Abstract Residues from management activities of fruit growing can be an important source of biomass for energy generation. The aim of this study was to determine the potential use of apple pruning residues for energy generation as process steam or power energy. To this end, branches from the pruning of commercial apple orchards have been evaluated in the Santa Catarina State, Brazil. To compare with the traditional biomass used for energetic purposes, particles of Pinus sp. from the industrial timber processing have also been analysed. Homogeneous pellets of the two types of biomass were produced, and three more mixes containing the two raw materials were made. Pellets have been evaluated according to their physical and energetic properties. The results have been compared to the ISO 17,225-2 Standard. Apple pruning residues have the potential for energy generation in boilers, that is, for the production of process steam and electric power. Their potential can vary from 12,649.54 MWh y−1 to 115,442.44 MWh y−1. The physical and energetic properties varied between the analysed residues, except the gross calorific value (19.69 MJ kg−1 for pine wood particles and 20.27 MJ kg−1 for apple pruning). Comparing with the pine wood (87 kg m−3), the apple pruning (141 kg m−3) has a higher amount of biomass per unit volume processed for energy and less residence time in the burning systems (17.54% fixed carbon for apple pruning and 18.91% fixed carbon for pine wood). However, it generates more wastes (ashes) after burning (3.25% for apple pruning and 0.46% for pine wood). The pellets’ energy density increased by 3.35 times the energy density of the apple pruning particles after pelletizing. The homogeneous apple pruning pellets can only be applied to industrial use (I3), mainly because of its high ash content (2.27%). The pine wood with apple pruning mix used for pellet production reduces the ash content and increases the bulk density and energy density, which improves the quality of the pellets.

中文翻译：

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苹果修剪残留物：在锅炉系统和颗粒生产中燃烧的潜力

摘要 水果种植管理活动产生的残留物可以成为用于能源生产的重要生物质来源。本研究的目的是确定苹果修剪残留物作为工艺蒸汽或动力能源发电的潜在用途。为此，巴西圣卡塔琳娜州对商业苹果园修剪后的枝条进行了评估。为了与用于能量目的的传统生物质进行比较，Pinus sp. 的颗粒。来自工业木材加工的也进行了分析。生产两种生物质的均质颗粒，并制成另外三种含有两种原料的混合物。已根据其物理和能量特性对颗粒进行了评估。结果已与 ISO 17,225-2 标准进行了比较。苹果修剪残渣具有在锅炉中发电的潜力，即用于生产工艺蒸汽和电力。它们的潜力可以从 12,649.54 MWh y−1 到 115,442.44 MWh y−1 不等。除了总热值（松木颗粒为 19.69 MJ kg-1，苹果修剪为 20.27 MJ kg-1）外，所分析残留物的物理和能量特性各不相同。与松木 (87 kg m-3) 相比，苹果修剪 (141 kg m-3) 的单位体积生物质处理量更高，在燃烧系统中的停留时间更短（苹果的固定碳为 17.54%修剪和 18.91% 的松木固定碳）。然而，它在燃烧后会产生更多的废物（灰烬）（苹果修剪为 3.25%，松木为 0.46%）。弹丸的能量密度增加了 3。切粒后苹果修剪颗粒能量密度的 35 倍。均质苹果修枝颗粒只能用于工业用途（I3），主要是因为其灰分含量高（2.27%）。用于颗粒生产的松木和苹果修剪混合物降低了灰分含量并增加了堆积密度和能量密度，从而提高了颗粒质量。