Open-Source Tools Predict Biomass Flow Behavior and Blade Wear
A new tool helps modelers simulate the flow behavior of biomass feedstocks. Photo courtesy of Dennis Schroeder, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Understanding and predicting the flow behavior of complex biomass materials and the lifetimes of biorefinery machinery are significant challenges for the bioenergy industry.
To help process engineers navigate these challenges, researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office’s Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) have developed two new open-source tools:
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A tool to predict biomass flow behavior: This tool helps modelers in industry and academia to simulate the flow behavior of biomass feedstocks with properties very different from traditional agricultural commodities like corn and wheat grains.
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A tool to predict blade wear: Based on the chemical, physical, and mechanic properties of knife-mill blades and fundamental abrasion models, this tool helps predict how biomass properties will affect the lifetimes of processing hardware.
Learn more about how the FCIC supports the U.S. biorefinery industry at energy.gov/fcic.
The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) supports research, development, and demonstration to enable the sustainable use of domestic biomass and waste resources for the production of biofuels and bioproducts. BETO is part of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
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