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.     

用低能耗的CTMP生产高强度、高松厚度纸板

用表面改性的CTMP浆料来生产高强度和高松厚度的纸张,这主要是通过淀粉和C M C（羧甲基纤维素）利用多层或MIX技术吸附在纤维表面上以达到改性的效果。结果表明,CTMP经过表面改性后,在保持紧度的条件下其抄造的纸张平面内和平面外性能是未经改性的2倍多。这可以改善纸张弯曲挺度或降低多层纸板的定量。     

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.     

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.     

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

     

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.     

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.     

杨木APMP制浆废水污染物成因及规律研究

研究了杨木APMP不同制浆条件下,杨木各化学组分溶出的变化对制浆废水污染物发生量的影响。固定NaOH用量为4%,H2O2用量由1%增加至3%时,认为苯醇抽出物对污染物负荷贡献最大。H2O2用量由4%增加至6%时认为木素对污染物负荷贡献最大。此外,建立了H2O2用量、制浆得率和纸浆白度与CODCr、BOD5发生量之间相关数学表达式,通过对这些影响因子和数学表达式的相关系数进行优化,可以通过H2O2用量(%)来对漂白废水中污染物负荷进行测算。     

山地速生杨木制浆特性探讨

在相同的制浆工艺条件下,通过三种山地速生杨木和一种天然杨木的制浆实验及对其本色浆相关纸页物理性能的检测,得出在制浆造纸中,速生杨比天然杨更有发展前景;树种C更适合于生产本色浆;树种K更适合于生产漂白浆。