Comminution of Wood – Influence of Process Parameters

Abstract

An essential element for sustainable use of renewable resources is an efficient comminution process for which the relation between energy input and size reduction is of great importance. Fine comminution of beech, oak, and spruce wood chips in cutting and hammer mills at different moisture content levels is investigated. The influence of the different process parameters as well as the size reduction performed by the hammer and cutting mill on the specific comminution energy is reported and the particulate properties of the comminution products are reported. Considering the energy requirements, functional relations were derived from the experimental results, which describe the relation between comminution energy and size reduction.