The use of forest waste in the energy sector

Abstract

Abstract Forest areas cover almost 30% of the territory of Poland, of which about 70% are coniferous forests, the rest are deciduous and mixed forests. Annually, about 9, 000 trees are cut from these areas, which give about 36 km2 of wood. Analyzing we can assume that we will obtain 10m3 of bark, 15m3 of brushwood, 20m3 of branch and carpinus, 19 m3 of sawdust and 36m3 of sawn timber from 100m3 of wood obtained in the forest. Wood obtained from forest areas is used not only as one of the main construction and industrial materials, but also as an energy raw material. For energetic wood, we include all forms of biomass obtained directly from the forest felling: needles, leaves, carpels, bark, branches, sawdust, shavings, cones and from recovery, crates, pallets, sleepers. The calorific value of the collected samples was examined. As a fuel, it can be used the wood biomass that has not been processed in the form of firewood or fuel, or processed in the form of sawdust, wood chips, briquettes, pellets or wood dust. This publication shows the combustion process of fuel obtained from wood biomass. Factors that influence the calorific value obtained and the value of the heat of combustion are described. The paper presents the results obtained from the incineration of waste obtained from forest areas. The study uses cones and sawdust obtained from the following tree species: fir, poplar, birch and beech. The influence of moisture content in wood as the main factor influencing the calorific value of fuel was also discussed.