Switch grass

Phillip Biston

I knew I could get good information here. I live in the midwest (Missouri) and I can buy land fairly cheap, and switch grass is accepted for CRP. A pellitizer is around $60,000.00. I spend +- $ 13,000.00 per year on nat. gas for 2 steam systems ( both have new Gorton main and radiator vents).
After a few years I could be self sufficient, not to mention the pellets could be used for other hot water heating systems I have. Just a Thought.
Thanks again!
Phillip

Phillip Biston

Switch grass

OK , I don't know alot about swithch grass, but I was wanting to know how I might find out about using pellitized switch grass in a new coal steam boiler.

I have 2 larger buildings that have one pipe steam systems in them both are natural gas. They were built during the time when coal was used, I was wanting to know where to find out what the energy potential was between coal and switch grass was to see if was possible to install a coal boiler to run off switch grass.
Natural gas prices have risen so much that I am looking to alternative sources.
Thanks,
Phillip

Steamhead (in transit)

That's a new one on me

at this point I haven't seen any BTU ratings on switch grass. Considering where the idea came from I doubt we ever will.

But there are plenty of things you can do with those steam systems to make them run more efficiently. Probably the two most effective things are pipe insulation and properly sized main vents.

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Robert O'Connor_12

Switch Grass

Interesting topic.


Robert O'Connor/NJ

Garret

Interesting idea... found this:

http://www.agmrc.org/agmrc/commodity/biomass/switchgrass/switchgrassprofile.htm

"Researchers at Iowa State University in producing estimates of the Carbon Sequestration Cycle, determined that one pound of switchgrass contains 7,500 BTUs of energy."

Coal is (I think) 10,000 - 14,000 Btus/lb, depending on the type.

Steamhead (in transit)

In the old days

the Dead Men oversized coal boilers so the owners wouldn't have to fire them more than twice a day. With that lower BTU value, they'd probably go even larger with switch grass pellets. Of course this led to slow, smoky combustion and air-pollution problems, giving rise to district steam systems.

Which brings me to another question- where would you even get switch grass pellets? Is anyone actually selling them?

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Garret

> I knew I could get good information here. I live

> in the midwest (Missouri) and I can buy land

> fairly cheap, and switch grass is accepted for

> CRP. A pellitizer is around $60,000.00. I spend

> +- $ 13,000.00 per year on nat. gas for 2 steam

> systems ( both have new Gorton main and radiator

> vents). After a few years I could be self

> sufficient, not to mention the pellets could be

> used for other hot water heating systems I have.

> Just a Thought. Thanks again! Phillip



I don't think they have a burner that can be added to a old coal boiler, but it's worth checking out these guys.. seems like they're one of the leaders in North America right now.

http://www.pinnaclestove.com/

As always, it looks like Europe is leading the way with this stuff. A good search for pellet boilers turns up a lot of info for Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, etc...

Not sure what you'd do with all the ash, though. Guess it's fertilizer?

Garret

I don't think they have a burner that can be added to a old coal boiler, but it's worth checking out these guys.. seems like they're one of the leaders in North America right now.

http://www.pinnaclestove.com/

As always, it looks like Europe is leading the way with this stuff. A good search for pellet boilers turns up a lot of info for Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, etc...

I'm in central Illinois, seed corn country. The local paper has run several articles about local farmers who've installed pellet stoves, and are pelletizing their worst grade seed corn to heat their homes. I think it's a supplemental thing, though, like they run a regular furnace a bit cool and they have a big pellet stove in the living room. Takes a lot of work to handle the ash, though, from what I hear. Often a forgotten aspect of wood/coal heating...

But if you burn corn or switchgrass, I guess the ash is okay to put back in the ground to adjust ph and as a weak fertilizer. At least you got that going for you, compared to the toxic sludge leftover after burning coal.

hr

some good pellet boiler conversion info

http://www.engext.ksu.edu/biomass/_PelletCombustion.htm

Pelco boilers were at the AHR show in Chicago this spring. They show ag pellets in their ads. I imagine switchgrass could be part or all of those pellets.

I live in SW Missouri and have been told some of the feed mills are looking into pelletizing various local by products like saw dust, planer chips, etc from our hardwood industries.

hot rod

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RadPro

Switch Grass in SEIA

Hi all

I don't know how to get the info, but the local power generating plant just finished a test run using switch grass. The plant is Ottumwa Generating Station in Chilicothe IA. I believe the test was with Iowa State University, might be how you got the above info. I have also heard that the State universitys have tested burning everything from switch grass to tires to trash. If my memory serves, I believe that has been discussed here before.

Don in SEIA