Pipeline transport of truck-delivered wood chips is only economical at large capacities and medium to long distances. For a one-way pipeline, the minimum economic capacity is >0.5 million dry t/yr. For a two-way pipeline, the minimum economic capacity is >1.25 million dry t/yr. At 2 million dry t/yr, the minimum economical distance for a one-way pipe­line without carrier fluid return is 75 km, and for a two-way pipeline with carrier fluid return is 470 km.

Furthermore, water transport of mixed hardwood and softwood chips causes an increase in moisture level to 65% or greater, which so degrades the LHV of the biomass that it cannot be economical for any process, such as direct combustion, that produces water vapor from water contained in the biomass. The impact on straw is greater, in that moisture levels are so high that the LHV is negative. Pipeline transport of biomass water slurries can only be utilized when produced water is removed as a liquid, such as from supercritical water gasification.

Finally, oil transport of mixed hardwood and softwood chips gives a fuel that is more than 30% oil by mass and is two-thirds oil and one-third wood on a thermal basis.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the Poole family and Bud Kushnir, whose financial support made this research possible. Sean Sanders of Syncrude Canada provided insight into pump size and pressure drop in the slurry pipeline and also provided heavy gas oil for the experiments. Mark Coolen, woodlands operations superintendent for Millar Western Forest Products, provided wood chips for the experiments and valuable discussions. David Williams, Chief Estimator for Bantrel (an affiliate of Bechtel), provided valuable comments concerning capital cost estimation of pipeline. Vic Lieffers and Pak Chow of the University of Alberta helped carry out the experiments. All conclusions and opinions are solely the authors and have not been reviewed or endorsed by any other party.

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