Monday, May 5, 2008 - 4:00 PM
5-05

Simulation and modeling of forest residue supply logistics system

Sudhagar Mani, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Georgia, Driftmier Engineering Center, Athens, GA 30602, Shahab Sokhansanj, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, Dale Greene, Center for Forest Business, University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Athens, GA 30602, and Shawn Baker, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.

Forest residues including logging residues and understory biomass are a potential source of fuel for biofuels production, if they can be economically harvested and transported to the end user. Most forest residues are currently burned or left in the field after timber harvesting. The southeastern United States is rich in forest resources and almost all of the chips and milling residues produced are currently utilized for either energy production or furnish in the pulp and paper industries. At present, forest residues are the only untapped sources of biomass from forestlands and the economics of harvesting and transporting these residues are very important. Several studies have been conducted to assess the sources of residues available from forestlands. However, there is little information available on the actual cost of harvesting and transport of forest residues for bioenergy production. This paper presents a real-time simulation and modeling of forest residue harvesting, collection and transport operations. The model is an extension of the current DOE/ORNL IBSAL model which has successfully been modeled the supply logistics of crop residue. The model uses the latest version of “EXTENDSIM” discrete-event simulation software platform to estimate the cost, energy input and greenhouse gas emissions for the entire operations of forest residue supply system. The developed simulation model can be used as a decision support tool to design a forest-residue based supply logistic system.

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