An axiomatic approach to the design and operation of a wood pellet production line

¹ DEMI, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
² UNIDEMI & DEMI, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
³ UNIDEMI & CINAV, Escola Naval, Base Naval de Lisboa – Alfeite, 2810-001 Almada, Portugal

^* Corresponding author: jmf@fct.unl.pt

Abstract

With the recent search for sustainable energies, the use of forest residues has never been so important and profitable. Biomass production companies are in a constant search for new methods to reuse what is otherwise seen as waste. In this context, wooden pellets have been a booming market. In Portugal, its production increased from 400 000 to 1 200 000 metric tons per year in the period 2008-2014. This production represents a growth of 300% in 6 years, most of it used for exportation. The manufacturing process is empiric and lacks a scientific approach. In this paper, Axiomatic Design is used to analyse a production line of wooden pellets aiming to identify couplings, both in the equipment and in the production process, and to propose solutions that follow the independence axiom.