Evaluation of the properties of Pinus patula residues in different storage periods aiming at energy co-generation

Abstract

This work was intended to evaluate the properties of residues of newly logged Pinus patula and stored for one month and three months, either attacked or not attacked by the wood wasp, aiming at a system of energy co-generation. Moisture content (moist basis), basic density, inferior heat power, and ash content of the material were determined. The value of moisture for the newly logged residues was equal to 55.99%, while the stored and wasp-attacked residues presented no significant differences with average values of 26.20%. It was found that the values of basic density and ash content of the residues did not present any great variation with means of 0.380g/cm3 and 0.436%. The highest values for the heat power were 3577.1 cal/g and 3496.49 cal/g for the non-attacked three month residues and the wasp-attacked one-month residues. The material presented itself as a potential for energy-generation taking into account that the best period for it use occurs from one month on and in the maximum of three months in the case of them being attacked by wasps.