Wood Chipper Design for Biofuel Production in a Global Catastrophic Loss of Infrastructure Scenario

Author:

Vennard Henry1,Pearce Joshua M.23ORCID,Denkenberger David1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (ALLFED), 603 S. Public Rd #57, Lafayette, CO 80026, USA

2. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada

3. Ivey School of Business, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada

Abstract

A variety of events such as high-altitude electromagnetic pulses, extreme solar storms, and coordinated cyber attacks could result in a catastrophic loss of infrastructure on a continental or global scale. The lengthy repair of critical infrastructure creates a need for alternative fuels such as wood gas. Wood gas is produced by heating wood in a low-oxygen environment and can be used to power combustion engines. This work investigates a novel wood chipper, designed as an energy-efficient tool for producing wood gas stock, wood chips, aiming to speed up the transition to alternative fuel. A prototype is built and tested to determine the energy efficiency and production rate of the device. The results suggest that the wood chipper could produce one cord of wood chips, 3.6 m3, in less than a day and is a viable alternative to other manual wood-processing methods. In addition, the global scaling up of production of the wood chipper is considered, indicating that the mass production of the wood chipper could accelerate the transition of wood gas production methods from manual to machine-driven immediately after a catastrophic event.

Funder

ALLFED

Thompson Endowment

Publisher

MDPI AG

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