Intercropping (or polyculture) is gaining a lot of interest as it increases yields, allows better utilization of resources (water and nutrients), and provides better land management. The objective of this study is to understand the briquetting characteristics of woody and herbaceous biomass blends, which might result from intercropping. Tests were conducted on blends of lodgepole pine, switchgrass, and corn stover biomass using three hammer mill screen sizes (i.e., 4.8, 12.7, and 19.05 mm), three blend moistures (12%, 15%, and 18%, w.b.), and two‐ and three‐blend ratios (i.e., 1:1 and 1:1:1) using a pilot‐scale hydraulic briquette press. The briquette properties, such as unit and bulk density, durability rating after 5 days of storage (as they tend to attain stable density), and the energy consumption of the process were measured. The results indicate that moisture content of 12% and 15% (w.b.) and smaller hammer mill screen size of 4.8 mm increased the unit and bulk densities to >750 and >430 kg/m³ and moisture content (15% and 18% (w.b.)) and hammer mill screen size of 12.7 and 19.05 mm produced briquettes with durability rating values of >95%. The higher moisture content of 18% (w.b.) and the hammer mill screen size of 12.7 and 19.05 mm had the highest energy consumption. The proximate and ultimate analysis showed that energy content improved by blending lodgepole pine with both corn stover and switchgrass and also showed increased calorific value and reduced ash content. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed interlocking of particles and cracks in the briquettes. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

中文翻译：

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木质和草本生物质混合物的团块特性：对物理性质，化学成分和热值的影响

间作（或混养）由于增加了产量，允许更好地利用资源（水和养分）并提供了更好的土地管理而倍受关注。这项研究的目的是了解木质和草本生物量混合物的团块特性，这可能是由于间作产生的。使用三种锤式粉碎机筛网尺寸（即4.8、12.7和19.05 mm），三种混合水分（wb为12％，15％和18％）对黑松，柳枝，和玉米秸秆生物质的混合物进行了测试，以及使用中型液压压块机的二和三混合比（即1：1和1：1：1）。测量了团块的性能，例如单位密度和堆积密度，储存5天后的耐用性等级（因为它们趋于达到稳定的密度）以及该过程的能耗。³和水分含量（15％和18％（wb））以及锤磨机筛网尺寸为12.7和19.05 mm的团块，其耐久等级值均大于95％。较高的水分含量为18％（wb），锤磨机筛网尺寸为12.7和19.05 mm，则能耗最高。最接近的和最终的分析表明，通过将黑松与玉米秸秆和柳枝blend混合，可提高能量含量，并且还显示出更高的热值和更低的灰分含量。扫描电子显微镜显微照片显示煤球中的颗粒和裂纹互锁。©2020年化学工业协会和John Wiley＆Sons，Ltd