23rd International Symposium on Transport Phenomena

Auckland, New Zealand

1922 November 2012

Effect of Chip Aspect Ratio on Hydraulic Transportation of Wood Chips in

Sloped Terrain Pipelines

T. Sawai1, M. Ohmasa1, N. Hirokawa1 and T. Kajimoto2

1
Department of Biomechanical and Human Factors Engineering,
Kinki University, Kinokawa-shi, Wakayama 649-6493, Japan
2
Industrial Technology Center of Wakayama Prefecture,
Wakayama-shi, Wakayama 649-6261, Japan

Abstract
Nomenclature
The unutilized forest and agricultural biomass such as residues aspect ratio of wood chip
left on forest floor and unutilized portions of farm crops is A cross-sectional area of liquid film
considered as one of the most promising domestic resources in B width of liquid film
Japan. The utilization of domestic biomass contributes to the d inner diameter of test tube
environmental protection of forests as well as the reduction in g gravitational acceleration
exhaustion of carbon dioxide. To promote the utilization of hm average depth of liquid film
woody biomass generated in forests and hilly agricultural areas, Ie energy gradient
the efficiencies for the transportation across hilly district regions M0 specific force
has to be improved. n roughness coefficient of Manning
nS frequency of transported wood chip
In the present study, the hydraulic transportation system of wood N number of wood chips
chips by means of liquid film flow in sloped pipeline is QL flow rate of liquid film
investigated. The wood chips produced by crushing or cutting QS flow rate of wood chip
forest biomass such as thinned woods and logging residues are QSmax maximum flow rate of wood chip
supplied to the pipeline laid on hilly district regions. The water is r radius of test tube
drawn by the pump from the water reservoir at the foot of a R hydraulic radius
mountain to the supply port of pipeline. The wood chips are average length of wood chips arranged in the cross
transported downward with the liquid film flow formed in the sa
direction on the liquid film
pipeline due to the gravity force. The hydraulic transportation sl longer side of wood chip
system in this study is simple and economical compared to the ss shorter side of wood chip
conventional forestry harvesting machines, but the stagnation of v velocity
wood chips can occur, which causes the blockade of wood chips vs velocity of wood chip
in pipelines [1]. The purpose of the study is to clarify the effect V volume of wood chip
of wood chip aspect ratio on the mechanism of blockade and angle formed by width of liquid film
maximum flow rate of wood chips. The test section imitating the x average distance of the neighboring wood chips
hilly terrain pipeline consists of three parts: the upstream part, the inclination angle of midstream part of test tube
downstream part and midstream part. Both the upstream and S density of wood chip
downstream parts of the test section are mounted with an incline
of 30 degree, and the midstream part of the test section is
Subscripts
mounted in the horizontal position. Three test tubes are used with
1 supercritical flow
inner diameters of 32mm, 50mm and 65mm. Wood chips are
2 subcritical flow
made of Balsa square timber, and the three kinds of aspect ratios
of wood chips are used, 333mm, 633mm and 933mm.
The density of wood chips is adjusted in the range of 600- Introduction
1000kg/m3 by varying the time to soak wood chips in the water.
To predict maximum flow rate of wood chips at a given liquid To reduce the exhaustion of carbon dioxide, the biomass resource
flow rate, the analytical model for blockade of wood chips is also is considered to be an important contributor to sustainable energy
investigated. strategies, since biomass has carbon neutral and renewable
characteristics.
The results obtained are as follows. The blockade of wood chips
in the pipeline is caused by the occurrence of hydraulic jump in Biomass resources can be classified into three categories [2]; (1)
horizontal flow, and the maximum flow rate of wood chips is Plantation biomass produced in the field without the land-use
greatly affected by the liquid film flow rate and aspect ratio of competition, (2) Waste biomass derived from the production
wood chips. The maximum flow rate of wood chips increases activities, and (3) Unutilized forest and agricultural biomass such
with increasing liquid film flow rate, but decreases with as residues left on forest floor and unutilized portions of farm
increasing aspect ratio of wood chips. From the comparison crops. Among them, the forest biomass derived from logging and
between the experimental data and the analytical model to predict thinning operations in forests is one of the most promising
the blockade of wood chips, it is found that the model gives a domestic resources in Japan. The potential annual energy of
fairly good agreement with the experimental results of maximum forest biomass is estimated to be one hundred million toe [2],
flow rate of wood chips at a given liquid film flow rate. which corresponds to 20% of the annual primary energy
consumption in Japan. The promotion of the utilization of forest
biomass also contributes to the environmental protection of
forests as well as the reduction in exhaustion of carbon dioxide. Wood chip supply system
However, since most of the forests in Japan locate in the Electric drill
mountain region, the forest biomass has not been used
continually due to the difficulty in carrying residues out of the
forest. In order to promote the utilization of forest biomass, the
efficiencies for the transportation across the mountains with steep
slopes have to be improved. DC power supply

Mixing device
In the present study, the hydraulic transportation system of wood
chips proposed by Sawai et al. [1] is investigated. The wood
chips produced by crushing or cutting forest biomass such as Test section
thinned woods and logging residues are supplied to the pipeline
laid on hilly district regions. The water is drawn by the pump
from the water reservoir at the foot of a mountain to the supply
port of pipeline. The liquid film is formed in the pipeline, and the Needle valve
Video camera
wood chips are transported downward with the liquid film flows
due to the gravity force. In the previous study [1], it is found that
the stagnation of wood chips in the hydraulic jump causes the
blockade of wood chips in pipelines. But the wood used in the
previous experiment was a cubic chip whose side length is 3mm.
The actual wood chips produced by crushing or cutting forest Gear pump PC
biomass are rectangular parallelepiped. The shape of wood chip
is considered to affect the mechanism of blockade and the
maximum flow rate of wood chips. The purpose of the study is to
clarify the effect of aspect ratio of wood chips on the maximum
flow rate of wood chips at a given liquid flow rate. The analytical
model to predict the blockade for various aspect ratios of wood Water storage tank
DC power supply
chips is also investigated.
Fig.1 Experimental Apparatus
Experimental Apparatus and Procedures

Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram of experimental apparatus.

The experimental apparatus consists of test section, wood chip
supply system, water supply system, and measuring devices. The
30
transparent suction hose is used as the test section, since the hose
is flexible and a circular cross section of the hose is not distorted d
into an oblate shape. As shown in Figure 2, the test section
imitating the hilly terrain pipeline consists of three parts: the 30
upstream part, the downstream part and midstream part. Both the
upstream and downstream parts of the test section are mounted
with an incline of 30 degree. The midstream part of the test
section is mounted in the horizontal position. Three kinds of
inner diameters of test tubes 32mm, 50mm and 65mm are used to
investigate the effect of tube diameter on the blockade condition Fig.2 Test Section
of wood chip. The lengths of test section for the upstream,
midstream and downstream parts are 1100, 850 and 600mm,
respectively.
Experimental Results
The wood chip supply system is composed of the wood chip
container and impeller. The flow rate of wood chips is set by Flow Pattern and Maximum Flow Rate of Wood Chips
adjusting the number of rotation of the impeller. The water is
supplied by the gear pump from the reservoir tank. The funnel is According to the visual observation in the previous study [1], it is
used as the solid-liquid mixing device. The water is injected from confirmed that the blockade of wood chips occurs at two
the side wall of the funnel, and the wood chips are dropped from locations, one is the solid-liquid mixing device, and the other is
the wood chip container. The liquid film flow is formed in the the test tube. The former blockade occurs, when the liquid flow
test tube, and the wood chips are transported downward with the rate is below 1.510-5m3/s, or the inner diameter of test tube is
liquid film. Wood chips are made of Balsa square timber, and the 32mm. At the above conditions, the width of the liquid film
sizes of wood chip are 333mm, 633mm and 933mm, formed in the test tube is too narrow to transport the wood chips
which are hereafter represented by a=1, a=2 and a=3. The steadily. The latter blockade is based on the solid-liquid two-
density of wood chips, S is adjusted in the range of 600- phase flow characteristic. In the present study, the mechanism of
1000kg/m3 by varying the time to soak wood chips in the water. the latter blockade in the test tube is investigated.
 [10-5] 3 [10-5] 3
d=50mm d=50mm
=0 =0
3 S=1012kg/m3
2 S=567kg/m 2

QS m3/s
QS m3/s

1 1

0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
QL m3/s [10-5] QL m3/s [10-5]
(a) S =567kg/m3 (b) S =1012kg/m3

Fig.3 Flow pattern map of wood chip for 333mma=1

[10-5] 3 [10-5] 3
d=50mm d=50mm
=0 3
=0 3
2 S=568kg/m 2 S=1000kg/m
QS m3/s

QS m3/s

1 1

0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
QL m3/s [10-5] QL m3/s [10-5]
(a) S =568kg/m3 (b) S =1000kg/m3

Fig.4 Flow pattern map of wood chips for 933mma=3

conditions of QL and S. The difference in QSmax between a=1 and

Figures 3 and 4 show the flow pattern maps of wood chips in the a=3 is closely related to the arrangement of wood chips after the
test tube of 50mm for a=1 and a=3. The vertical and horizontal hydraulic jump. In the supercritical flow region, the wood chips
axes represent the flow rates of wood chips and liquid film, QS of a=3 is transported under the condition where the longer side of
and QL. Figures (a) and (b) in each figure show the effect of wood chips is located in the same direction of liquid film flow. In
density of wood chips on the flow pattern. The symbols used in the subcritical flow region, however, the longer side of wood
the figure are as follows: chip is arranged in perpendicular to the flow direction of liquid
film, which can cause the reduction in QSmax for a=3. The effect
: Wood chips can be transported with the liquid film of arrangement of wood chips on QSmax is analyzed in the next
flow. chapter.

: Blockade of wood chips is observed at the hydraulic In the case of a=1 and S=1012kg/m3, stagnation of wood chips is
jump of the liquid film flow. observed right after the hydraulic jump, but the wood chips
arranged in layers in the liquid film are transported slowly with
the liquid film flow. The maximum flow rate of wood chips for
: Stagnation of wood chips is observed right after the S=1012kg/m3 is larger than that for wood chips whose density is
hydraulic jump, and the wood chips are arranged in layers smaller than water density. In the case of a=3 and S=1000kg/m3,
in the liquid film. The wood chips are transported slowly the wood chips arranged in layers in the liquid film are not
with the liquid film flow. observed after the hydraulic jump.

In the horizontal tube, the liquid film changes from supercritical Effect of liquid flow rate, chip density, tube diameter and chip
flow to subcritical flow, and the drastic increase in the depth and aspect ratio on maximum flow rate of wood chips
width of liquid film flow occurs, which is what is called
hydraulic jump. When QS becomes large at a given QL, blockade Figure 5 shows the variation of QSmax with QL for various
of wood chips is observed right after the hydraulic jump. densities of wood chips, S. In the case of a=1 in Figure 5(a), the
Therefore, at a given QL, the flow rate of wood chips has a maximum flow rates of wood chips for S=1000 kg/m3 is larger
maximum, which is defined as the maximum flow rate of wood than those for S=600 kg/m3 and 800 kg/m3. In the case of a=3 in
chips, QSmax. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, it is found that QSmax Figure 5(b), the effect of S on QSmax is small.
increases with increasing QL. From the results of comparison
between a=1 in Figure 3 and a=3 in Figure 4, it is found that Figure 6 shows the variation of QSmax with QL for various tube
QSmax for a=3 is smaller than QSmax for a=1 under the same diameters, d. The maximum flow rates of wood chips decreases
 [10-5] 3 [10-5] 3
333mm S=600kg/m33 933mm S=600kg/m33
d=50mm S=800kg/m d=50mm S=800kg/m 3
=0 S=1000kg/m3 S=1000kg/m
2 =0
QSmax m3/s

QSmax m3/s
2

1 1

0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
QL m3/s [10-5] QL m3/s [10-5]
(a) 333mma=1 (b) 933mma=3

Fig.5 Effect of chip density on QSmax for d=50mm

[10-5] 3 [10-5] 3
333mm d=32mm 933mm d=32mm
=0 d=50mm =0 d=50mm
3 S=800kg/m3
2 S=800kg/m d=65mm d=65mm
QSmax m3/s

QSmax m3/s
1 1

0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
QL m3/s [10-5] QL m3/s [10-5]
(a) 333mma=1 (b) 933mma=3

Fig.6 Effect of tube diameter on QSmax for S =800kg/m3

[10-5] 3 [10-5] 3
d=65mm 333mm d=65mm 333mm
=0 633mm =0 633mm
S=600kg/m3 933mm S=1000kg/m3 933mm
2 2
QSmax m3/s

QSmax m3/s

1 1

0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
QL m3/s [10-5] QL m3/s [10-5]
(a) S =600kg/m3 (b) S =1000kg/m3

Fig.7 Effect of chip aspect ratio on QSmax for d=65mm

with decreasing the tube diameter. In the case of d=32mm,

blockade of wood chips occurs at the solid-liquid mixing device, In the previous section, it is confirmed that QSmax is largely
since the width of the liquid film formed in the test tube is too affected by the aspect ratio of wood chips. The actual wood chips
narrow to transport the wood chips steadily. Particularly, the produced in forests are not composed of uniform aspect ratio, and
wood chips for a=3 in Figure 6(b) are not transported with liquid therefore the effect of mixture of two kinds of wood chips on
film, even if QL becomes large. QSmax is investigated in the present section.

Figure 7 shows the variation of QSmax with QL for various aspect Figures 8(a) shows the flow pattern maps of wood chips, when
ratios of wood chips, a. The maximum flow rate of wood chips is the wood chips for a=1 and for a=3 are mixed in equal volumes.
largely affected by the aspect ratio of wood chips. QSmax To clarify the effect of mixture on QSmax, the flow pattern maps of
decreases with increasing the aspect ratio of wood chips. wood chips for a=1 and a=3 are also shown in Figures 8(b) and
8(c). From the results of comparison in Figure 8, it is found that
QSmax for the wood chip mixture of a=1 and a=3 is between QSmax
Effect of mixture of two kinds of wood chips on flow pattern for a=1 and QSmax for a=3 at a given QL.
 Figure 9 shows the schematic diagram of liquid film flow in both
the upstream inclined tube and midstream horizontal tube. The
cross section of the liquid film in the test tube whose inner
[10-5] 3 diameter is r is also shown.
d=50mm
=0 3
2 S=790kg/m3 for 333mm
S=827kg/m for 933mm
QS m3/s

v1 Supercritical Subcritical
flow flow
1
v1 v2

0 r
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 1
QL m3/s [10-5]
A1
B1
(a) Flow pattern map of wood chip mixture of 333mma=1 r
2
and 933mma=3
A2
B2

[10-5] 3
d=50mm Fig.9 Liquid film flow in test section
=0 3
2 S=851kg/m In the present section, one-dimensional analysis of hydraulic
QS m3/s

jump for the liquid film in horizontal tube is conducted.

Assuming that the frictional force between the liquid film and
tube wall can be negligible as compared to the specific force in
1
the control volume including hydraulic jump, the following
conservation equation of specific force can be applied.

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 (M 0 )2 (M 0 )1 = 0 (1)
QL m3/s [10-5]
The terms (M0)1 and (M0)2 in equation (1) represent the specific
(b) Flow pattern map of wood chip for 333mma=1 forces before and after hydraulic jump, and are given by the
following equations;

[10-5] 3 Q1 2 hm1
( M 0)1 = + A1
2
d=50mm 2
(2)
=0
S=839kg/m3
gA1
2
QS m3/s

Q2 2 hm 2
( M 0) 2 = + A2
2
2
(3)
1
gA2
In the above equations, Q represents the flow rate of liquid film
0 and is given by the product by the cross-sectional area A and
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
QL m3/s [10-5] average velocity v.

(c) Flow pattern map of wood chip for 933mma=3

QL = A v (4)

The cross sectional area A, width B and average depth hm of the

liquid film are given by the following equations as a function of
Fig.8 Effect of mixture of two kinds of wood chips on flow the angle formed by width of liquid film and radius r.
pattern
r2
A= ( sin ) (5)
2
Analysis on Maximum Flow Rate of Wood Chips

Analysis on liquid film flow in test tube B = 2r sin (6)
2
 A r sin chips are arranged in the same direction of liquid film flow. In
hm = = (0 ) (7) the neighborhood of hydraulic jump, the wood chips are arranged
B 4 sin in the lateral direction of the liquid film due to the drastic
2 decrease in velocity of liquid film. After rotating, the longer sides
of some wood chips are arranged in perpendicular to the flow
direction of liquid film in the supercritical flow region.
The average velocity of liquid film v in the upstream inclined
tube is given by Manning formula,
Supercritical Hydraulic Subcritical
flow jump flow
2

R (I e ) 2
1 1
v= 3
(8)
n
where the roughness coefficient of Manning n is given by 0.01,
and the energy gradient Ie is given by sin30. The hydraulic B1
radius R is given by vs1 vs2
B2
r sin
R= (9)
2
Fig.10 Flow of wood chips in horizontal tube
It is assumed that the characteristics of liquid film in the
upstream inclined tube can be applied to those in supercritical The blockade of wood chips in the test tube is caused by the
flow region in horizontal tube. The flow rate of liquid film in friction between wood chips and tube wall, when the number of
supercritical flow is given by substituting equations (5) and (8) wood chips in the cross direction on the liquid film exceeds the
into equation (4). limit of the number of wood chips.

The blockade condition of wood chips is given by,

r2
QL = (1 sin 1 )
2 sl B
2 (10) = 2 (12)
1 r 1 sin 1 x 2 s a
(I e )
3 1

n 2
2
1 where the left hand term represents the number of wood chips in
the cross direction on the liquid film which is given by the longer
Equation (10) is considered to be a function of r and 1. When r side of wood chip sl and the average distance of the neighboring
and QL are given, equation (10) can be solved for 1. Using 1, wood chips in the subcritical flow x2, and the right hand term
the characteristics of liquid film such as average velocity v, cross- represents the limit of the number of wood chips which is
sectional area A and average depth hm are obtained and the determined by dividing the width of liquid film in the subcritical
specific forces before hydraulic jump (M0)1 can be determined. flow B2 by the average length of wood chips arranged in the cross
Once (M0)1 can be obtained, equation (1) is considered to be an direction on the liquid film sa. x2 is given by using the velocity
equation for 2 in subcritical flow. Solving equation (1), the of liquid film in the subcritical flow v2.
characteristics for the liquid film in subcritical flow, A2, B2, hm2
and v2, can be determined. v2
x 2 = (13)
Analysis on blockade of wood chips on the basis of aspect ratio ns
The average distance of the neighboring wood chips on the liquid The maximum frequency of wood chips nSmax and the maximum
film in the flow direction x is given by the frequency nS and flow rate of wood chips QSmax at a given liquid flow rate are
average velocity of wood chip vs, obtained by the following equations;

x =
vs B2 v 2
(11) n S max = (14)
ns sl s a
where nS is given by dividing the flow rate of wood chip by the
B2 v 2
average volume of wood chip, and vS is assumed to be equal to QS max = n S max V = V (15)
the average velocity of liquid film v. sl s a
Figure 10 shows the schematic diagram of liquid film flow and
wood chip arrangement in the neighborhood of hydraulic jump. The average length of wood chips arranged in the cross direction
At the location of hydraulic jump from the supercritical flow to on the liquid film, sa is given by equation (16), assuming that the
subcritical flow, the drastic decrease in velocity and drastic half the number of wood chips are arranged under the condition
increase in the depth and width of liquid film occur. In the where longer sides of wood chips are arranged in perpendicular
supercritical flow before hydraulic jump, the wood chips are to the flow direction of liquid film, as shown in Figure 10.
transported under the condition where the longer sides of wood
 s s + sl sl 1 6 N + sl 2 N + s s N 5
sa = (16) sa = = ss (22)
2 8N 4
The volume of wood chip, V is given by the shorter side ss and QSmax in the case of mixture of two kinds of wood chips is given
longer side sl of wood chips. by substituting equations (21) and (22) into equation (12). The
comparisons between the analytical model and experimental data
V = s s s s sl (17)
are shown in Figures 8(a). It is found that the solid curve
obtained by the analytical model agrees well with the
experimental results.
Substituting equations (16) and (17) into equation (15), QSmax is
expressed as a function of the aspect ratio of wood chip, a. In Figure 11, the experimental results for the equivalent aspect
ratio obtained by equation (21) are shown by the square symbols.
2 The analytical result, equation (20) gives a good agreement with
QS max = ss B2 v2 (18) the experimental results. Therefore, the blockade in the case of
1+ a mixture of two kinds of wood chips is predicted by using the
equivalent aspect ratio.
sl
a= ( 1)
a (19)
ss 1
a=1.5
0.8 a=2
From the equation (18), it is found that QSmax decreases with

(QSmax )a/(QSmax )1
a=3
increasing a when the flow rate of liquid film is constant. Using
equation (18), the ratio of (QSmax)a for the given aspect ratio a to 0.6
(QSmax)1 for a=1 is expressed as a function of aspect ratio.
0.4

(QS max )a 2
d=50mm
0.2=0
=
(QS max )1
(20) QL=3.4710-5m3/s
1+ a 0
1 2 3 4 5
a
The comparisons between the analytical model, equation (18) and
experimental data are shown in Figures 3 and 4. The solid curves
in both figures represent QSmax obtained by equation (18), and Fig.11 Effect of aspect ratio on transportation limit of wood chips
agree well with the experimental results with the exception of the
conditions S=1000kg/m3 and a=1.
Subcritical flow

Figure 11 shows the comparison between equation (20) and

experimental results. The broken curves in the figure represents sl2
the analytical results and gives a good agreement with the sl1 sl2
experimental results for a=2 and a=3. sl1

Analysis on blockade of mixture of two kinds of wood chips ss

The blockade of wood chips in the case of mixture of two kinds

of wood chips is analysed on the basis of the experimental results
shown in Figure 8(a). The longer side of wood chips for a=1 and
a=3 represent sl1 and sl2, and the shorter side of wood chip
represents ss. Since the ratio of the number of wood chips for a=1
to that for a=3 is three, as shown in Figure 12, the average length Fig.12 Arrangement of mixture of two kinds of wood chips in the
of longer side of wood chip mixture in the supercritical flow is neighborhood of hydraulic jump
given by
Required Energy of Present Hydraulic Transportation
s 3 N + sl 2 N 3 System
sl = l 1 = ss (21)
4N 2 In the present chapter, the required energy of transportation by
the present hydraulic transportation system is compared with that
From the above results, the equivalent aspect ratio for wood chip by the cable logging system. According to the study by Harada
mixture is considered to be 1.5. [3], the energy required to transport trees from forest to forestry
road by using a cable logging and a mobile tower yarder is
In the subcritical flow region, the average length of wood chips estimated to be about 180-375MJ per ton wood weight. In the
arranged in the cross direction on the liquid film sa is given by mountains whose angle of inclination is 30 degree, the
equation (22), assuming that the wood chips for a=3 are transportation pipeline of 200m in length and 300mm in diameter
transported under the condition where half the number of longer and the feed water pipeline of 200m in length and 30mm in
sides of wood chips are arranged in perpendicular to the flow diameter are to be installed. In the present system, the energy
direction of liquid film, as shown in Figure 12. required to transport wood chips depends on the energy of pump
to feed water. The required energy of transportation by the
present system is estimated to be about 2-3MJ per ton wood by using the equivalent aspect ratio. From the comparison
weight. From the comparison between the present system and the between the experimental data and the analytical model, it is
conventional cable logging system, it is found that the required confirmed that the model gives a fairly good agreement with
energy of transportation by the present system is much smaller the experimental results.
than that by the conventional system.
3. From the comparison between the present system and the
Conclusions conventional cable logging system, it is found that the
required energy of transportation by the present system is
1. The blockade of wood chips in the test tube is caused by the much smaller than that by the conventional system.
occurrence of hydraulic jump in horizontal flow, and the
maximum flow rate of wood chips is greatly affected by the References
liquid film flow rate and aspect ratio of wood chips. The
maximum flow rate of wood chips increases with increasing [1] Sawai, T., Kajimoto, T., Ohmasa, M., Shibue, T. and Nishi,
liquid film flow rate, but decreases with increasing aspect K., Hydraulic Transportation System of Wood Chips by
ratio of wood chips. Hilly Terrain Pipelines, in ISTP-22, 2011.

2. From the analytical results, it is found that QSmax is [2] Komiyama, H., Sakoda, A., and Matsumura, Y., Biomass
expressed as a function of the aspect ratio of wood chip at a Nippon, Nikkankougyou shinbunsha, 2003.
given liquid film flow rate. The blockade of wood chips in
the case of mixture of two kinds of wood chips is predicted [3] Harada, T., Wood Industry, 57-11, 2002, 480-483. 2002.