EXPLORING THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF WOOD CHIPS FROM SALIX VIMINALIS – KLON TORDIS

Abstract

The article presents the methodology and results of an experimental testing of the calorific value and ash content of wood chips, used as a fuel for heating and electricity plants. The wood chips was extracted from willows’ short rotation plantation of Salix Viminalis – klon Tordis. Studies were conducted in the “Department of Forest Harvesting, Logistic and Amelioration” of the Technical University in Zvolen, R of Slovakia. Wood chips produced from Salix Viminalis, klon Tordis indicates a high gross (20,597 MJ.kg-1) and net calorific value of dry mass (19,255 MJ.kg-1) under the specific production conditions. Naturally dried wood has a relative humidity Wr = 11,3 % and according to ISO 1928:2011 it has a clean net calorific value 16,907 MJ.kg-1. This gives grounds to assume that the wood produced from such an energy plantation will have high energy characteristics and will satisfy the market for energy chips.