Floresta e Ambiente ()

Mapping Three-dimensional Moisture Content of Wood Chip Piles for Energy Production

  • Larissa Benassi Valentim,
  • João Otávio Poletto Tomeleri,
  • Cláudio Roberto Thiersch,
  • Monica Fabiana Bento Moreira Thiersch,
  • Leticia Sant'Anna Alesi,
  • Luciano Donizeti Varanda,
  • Roberto Emídio Ponciano de Almeida,
  • Fabio Minoru Yamaji,
  • Franciane Andrade de Pádua

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8087.043218
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. spe2

Abstract

Read online

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to apply geostatistics to predict the spatial pattern of variations in moisture content of eucalyptus wood chip piles to generate subsidies for adequate sampling and material handling. Wood chip piles were installed in three different storage cycles using newly cut material for 7, 30, and 60 days. Sampling was performed in axial (top, middle, and base) and lateral positions, so that all samples were georeferenced in relation to the distance from the ground and the center of the pile. Moisture values were submitted to geostatistical analysis and kriging. The results confirmed the spatial dependence of moisture content over the piles stored at 7 and 30 days; however, the effect of rainfall was crucial to reduce the spatial dependence of moisture content. The results showed that geostatistics is a useful tool for the creation of reliable sampling protocols.

Keywords