Evaluating productivity, cost, chip quality and biomass recovery for a mobile chipper in Australian roadside chipping operations

Abstract

The Bruks mobile chipper was tested for chipping extracted non-merchantable stemwood at the roadside in Pine plantation in Victoria. The elemental time study method was used to evaluate the system productivity. The productivity, cost, biomass yield, remaining slash, chip quality (size classification and energy content), and fuel and energy consumption were analysed. Chipping extracted small logs at the roadside yielded a productivity of 43.88 GMt.PMH0-1 (19.4 BDT.PMH0-1). The average cost was about 16.96 USD.GMt-1 (38.36 USD.BDT-1).

Keywords

• mobile chipper
• biomass
• productivity
• harvest residues
• energy content
• pinus radiata
• australia