvey. Nicholas has fitted an electric blower to his trailer and can unload woodchip directly to the fuel store.
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150 kW Woodchip boiler in Edmund Rice Centre |
Fred Tottenham holds the supply pipe for woodchip deliveries |
To finish the day, the group travelled to Nicholas Garvey's site in Glenmore, Co Kilkenny where Nicholas stores timber before chipping the woodchip into a large shed. To guarantee woodchip at a specific moisture content, Nicholas has developed a drying shed where he pumps warm air through the woodchip.
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IrBEA would like to thank all who attended the day and in particular those who gave their time to show members the work they are doing in promoting local woodchip supplied heat in region.
Fred Tottenham. Chair of IrBEA Wood Energy Sub Group. April 2009