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The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture ANNUAL REPORTING FORM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alvin Womac, Professor Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science Annual Performance Period: January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 A. SUMMARY AND IMPACTS. 1. Summary. Provide an overall summary (500 words or less) of your accomplishments during the reporting period. BIOMASS RESEARCH Progress included: 1. conduct biomass size reduction studies with instrumented equipment and conduct terminal velocity and sieve separation of dry plant components [USDA-DOE grant, $717,399], and 2. conduct biomass deconstruction of dry and wet biomass [Sun Grant, TAES, $175,000]. Biomass size reduction and separation Project management included: (a.) coordination of research involving co-PIs (students) [(Ye (Liu), Hayes (Kline), and Sokhansanj (ORNL) (Khanum, Hoque)], (b.) project accountability (1-2006 USDA On-Site Visit Project Review, 1-2006 USDA Annual Progress Report), 1-2006 DOE Report, and (c.) personal research contribution involving direct oversight of 1 project post doc (Igathi) and 3 GRA’s (Yu, Yang, Klasek). A replacement post doc was identified (Nehru). Womac personal research follows: A linear knife grid engineered to test progressive biomass loading to resemble commercial operation. A ram forced biomass through knives spaced 25, 51, or 102 mm. The design withstood measured loads of 50 tons without mechanical failure. Mean cutting energy of fresh-harvested wet product ranged from 0.28 to 0.32 kWh ton-1, and for dry stored product from 0.37 to 1.31 kW h ton-1 for switchgrass and corn stover, respectively. Knife grid performance supported the study hypothesis that shear failure of biomass is very efficient, and would be a first-step size reduction operation, especially of packaged biomass. Knife mill, hammer mill, and disk mill were each instrumented for direct input-energy measurement and to observe torque peaks and frequencies. Variables affecting input energy in order of importance for shear-dominated size reduction were biomass input rate, mill rotational speed, and opening size of mill screen. As an example, energy input for the knife mill with a 2.5-cm screen ranged from 8 to 41 kWh ton-1 for dry switchgrass input from 2 to 8 kg/min. Horizontal-excited sieves (ASABE) gave a normal distribution of biomass weight fractions, whereas vertical-excited sieves (ASTM) biased weight fractions to the smallest sieves. Also, horizontal-excited sieves improved node-internode separation. Image analysis of sieve weight fractions improved accuracy in determining representative particle sizes. A fabricated vertical wind tunnel determined switchgrass with a high moisture content (52% wet basis, w. b.) cut into 0.6 cm length segments had greater terminal velocity differences (~ 62.5%) between node and internode sections than did longer-length switchgrass groups of 1.3 cm and 2.5 cm with either low (15% w. b.) or high moisture content. These data are required to design and engineer improved systems to accommodate effective separation of plant anatomical components. Womac collaborated with Ye, Rials and Labbe (UT Forest Products), and Tyler to determine switchgrass principle chemical components. Womac's contribution was study strategy and sample local collection and preparation. Biomass deconstruction Coarse deconstruction of dry biomass was successful using shear-induced failure. Particle size spectra capabilities of deconstructed biomass were developed. Included supervision of one Post doctoral research associate (Miu) for ~9 months, and hiring a new post doc for Jan 07 (Prasad). SPRAYER RESEARCH Womac was project lead for ASAE Standard X592 "Sprayer Best Management Practices." Standard was approved in technical committee ASABE PM 23-6, and forwarded for Division approval by PM-03. Content of BMP was based on UT sprayer research on atomization factors. 2. Impacts. List up to three significant impacts of your program. Impact statements should be one to three sentences and should be written in a way that would be meaningful to the public. BIOMASS RESEARCH Median particle sizes affect available surface reactive area for bioenergy and bioproduct use. Too many fine particles wastes grinding energy and tends to form “cakes” when mixed with liquids, whereas too many coarse particles not be fully available for conversion if the conversion does not breakdown and homogenize cellulose materials. Biomass grinding and separation impact is projected to reduce typical grinding cost $3 to $4 per dry ton (about 1/4 of current costs) based on current understanding of pre- and post-grinding literature data. Making ethanol from ground-up cellulose frees up grain supplies for food and feed. Improving the biomass grinding process has the potential to save well over $1 billion/y in grinding energy savings as the nation moves to using 1 billion tons of biomass per year to supplement energy imports. Environmental benefits include recycling of non-target plant parts on soil. SPRAYER RESEARCH Sprayer best management procedures (bmp) using modern spray nozzle selection techniques aid applicators in selecting and using the right equipment to make responsible applications to reduce drift by 40% compared to 10 years ago. Drift reduction savings were 2% of $9 billion annual expenditure for U.S. pesticides, or $180 million of less off-target losses, not including savings in liability costs and environmental impact. Nozzle classification and improved technologies impacted the engineering design of 15 million spray tips sold annually, $40 million annual spray boom sales, and $300 million of sprayer unit sales including 4,000 new self propelled units annually. B. PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS (EXTENSION, RESEARCH AND TEACHING). As applicable, list title, names of participants (PIs, Leaders, Co-PIs, Co-leaders, Collaborators etc.), project number, sponsor, your role ( leader/co-leader/collaborator) and your percent effort on the project as stated in the project description or document. Improved Spray Atomization and Biomass Particle Size Reduction Technologies Womac, A.R., PI Hart, W.E., Collaborator Hatch Project – TEN0278 70% Project Effort Biomass Multi-State Regional Project S-1007 Womac, A.R., participant Hatch Project - TEN266 70% of local effort Integrated Size Reduction and Separation to Pre-Fractionate Biomass Womac, A.R., Project Manager and Co-P.I. R11-1416-054 49% of local effort Biomass Deconstruction and Evaluation Womac, A.R., Co-PI R11-0515-002 100% of local BESS effort (~25% overall effort) Nozzle Classification Womac, A.R., PI R11-1416-013 CP Products Co., Inc 100 % project effort Nozzle Classification Womac, A.R., PI R11-1416-042 CP Products Co., Inc 100 % project effort Nozzle Classification Womac, A.R., PI R11-1416-063 Wilger, Inc 100 % project effort Nozzle Classification Womac, A.R., PI R11-1416-071 Wilger, Inc 100 % project effort C. INSTRUCTION, TEACHING AND EXTENSION EDUCATION. Detail credit and non-credit instruction and teaching activities. 1. College credit instruction. List courses in which you were an instructor or guest lecturer during the current calendar year. Include special topics, independent study and internship courses. Provide course number and title, your involvement, semester(s), credit hours and number of students. Please append a summary of teaching evaluations (student and/or peer) if this information is available.
2. Formal continuing education (certification programs, seminar series, in-service training, field days, faculty and/or staff training, journal club, etc.). Provide descriptive title of activity, your involvement, number of participants or students involved, number and duration of each session.
3. Extension presentations and workshops. Indicate title, type, and scope of presentation; number of times presented; attendance estimates. Include evidence of effectiveness (e.g. evaluation summaries) where applicable.
4. Public addresses to lay audiences (TV/radio presentations, service groups, etc.). Indicate title, type, scope of presentation; number of times presented; attendance estimates. Include evidence of effectiveness (e.g. evaluation summaries) where applicable.
5. Presentations at professional meetings, without published abstracts. List presenter, co-authors (if any), title, date and name of meeting (list scientific oral or poster presentations having published abstracts or proceedings at D5). Womac, A.R. 2006. Biomass size reduction and separation (part of Tennessee Biomass Production and Use presentation), CSREES Multistate Regional project - S1007: The Science and Engineering for a Biobased Industry and Economy, Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, Sept 18-19, 2006. Womac, A.R. 2006 (Co-presenter with T. Rials and K. Tiller). Biomass pre-treatment research, Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET/AHS) Southern Region Summer Meeting, Knoxville, TN, August 7, 2006. Womac,A.R., X.P. Ye, D.G. Hayes, C. Igathinathane, S. Klasek, P. Miu, T. Yang, M. Yu, S. Sokhansanj, and S. Narayan. 2006. Advances in integrated size reduction and separation. A poster presentation at American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Agricultural Equipment Conference, Louisville, KY, Feb 13, 2006. Miu, P. A.R. Womac, Igathinathane, C., M. Yu, S. Narayan, and S. Sokhansanj. 2006. Rotary equipment and process investigation for size reduction. A poster presentation at American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Agricultural Equipment Conference, Louisville, KY, Feb 13, 2006. Igathinathane, C., A.R. Womac, P. Miu, M. Yu, S. Narayan, and S. Sokhansanj. 2006. Linear equipment and process investigation for size reduction. A poster presentation at American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Agricultural Equipment Conference, Louisville, KY, Feb 13, 2006. Womac, A.R. 2006. Tank mix surrogates. EPA Drift Reduction Program Development Program conference, held at George Washington Carver Center, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland, January 31, 2006. 6. Student mentoring. Fill in the boxes to indicate number of students in each category.
7. Student or commodity club activities (e.g. club advisor, team competitions, honor or professional societies, etc.). List the club or group; your role with the club or group; and the activities, honors or awards received by this group under your mentorship. 2006 Univ of Tenn. ASABE 1/4-scale tractor tractor team, Mechanical systems design and traction/ballasting Advisor 8. Other instructional and teaching activities. Womac, A.R. 2006. Integrated size reduction and separation to pre-fractionate biomass. University of British Columbia, Department of Chemical Engineering Seminar Series, Vancouver, Canada, June 26, 2006. Womac, A.R. 2006. Biomass collection, transport, storage, and pre-processing: a systematic approach. Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station Seminar Series, Tennessee Forest Products Center, Knoxville, TN, Feb 23, 2006. D. PUBLICATIONS. List only publications that were published during the annual reporting period (for #8, submitted during reporting period). Format citations as typical and appropriate for outlet. If a co-author(s) is a student or was working under your direct supervision, place an asterisk after that person's name. 1. Refereed articles or refereed reviews appearing in peer-reviewed professional journals. Cannayen, I.*, A. R. Womac, S. Sokhansanj, and L. O. Pordesimo. 2006. Mass and moisture distribution in above-ground components in standing corn plants. Transactions of the ASAE 49(1):97-106. Cannayen, I., I. Srikanth, K. Prakash, B. Ramesh, and A. R. Womac. 2006. Development of parabolic weirs for simplified discharge measurement. Biosystems Engineering 96(1):111-119. Cannayen, I., V.S.S. Prakash, U. Padma, G. Ravi Babu, and A. R. Womac. 2006. Interactive computer software development for leaf area measurement. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 51(3):1-16. Ye, X. P., S. Wang, R. Ruan, J. Qi, A. R. Womac, and C.J. Doona. 2006. Water mobility and mold susceptibility of engineered wood products. Transactions of the ASABE 49(4): 1159-1165. Yu, M.*, A. R. Womac, I. Cannayen, P. D. Ayers, and M. J. Buschermohle. 2006. Switchgrass ultimate stresses at typical biomass conditions available for processing. Biomass and Bioenergy 30(3):214-219. 2. Book chapters or books. 3. Bulletins, reports, circulars, pamphlets, factsheets. 4. Popular press, trade, UTIA magazine or newsletter articles. 5. Abstracts from scientific or discipline meetings, papers from conference proceedings, etc. Cannayen, I.*, A. R. Womac, P. Miu, I. Cannayen, M. Yu, and S. Sokhansanj. 2006. Igathinathane, C., A.R. Womac, P. Miu, M.Yu, S. Sokhansanj, and S. Narayan. 2006. Linear knife grid application for biomass size reduction.. Paper No. 066170, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI. Cannayen, I., B. Chennakesavulu, K. Manohar, A. R. Womac, and L. O. Pordesimo. 2006. Leaf area meter development using photovoltaic panel and testing. Paper No. 066078, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI. Klasek, S. E.*, A. R. Womac, D. C. Yoder, and D. G. Hayes. 2006. Terminal velocity determination for component separation of biomass.. Paper No. 066218, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI. Liu, L., X. P. Ye, L. M. Kline, D. G. Hayes, A. R. Womac, and S. Sokhansanj. 2006. Fast biomass compositional analysis using fourier transform near-infrared technique. Paper No. 066155, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI. Miu, P.*, A. R. Womac, I. Cannayen, and S. Sokhansanj. 2006. Analysis of biomass comminution and separation processes in rotary equipment – a review. Paper No. 066169, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI. Naimi, L.J., S. Sokhansanj, S. Mani, M. Hoque, T. Bi, and A. R. Womac. 2006. Cost and performance of woody biomass size reduction for energy production. Paper No. 06-107, The Canadian Society for Bioengineering, McGillivray, Winnipeg. Yang, Y. T.*, A. R. Womac, and P. Miu. 2006. High specific separation of biomass materials by sieving. Paper No. 066172, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI. Yu, M.*, A. R. Womac, P. Miu, I. Cannayen, S. Sokhansanj, and S. Narayan. 2006. Direct energy measurement systems for rotary biomass grinder – hammermill. Paper No. 066217, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI. 6. Theses/Dissertations completed by students that you directed. Klasek, S. E.* 2006. Terminal Velocity Determinations for Component Separation of Biomass. A Thesis Presented for the Master of Science Degree, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville . 7. Other publications. 8. Articles submitted during the reporting period that are in review, in press or rejected. Please do not list articles in preparation. Cannayen, I.*, A. R. Womac, S. Sokhansanj, and L. O. Pordesimo. 2006. Thermodynamic properties of moisture sorption and mold appearance on selected corn stover components. Transactions of the ASABE. (in review) Cannayen, I., B. Chennakesavulu, K. Manohar, A. R. Womac, and L. O. Pordesimo. 2006. Photovoltaic leaf area meter development and testing. International Journal of Food Properties. (in review) Wang, X., P. D. Ayers, A. R. Womac, and D. Depauw. 2006. Sensitivity analysis of continuous roll prediction model for front drive mowers. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. (in review) Ye, X. P., J. Julson, M. Kuo, A. R. Womac, and D. Myers. 2006. Properties of medium density fiberboards made from renewable biomass. Bioresource Technology 98(5)(2007):1077-1084. (in press) E. FUNDING. Format each entry as a citation, include as applicable: investigators (with percent effort shown on grant or contract document), title, source/agency. 1. Grant and contract proposals submitted but not awarded during this reporting period. Indicate date of submission and status (still pending, rejected). 2. Grants and contracts awarded during this reporting period. List inclusive period of support (start and end dates) and total amount of award. 3. Grants and contracts awarded in past years that continued into this reporting period. List inclusive period of support (start and end dates) and total amount of award. Womac, A. R. (100%). CP Nozzle Testing - CP59HV. The CP Products Co., Inc. 7/1/03-6/30/08. $6,264. Womac, A. R. (49%), D. G. Hayes (26%), X. P. Ye (26%). Integrated Size Reduction and Separation to Pre-Fractionate Biomass. US DOE. 10/1/04-9/30/07. $717,399. Womac, A. R. (100%). Atomization performance of 110ME, 110MR, and 110DR nozzles. Wilger, Inc.. 4/1/05-12/31/08. $7,101. Womac, A. R. (100%). CP-65T-S Nozzle Testing. CP Products Co., Inc. 12/1/04-12/31/10. $14,094. Womac, A. R. (100%). Nozzle Evaluation of Wilger 110ER, 110SR, 110MR, 110DR, & 80SR. Wilger, Inc. 10/1/05-12/31/09. $12,028. 4. Gifts. List recipients, donor, items or amount donated and dollar equivalent received during the reporting period. 5. Grant reports submitted. List authors, title, to whom submitted, date submitted. Womac, A.R. 2006. 2006 Annual progress report – Year 2 of 3, Integrated size reduction and separation to pre-fractionate biomass, USDA-NRCS Grant Agreement 68-3A75-4-136, 85 pp. Womac, A.R. 2006. USDA-DOE Biomass Project ON-SITE Review Report and Presentations. May 15-16, 2006, Knoxville TN 6. Other (e.g. sales, royalties). Klindt,T.H., 2005. Research, Extension and Educational Programs on Bio-based Energy Technologies and Products, DOE DE-FG36-05GO85014, Amend No. A000, Sun Grant Funding through US Department of Energy. $744,000 total – T.Rials: $175,000, A. Womac: $175,000 for Research Project 2 – Biomass Deconstruction and Evaluation, K. Tiller: $274,000, UT Fellowships: $120,000. 07/01/2005 to 09/30/2008. F. OTHER CREATIVE ACTIVITIES.
G. SERVICE. List client outreach activities (both public and private sectors) and professional service.
H. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (meetings, workshops, classes, trips, etc.). List the event or activity, sponsor, duration of event and your role. Participant/Session Organizer (7 sessions)/Moderator/ – ASABE International Annual Meeting, Portland OR July 9-12, 2006. Participant - Lead21 Session III – Joint National Extension Leadership Development and ESCOP / ACOP Leadership Development Program, College Park, MD, Feb 28 – March 3, 2006. Participant – S1007 Project on Biomass, coupled with tour of University of Minnesota and "District Energy" a biomass (yard waste wood chip) heat/cooling/power facility downtown St. Paul (see www.districtenergy.com) I. PERSONNEL SUPERVISION. List the postdoctoral fellows, research associates, research assistants, technicians, extension associates, extension assistants, graduate assistants, undergraduate students, clerical personnel or others that you supervised during the year.
J. HONORS AND AWARDS. List honors and awards received during reporting period, including the name of the organization presenting the award. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||