Biomass is organic animal or plant material like wood pellets which is used for energy production in the form of electricity or heat. It can also be used in various industrial processes as raw material for a range of products.

Below are examples of biomass and their uses for energy:

Wood and wood processing wastes

burned to heat buildings, to produce process heat in industry, and to generate electricity.

 

Agricultural crops and waste materials - burned as a fuel or converted to liquid biofuels

 

Crops, like sugarcane and corn, can also be used to create biofuels. And because plant matter can be regrown, it’s a renewable source of energy.

 

Food, yard, and wood waste in garbage - burned to generate electricity in power plants or converted to biogas in landfills.

 

Animal manure and human sewage - converted to biogas, which can be burned as a fuel.

Source: EIA

 

When considering a biomass storage solution, sufficient storage is required due to the seasonal nature of production versus the need to produce energy all year round. Storage and handling of biomass fuels is expensive and increases with capacity. The right solution such as precast concrete walls can greatly affect the cost and the efficiency in maintaining high quality biomass fuel.

 

Therefore, it is important to ensure you consider the most efficient option for your needs to gain the maximum benefits and a sustainable infrastructure capable of supplying large quantities of biomass to the processing plants.

 

Precast Concrete wall panels make the ideal storage wall solution for biomass fuel due to its robust, durable properties and high strength walls. It is often important to control the environmental conditions such as moisture content to prevent excess decomposition or spontaneous combustion depending on whether wet or dry biomass material is being stored. The dense concrete combined with effective joint sealant keeps moisture out. See below for full list of advantages.

 

Manufactured in controlled factory conditions using Quality Assured concrete, both precast and prestressed concrete wall panels provide a known performance, unlike traditional in-situ ‘poured’ walls reducing the need for specialist and costly engineering input.

 

At ACP (Concrete) Ltd, we manufacture three different precast wall products in a wide range of sizes to suit almost all requirements.  Our unrivalled experience can help you to make the right choice between horizontal panels, vertical cantilever walls and free-standing biomass walling.

 

The following questions should be considered :

• What material/s are you storing?
• Do the walls need to be single or double loaded?
• Is there a legal requirement for fire protection/separation?
• Do you think you may need to add an additional wall or would like to extend the height of the walls at a later date
• The system for outloading ie. Auger or loading shovel.

 

APPLICATIONS

• Wood Chip, Wood Pellet and Straw Storage
• Permanent Division Walls within a building
• Storage of Slurry for Methane Production
• Division Walls – New or Existing Building
• Temporary Bunker Walls – Existing Concrete Pad