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Switchgrass--Potential Raw Material for Biomass Energy Process

Keywords: switchgrass pellets making,biofuel switchgrass pellets,grass pelletmill,grass pellet machine

Switchgrass, also know as panicum virgatum, is a perennial gramineous plantnaturally grown in the North United States. Because of the abounding cellulosecontent, it begins to become famous as a bio energy crop for processing biofuelpellets, briquettes, boiler fuel to reduce petroleum use and cut down greenhouse gasproduction during heating. Scientists from America and Britain have done a lot of

researches on the potential bio energy resource and they developed tens of species ofthe switchgrass to promote its application for biofuel processing.

Benefits of Switchgrass for Bio-pellet Processing

Switchgrass is adaptable with a variety of environment. It grows well in arid grassland,saline-alkali land and open forests. It’s teeming crop and will get the largest yield atthe third year after planting. Extra care is not necessary, however, periodicallymowing is needed to promote its growing. Through test and analysis, the mainingredients of dry switchgrass are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. By comparing,the calorific value of switchgrass when burning is equal to 70%-80% heat of coal ofthe same quality. As we all know, wood waste and biomass energy crop are the mainsource of the biomass fuel resources. With high carbon content and low price, theswitchgrass has great potential to be an important raw material in the early stage ofbiomass energy development.

Switchgrass Pellets Making ProcedureThe switchgrass pellets processing includes these steps: raw material collecting,drying ,crushing, pelletizing, cooling and packing. The switchgrass is low in price andit won’t cost much for collecting and transport. After drying and crushing, a bio-pelletmachine is needed to processing the switchgrass sawdust into biomass fuel pellets.After cooling and packing, the biofuel switchgrass pellets can be store for use ortransport to market for sale. Besides pellets, switchgrass can be processed intobriquettes or powder to heat for home or commercial use.

Consumption Market and Prospects of Switchgrass PelletsThe production of transportation fuels, such as ethanol, and the traditional electricityare two big applications of biomass energy resources. Besides pellets, switchgrass canalso be used for processing a wide variety biofuel such as briquettes, powder, boilerfuel and alcohol. With high yield, high carbon content and low cost, the switchgrass isquite suitable for biomass energy processing. That is to say, switchgrass has greatpotential to be an important raw material in the early stage of biomass energydevelopment.