Epsilon Open Archive

Abstract

This study investigated a new technique for obtaining wood powders from whole logs (Pinus sylvestris L.) in a single-step operation. The performance of a prototype multi-blade shaft mill (MBSM) was evaluated using a designed series of experiments including three input parameters, i.e., the moisture content of the log, milling blade speed and log feeding speed, combined with multilinear regression (MLR) analysis. The milling performance was characterised by specific milling energy, particle size distribution and bulk density of powder. For MBSM powders (80 to 95% particles <1.0 mm), the specific milling energy ranged from 99 to 232 kWh t−1 DM. The mass per cent of particles <0.5 mm in MBSM powders ranged from 55 to 80% compared to 41% from hammer-milled powders. Powder bulk density varied from 138 to 264 kg m−3 DM and the moisture content of the milled log was the only significant (p < 0.05) factor affecting the bulk density of resulting powders (dried). MLR models show that the milling energy is inversely proportional to the moisture content, which indicates that moisture influences MBSM milling in a similar way as in the sawing of wood and opposite to that of impact-based mills (i.e. hammer mills).