Baling biomass offers an opportunity to
increase the density of the transported material, thus increasing the trucking payload
and reducing costs. In cooperation with
the Tennessee Valley Authority, a study (Woodfin
and Stokes 1987b, Curtin
1987a and Stokes
and others 1987a) explored using a
conventional round baler to bale small diameter woody biomass. A Claas Rollant 62 agricultural round hay
baler was tested with a modification to the smooth steel rollers to aid in
catching and rotating the biomass.
Material of mixed species ranging in size from 1 inch to 3 inches was
separated by size class and tested. One
trial involved crushed and dried material while another trial involved freshly
cut, green stems. Of the material
tested, the small diameter crushed material proved to be the most successful in
creating a bale core, although the density of the core was not acceptable. The authors found that the baler’s feed
system was not sufficient to pick up stems on the ground and feed them into the
baler to begin the core without manual feeding.
Once a core was developed, the feeding system became aggressive;
material laid out to simulate a windrow was successfully picked up off the
ground and baled. Butt orientation of
larger stems did pose a problem with the pickup mechanism. The papers suggest equipment modifications
that may aid in successfully using this machine for creating bales from
biomass. Curtin
(1987a) provides a brief overview
of the study. Woodfin
and Stokes (1987b) and Stokes
and others (1987a) are similar
reports published in two places (in Biologue
and as a Southern Research Station proceedings article) to reach more diverse
audiences. Purpose-built biomass balers
are available on the market today, but the investigation into this experimental
biomass-baler attachment offered a unique way to adapt existing equipment.