Agricultural products dryer database project - Base de données de séchoir pour produits agricoles
Written by René Morissette
Last months, I received a couple of calls about available technologies to artificially dry agricultural products, more specifically hay (for dairy or horses) and wood chip from short rotation woody crop. I have some information from our own experiements and visits but I'm sure that I missed a lot. So I would like to start a database project to list commercial and home-made drying technologies.
If you own, develop or intend to acquire a comercial dryer, fell free to contact me to discuss about it ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). I will send you a spreadsheet to fill in technical information.
Thanks for your interest and cooperation!
Canadian Bioenergy Association (CanBio) event in Quebec City - May 19-20 2011
Written by René MorissetteJust a short post to inform you that I will attend the CanBio event in Quebec City on May 19 and 20 2011. This event will present new trends in bioenergy such as district heating, biomass integration with existing facilities, regulation, European and American markets, transport issues, pellets, pyrolysis, biochar, cellulosic ethanol, integration with forest industry and much more.
I will try to get you back with the highlights of this event in a next post.
You can access event's website here: http://www.canbio.ca/events/quebec/quebec11announcement.php
Stay tuned!
Old Canadian Biosystem Engineering Journal editions now (partially) available online
Written by René MorissetteThe Journal Editor, Sri Ranjan, is working very hard with his team to scan old CBE papers to make them available online. They used OCR technology that convert image text into readable text by search engines. This would be a great addon for the Society members.
At this time, you can access Volumes 2 (1960), 3 (1961) and 7 (1965) . More volumes will be available soon.
We need your help to complete the online collection: volumes 1, 4, 5 and 6 are still missing. If you own or you know someone who own these volumes, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !
Canada’s biomass fuel industry will benefit from new testing center in NB.
Written by René Morissette
The University of New Brunswick’s Canadian BioEnergy Centre is now equipped of a new lab-scale pelletizer, hammer mill and chipper that will allow the CBEC to go on to the next step of biomass material evaluation. That is determining the fiber’s ability to be made into energy products, whether it is for chips to be burned directly at a biomass plant or to be further ground up for pellets. This lab can test wood product and ag product as well.
Read the full article in the Biomass Power and Thermal Magazine
Government of Canada Helps Forage Industry Compete Around the World
Written by René MorissetteOttawa, Ontario, March 9, 2011 - The Government of Canada is investing more than $90,000 in the Manitoba Forage Council to help support the hay, forage, and livestock industry, announced Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris.
"Enhancing Canada's competitiveness in global markets is key to producers' profitability," said MP Tweed, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "That is why we support the forage industry's efforts to increase our presence on the world market."
Wind Turbines May Have Positive Effect On Crops
Written by René Morissette
Source: First Bell briefing, American Society for Engineering Education
The AP (12/21) reports, "The wind turbines that have been popping up across Iowa may be good for the corn and soybean fields that surround them, according to an Iowa State University researcher [Gene Takle], who collected data from fields around the turbines last summer." According to Takle, "it appears the turbines may help moderate ground level temperatures, blow away moisture that can grow fungi and stir up air, exposing plants to more growth-promoting carbon dioxide." However, Takle added, "We anticipate the impact of wind turbines to be subtle."
The US News and World Report (12/21) also reports this story, noting that Takle, a researcher at the DOE's Ames Laboratory, worked with Julie Lundquist, assistant professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and joint appointee at the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. "Both Takle and Lundquist stressed that their early findings have yet to definitively establish whether or not wind turbines are in fact beneficial to the health and yield potential of soybeans and corn planted nearby. However, their finding that the turbines increase airflow over surrounding crops, suggests this is a realistic possibility."
Engineer Wellness GoodLife Fitness Corporate Program
Written by René MorissetteStaying fit is the key to reducing stress, feeling healthy, increasing your energy and enjoying an excellent quality of life. Beginning 1 Sept 2010, Engineer Wellness corporate program at GoodLife Fitness Canada (Energie Cardio in Québec, Nubody in BC), is available to all members of EIC Member Societies, including student members, and their family members living under the same roof. Details on joining can be obtained by visiting www.engineergoodlife.ca The username to access the site is eic and the password is goodlife. Please only share this information with engineer colleagues. GoodLife Fitness information can be found at http://goodlifefitness.ca. Participants need to have a society membership number.
2010 CAETS Statement - Sustainable Food Systems
Written by René MorissetteClaude Laguë, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ottawa send me this topical report on sustainable food systems stated at the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) in Copenhagen (Denmark) 29-30 June 2010.
A symposium held June 29 focused on how to achieve a sustainable global food system, which allows increased food production while reducing poverty and hunger and over-exploitation of natural resources. It was noted that past advances in food production, obtained in part by over-exploitation of natural resources, as more land was brought into agriculture and new fish stocks were exploited, must be avoided. Achieving sustainable management of natural resources while meeting increasing future food demands was recognized as the key to success.
I invite you to read the report summary or to download the full report (4 pages, PDF, 3.0 MB)
Source: http://www.caets.org
Photos of the CIGR 2010 Congress in Québec City June 13-17
Written by René Morissette
The International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (www.cigr.org) held its World Congress for the first time in Canada (Québec City) on June 13-17, 2010. A total of 746 papers were presented by delegates from 46 different countries. Technical sessions were organized in all seven CIGR sections: Section I on land and water engineering, including EnviroWater 2010; Section II on buildings and environment; Section III on field machinery; Section IV on energy; Section V on ergonomics and systems engineering; Section VI on processing; and Section VII on information systems. In addition, the program included the 9th International Drainage Symposium sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, the 10th Annual Meeting of the American Ecological Engineering Society, the 8th World Congress on Computers in Agriculture, a Nanotechnology Symposium and an Aquacultural Engineering program.
Here is some nice pics taken during the Congress. Enjoy!
Un séchoir à foin bi-énergie : solaire et biomasse
Written by René Morissette
Résumé de l'avant-midi de démonstration à la Ferme du Viaduc, Neuville, QC. 22 septembre 2010.
Le Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) et Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada (AAC) ont organisé une demi-journée de démonstration d'un séchoir à foin à la Ferme du Viaduc (Richard Matte, Neuville, QC). Ce séchoir à petites balles a la particularité de réchauffer l'air de séchage à l'aide d'un capteur solaire passif et d'un système de chauffage à échangeurs de chaleur alimenté par une fournaise à biomasse.
