Web exclusive posted Sept. 23, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. CST

An undisclosed biomass power plant in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic States was recently outfitted with a new fuel processing system engineered and installed by West Salem Machinery Co. According to Denise Fine with WSM, the upgraded system was needed at the plant because of "changes in incoming feedstock," she said.

The feedstock is a variety of different woods. However, due to a confidentiality agreement with the biomass power plant, Fine could not disclose the name of the biomass facility, nor could she say exactly where in the Mid-Atlantic region the plant is located.

The system consists of high-volume screening and grinding equipment that reduces varying sizes of incoming wood to ground chips for combustion and power generation. The system, which can process up to 150 tons of wood an hour, consists of a 60-inch wide screen with 12-inch rotors for pre-screening and secondary grinding of incoming wood.

After pre-screening, properly sized pieces of wood go to the finished fuel discharge conveyor. Improperly sized pieces, or those that are too large, are sent to a vertical feed grinder, also supplied by WSM. The integrated biomass processing system also includes support structures, access platforms and chuteworks.

WSM has been engineering and manufacturing screens and wood chippers/grinders for 50 years, Fine told Biomass Magazine. The company is currently making a disc screen system for a power facility to co-fire wood with coal, but Fine could not give any further details at press time.