Size reduction equipment cutting machines

If the particle size of the biomass fuel or feedstock is not predetermined by its history, as is the case for sawdusts, nutshells, and a few other waste biomass materials, size reduction is usually carried out with one or more units that make up the front end of the total processing system. Many different kinds of machines are employed. Generally, the size of the feed is reduced by grinding, cutting, or impact mechanisms. Not all of the designs are suitable for biomass energy applications because the equipment is customized for certain uses or the cost of size reduction is excessive. Agricultural crops and woody biomass are also usually processed by different types of machines. A brief review of the basic types of machines that are or have been used for biomass follows to illustrate the variety of size-reduction equipment and their biomass applications. 

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