teleconference may 4, 2010
DESCRIPTION
Teleconference May 4, 2010. John S. Cundiff, Professor Biological Systems Engineering Virginia Tech. Big square bale system: 1. Used for commercial hay industry 2. Much development already completed and more in process (DOE Feedstock Logistics Projects) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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TeleconferenceMay 4, 2010
John S. Cundiff, ProfessorBiological Systems Engineering
Virginia Tech
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Big square bale system:1. Used for commercial hay industry2. Much development already completed and
more in process (DOE Feedstock Logistics Projects)3. Not appropriate for many areas in the Southeast
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Truckload of big square bales: 25 ton @ 15% MC = 21.2 dry ton
Truckload of round bales:12.5 ton @ 15% MC = 10.6 dry ton
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Bioenergy Industry
Why the SE?
Why the round bale?
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Why the round bale?
• It allows the uncoupling of the baling and in-field hauling operations
• The round bale (net wrapped) protects itself in uncovered storage
• Round balers are used for existing cattle operations and the energy crop harvest occurs at a different time. The additional annual operating hours benefits both enterprises.
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Do we want the “plantation” model?
or
Do we want a bioenergy industry where the smallest farmgate contract is 100 ac?
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Farmgate Contract
If my contract is to grow, harvest in net-wrapped round bales, and place in a Satellite Storage Location, then the 100 ac minimum is viable.
If my contract is to grow, harvest as big square bales, store in covered storage, and deliver x loads per week to the bioenergy plant, then the 100 ac minimum is not viable.
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Why not sell herbaceous biomass standing in the field---like woody biomass?
Works for crop residues (corn stover and wheat straw) in some locations.
Does not work for switchgrass. Why?
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If my profit depends on the productivity of my switchgrass stand over the 10-y life of my contract, I do not want a contractor coming into my field and damaging the stand. Very important issue for a winter harvest in the SE!
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Which is preferable?
200 round balers under the control of 200 farmgate contract holders seeking winter harvest opportunities across the entire 30-mi radius feedstock supply area…
OR20 big square balers under the control of 20 contractors
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How much is the “robustness” of the round bale system worth to the bioenergy industry?(Think about a winter harvest in the Southeast---there are a lot of days when the fields are too wet for baling.)
At what point will the industry be ready to pay for robustness?
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Ideal Conditions
Is baling cost ($/ton) higher for the round bale?
yes
Is hauling cost ($/ton) higher for the round bale?
Maybe not!
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Big Square Bale
• 25 ton load• 40 min to load• 25 mi haul, average speed 45 mph• 10 min to unload• 10 h workday
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Big Square Bale
125 ton/d/truck
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Round Bale
• 12.5 ton load• 10 min to load• 25 mi haul, average speed 45 mph• 10 min to unload• 24 h workday
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Round Bale
207.5 ton/d/truck
or
66% more than the big square bale
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Is there a cost-effective way to load in 10 min?
Is there a cost-effective way to haul 24 h?
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Do you need a large forklift at unload 16-bale racks at the Receiving Facility?
yesDo you need a large forklift to load 16-bale racks at the SSL?
Yes
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Is the forklift at the Receiving Facility a disadvantage?
noIs the forklift at the SSL a disadvantage?
yes
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Summary
Is the harvest cost (baling and in-field hauling) higher for the 5x4 round bale?
yes (neglecting the robustness factor)Is the storage cost higher?
noIs the hauling cost higher?
???Is the Receiving Facility cost higher?
NO
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Summary
Will “seamless” logistics ever be important?