using alternative energy to 25 % of domestic final energy
consumption by 2021 with the target of 3,630 MW heat
and power production from biomass. Nowadays only
1,752 MW heat and power is produced from biomass as
energy source, while some types of biomass are very
expensive with a highly competitive demand, this study
will focus on the supply chain management of using corn
residues as alternative energy sources, especially in
Northern plain area in Thailand, in order to achieve the
AEDP 2012-2021’s target, because they are cheap and
still substantially available.
P
ROCEDURE
Corn residues originated in Nakorn Sawan and
Petchchaboon, two provinces in the Northern part of
Thailand, was used as the model in this study. Fig.1.
shows the procedure for supply chain management.
Fig. 1. Supply Chain Management.
The study of supply chain management includes the
determination of the amount of corn residues in focused
area, the investigation of corn residues characteristic, the
supply chain management of bio-fuel production and
finally bio-fuel cost estimation.
A. Amount of Corn Residues
The amount of corn residues can be estimated by their
productivities, Crop-to-Residual-Ratio (CRR) and
Surplus-Availability-Factor (SAF). The CRR is expressed
as the amount of residues generated per 1 unit mass of an
agricultural product and the SAF is the amount of unused
residues or residues left-over which are not used for any
purposes. CRR and SAF can be achieved by site
surveying and conducting the interviews with the farmer
and the community
B. Fuel Characteristics of Corn Residues
The sample of corn residues will be taken from source.
Then it will be prepared by drying and grinding for
analysis. The fuel characteristics to be analyzed are listed
in Table I.
C. Supply Chain Management of Bio-fuel from Corn
Residues
The supply chain management of bio-fuel from corn
residues covers the collection and transportation of
residues until the processing of corn residues into bio-
fuel.
TABLE
I
F
UEL
C
HARACTERISTICS
Proximate analysis
Method
-
Moisture content
-
Volatile matter
-
Ash
-
Fixed carbon
D 3173
D 3175
D 3174
By different
Ultimate analysis
Method
-
Carbon (C)
-
Hydrogen (H)
-
Oxygen (O)
-
Nitrogen (N)
-
Sulfur (S)
D 5373
D 5373
By Different
D 5373
D 3177
Heating Value
Bomb Calorimeter
D. Cost Estimation of Bio-pellet
Cost estimation will provide the final cost of bio-pellet
produced from corn residues. This includes the cost of
residues, cost of harvesting and collection, cost of
transportation and cost of pellet production. All sub costs
can be obtained by interviewing and site surveying.
R
ESULTS AND
D
ISCUSSIONS
A. Amount of Corn Residues
In 2011, Thailand has the area for corn cultivation of
more than 6 million Rai which can produce corn of 4.6
million ton. The main area of corn cultivation in Thailand
located in the northern part of Thailand. The amount of
corn cultivation in focused area of this study from 2007-
2011 are presented in Table II.
TABLE
II
A
MOUNT OF
C
ORN
C
ULTIVATION IN
P
ETCHABOON AND
N
AKORN
S
AWAN FROM
2007-2011
Year
Cultivation
area
(Rai)
Harvesting
Area (Rai)
Productivity
(kg/Rai)
Productivity
(ton/year)
Petchaboon
2007
1,379,790
1,009,273
824
831,751
2008
1,295,433
1,307,900
873
1,141,659
2009
1,100,615
1,192,526
835
995,740
2010
1,147,921
953,451
820
781,887
2011
1,080,100
854,526
790
675,140
Nakorn Sawan
2008
390,063
347,081
757
262,740
2009
263,867
259,146
864
223,902
2010
319,688
319,450
801
255,880
2011
352,000
343,815
872
299,757
The residues derived from corn cultivation can be
separated into corn cob and trash/skin/stem. Corn cob is
the residues left over after the removal of corn grains.
Corn grains can be removed at cultivation plant by
special machine or corns can be delivered to the corn
mills and corn grains can be extracted at mill. Hence,
corn cob can be left over both at fields or at corn mills. In
contrast to corn cob, trash/skin/stem is always left over at
field, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 3. shows the example of
corn cob and trash/skin/stem.
In 2011, approximately 2,000,000 tons of corn
residues were generated; about 200,000 tons of which
was corncob and the rest were corn trash/skin and stem.
Because of the uniform and compact shape of corncobs,
they are completely utilized as fuels in a stoker fired
boiler for heat production. In contrast, corn trash/skin and
stem are leftover in the field or burnt on field without any
Available Amount of Corn Residues
Fuel Characteristics of Corn Residues
Supply Chain Management
Cost Estimation of Bio-fuel from Corn residues
2013 International Conference on Alternative Energy in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies
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