Drying kinetics of poplar lumber during periodic hot-press drying

The drying kinetics of poplar lumber was experimentally investigated as a function of drying temperature (115, 135, 160, 185 and 205°C) during a periodic hot-press-drying process. Poplar lumber was dried under contact (compression ratio of 10%) and high-press states (compression ratio of 44%). Compared with the contact-state, the high-press-state showed higher drying rate and higher efficiency of removing free water than bound water in wood. Eight mathematical models from the literature were established to analyze the drying behavior. The Weibull model, with an average determination coefficient R² of 0.9958, fitted well for all applied drying conditions. The scale parameter decreased with increasing drying temperature and was lower for high-press-state drying compared with that for contact-state drying. Moisture diffusivity and activation energy were calculated according to the Weibull model. Diffusivity increased with increasing drying temperature, with the average value of 1.734?×?10^?6 and 3.313?×?10^?6?m²/s and activation energy of 34.79 and 32.85?kJ/mol for contact-state drying and high-press-state drying, respectively. Hot-press drying created an M-shaped curve of density distribution, with high density at the two surface regions gradually decreasing toward the core region. The contact state-dried wood showed increased density near the wood surface. Both average density and peak density improved in the case of high-press-state-dried wood. Furthermore, the hydrophilic index of wood for high-press-state drying was lower than that of the contact-state drying, and the opposite was true regarding crystallinity index. The hygroscopicity of high-press-dried poplar decreased with lower equilibrium moisture content and higher moisture excluding efficiency, compared with contact-state-dried poplar. The rapid, high-quality drying of poplar lumber through periodic hot-press was more potentially achieved by the high-press-state compared with contact-state drying.     

碳纤维布增强杨木LVL梁、柱试验研究

采用碳纤维布对杨木LVL梁、柱增强,制作试件进行试验研究.梁采用在生产过程将碳纤维布复合到LVL中的增强方式,柱采用外贴碳纤维布箍增强方式.通过试验选择了合理的梁、柱截面型式,试验结果表明碳纤维布增强杨木LVL梁、柱的承载力明显提高,其它受力性能也得到显著改善.     

速生杨木LVL材料性能试验研究

对速生杨木制作的单板层积材(Laminated Veneer Lumber,简称LVL)的各项材料性能指标进行测试,将测试验值按《木结构设计规范》确定设计值方法换算,结果表明杨木LVL可作结构材使用.     

Electrochemical conversion of switchgrass and poplar in molten carbonate direct carbon fuel cell

One way of sustaining fuel cell technology is using renewable and sustainable energy means provided by biomass. This article explores switchgrass and poplar in a molten carbonate electrolyte direct carbon fuel cell. It investigates their electrochemical conversions and provides results of power density, current density, open circuit voltage (OCV) and other parameters. The biomasses were pyrolysed at 800°C to produce carbon fuels. Biomass carbon fuels were mixed with molten carbonate and subjected to different operating conditions (600–800°C) in the fuel cell. The electrochemical performances of the poplar fuel were better than those experienced with switchgrass fuel. At 800°C the OCV of poplar fuel (1.08?V) has higher output than switchgrass (0.87?V). The peak power density recorded for poplar fuel was 23.91?mW/cm² while switchgrass fuel was lower at 21.60?mW/cm². Poplar fuel (81.53?mA/cm²) gave a maximum current density with switchgrass fuel lower at 74.00?mA/cm².     

意杨旋切板胶合木轻型桁架屋盖的受力性能

在已有意杨旋切板胶合木（意杨LVL）材料及单榀桁架受力性能的研究基础上,开展了轻型桁架屋盖的受力性能研究。通过4个意杨LVL轻型桁架与OSB板形成的屋盖模型受力性能试验,分析了屋盖各桁架的荷载分配特征、屋盖的承载力及破坏模式。研究结果表明：各屋盖模型的荷载-位移曲线在破坏前基本呈线性;在不同加载工况下,直接承受荷载作用的桁架会将16％~46%的荷载传递至未直接受载桁架,屋盖呈现明显的空间受力特点,且在单榀桁架发生破坏后其邻近桁架仍具有一定的承载能力;从破坏现象看,受节点附近压弯联合受力状态的影响,屋盖模型的失效主要源于桁架上弦杆件的褶皱、压屈。     

Trade‐Offs in Seed Dispersal Strategies Across Riparian Trees: The How Matters as Much as the When

Riparian Salicaceae are prolific producers of short‐lived seeds that require very restrictive hydro‐geomorphic conditions for establishment. It is generally assumed that if floods are able to create nursery sites timed with seed dispersal, recruitment will occur. Other spatial and temporal seed dispersal patterns besides the dispersal period have historically received little attention. However, seed dispersal patterns can be highly variable between regions, species and over the years. In this paper, we report the seed dispersal patterns of three dominant riparian Salicaceae trees in Europe: Populus alba, P. nigra and Salix alba to suggest possible trade‐offs between seed dispersal patterns, germinability, longevity and establishment. Seed rain of the three species was monitored in 33 glue‐coated traps for three months yearly from 2006 to 2008 in an 8‐km stretch of the Middle Ebro River (N Spain), which has a pluvio‐nival regime. P. alba dispersed seeds earlier during a shorter time period and with a fewer number of seed release pulses compared with P. nigra, and especially with S. alba. With overlapping seed dispersal periods, the two latter species occupy similar landform units but rarely compete with P. alba, usually at higher elevations, as shown in a previous study in the same study area. The three species had very high germinability immediately after release (>90%), but longevity in S. alba was eight times shorter than that of its two Populus counterparts. We suggest that S. alba has compensated its lower seed quality with a more spaced seed release in several pulses of similar magnitude. With similar seed dispersal patterns and germinability but a higher longevity, P. nigra had a much higher density of individuals than S. alba in the recruitment zones of the study area. We hope that our results may inform river managers about how to optimize river flows to promote sexual regeneration of these species. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of nitrogen–phosphorus fire retardant blended with Mg(OH)2/Al(OH)3 and nano‐SiO2 on fire‐retardant behavior and hygroscopicity of poplar

The aim of the study was to screen any possible synergistic effects related to the combination of nitrogen–phosphorus fire retardant and Mg(OH)₂/Al(OH)_3. This combination is used to improve fire performance, especially smoke suppression of poplar through ultrasonic wave impregnation after microwave treatment. In this study, nano‐SiO₂ was used to impregnate poplar treated with nitrogen–phosphorus fire retardant and form a hydrophobic layer on wood cells in order to improve hygroscopicity and reduce water uptake. Cone tests and thermal analysis showed that poplar treated with blended fire retardant had improved behavior. Results show that a 20% and 25% nitrogen–phosphorus fire‐retardant solution (blended by adding 10% Mg(OH)₂/Al(OH)₃ based on the dry weight of nitrogen–phosphorus fire retardant) was more effective for smoke suppression. The heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke production of a 25% nitrogen–phosphorus fire‐retardant solution blended by adding 10% Mg(OH)₂/Al(OH)₃ showed significant reduction. The char residual yield showed a marked increase to 35.5%. Fourier transform infrared analysis suggested a –CH₂–Si–CH₂– and Si–O–C stretching vibration in nano‐SiO₂ treated poplar, which greatly decreased the hygroscopicity of fire‐retardant‐treated poplar. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Farm wood fuel and energy project

This paper describes the findings of the Farm Wood Fuel and Energy Project. It began in 1991 and ended in 1997 and was undertaken to provide a commercial demonstration for the establishment of 50 hectares of short rotation coppice (SRC) on six farms in southern England and the development of associated marketing activities. The Project:

• — taught farmers how best to grow the crop and will enable them to teach others;

• — determined that winter conditions in the UK are unsuitable for most harvesting equipment trialled and that both harvesting and chip storage need to be re-examined;

• — demonstrated that SRC has the potential to be competitive with fossil fuels;

• — gave confidence to Government to include a Band for energy crops under the NFFO electricity generating procedures

     

Influence of Chemical Pretreatment on the Dissolved Organics in Poplar Alkaline Peroxide Mechanical Pulping Effluent

The components of the effluent from the chemical pretreatment of poplar alkaline peroxide mechanical pulp (APMP) were analyzed in this study. The main dissolved organics were low-molecular weight (LMW) lignin, oligosaccharides, and monosaccharides. The lignin and sugar concentrations in the effluent obtained using different chemical pretreatment conditions and chemical dosages were analyzed using ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. This analysis provided a theoretical basis for the subsequent treatment and utilization of APMP effluent. The experimental results showed that the dosages of NaOH, H₂O₂, and Na₂SiO₃ in the chemical pretreatment process affected the lignin and sugar concentrations in the effluent and that different chemicals had differing degrees of influence. The degree of influence exhibited the following order: NaOH>H₂O₂>Na₂SiO₃. More specifically, the dosages of NaOH and H₂O₂ had stronger influences on the lignin and sugar concentrations than that of Na₂SiO₃. Indeed, the Na₂SiO₃ dosage hardly affected the lignin and sugar concentrations in the effluent, but Na₂SiO₃ could stabilize the chemical pretreatment system and improve the reactive efficiency of NaOH and H₂O₂. The pretreatment temperature and time also affected the organic components, and the influence of the temperature was stronger than that of time.     

过硫酸铵氧化速生杨木残渣制备纤维素纳米晶体及其表征

以去除半纤维素的速生杨木残渣为原料,在70℃下按固液比1：100（g：mL）加入1.5 mol/L过硫酸铵溶液,处理16 h制备纤维素纳米晶体。所得样品为白色粉末状固体,得率（以原料中纤维素质量计）为57%,氧化度为0.156,表面电荷为-42.15 mV。采用透射电子显微镜、傅里叶变换红外光谱、X射线衍射、核磁共振等技术对得到的纳米纤维素进行表征。结果表明：过硫酸铵去除了原料中的木质素和残余的少量半纤维素,并有选择地将纤维素C6位置上的伯醇羟基氧化成羧基,纤维素纳米晶体保留了原纤维素的结构特征,结晶度为77%,晶体结构以I_β晶型为主,88.4%的纤维素纳米晶体宽度在10~24 nm之间。