Projects

Completed

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Not Cross-cutting

Mr M Poulson
Coppice Resources Ltd

Standard

DTI

01 October 2004

01 October 2005

12 months

£27,246

Power

Yorkshire & Humberside

BIO-MASS

Mr M Poulson, Coppice Resources Ltd

To develop harvester drive chain and feeding systems to cope with larger, modern, higher yielding crops.To assess, by harvesting sites of different ages of the most recently planted varieties, the most economic harvesting cycle for SRC crops. Focus on maximising machinery and crop output thus minimising delivered cost per tonne whilst still maximising grower return.To produce in one pass fuel that can be directly fired with coal in pulverised fuel systems.To produce in one pass large grade fuel suitable for gasification.To achieve a harvesting cost of ANY fuel specification of 10- 11/odt. Total project cost = 108997, DTI grant = 27246

The project has consisted of a number of engineering and field trials. Key amongst these has been development of robust harvester drive mechanisms that are able to withstand the larger crops that the UK now produces and the modification of the chipping system to allow different fuels specifications to be produced. Throughout a method of research into the specific area has been followed by engineering adaptations that have then been field tested and reviewed. Clearly with cost objectives, trials involving the assessment of cost of production through workrate and expense have been necessary and these have been incorporated. Finally consolidation of the knowledge and results gained has been made and incorporated in guidance notes and recommendations for further work.

01/01/07