AHK Energy Services Ltd

Case Study

AHK Energy Services + University of Strathclyde

The self-heating of Biomass Pellets

AHK Energy Services

For over 140 years, Alfred H Knight has provided trust and certainty to global value chains. we enable international trade through the provision of independent inspection, analytical and technical consultancy services.

As a totally independent family-owned business spanning five generations, we have built a reputation for delivering swift, accurate and reliable reporting on a range of high-value commodities, including metals and minerals. We have since extended our services to support the agricultural and solid fuels markets and are trusted by major clients from every corner of the world.

What was the need?

The Challenge

The self-heating of wood pellets has been an issue within the industry for over a decade. Self-heating events pose a serious health and safety risk for commercial suppliers and significant loss of a much-needed material if a fire is raised. To meet the demand of wood pellets, manufacturing is most commonly done in the US and samples are shipped via bulk carrier cargoes to the UK. Self-heating events are common during and following discharge with some events occurring during short term storage of the much-needed material.

The objective of the KTP was to investigate the self-heating phenomenon of wood-based biomass pellets to develop a robust methodology for predicting self-heating. Alfred H Knight aimed to provide a unique understanding of the issue at hand for their customers, to provide a sustainable solution. The challenge require a full investigative study into the material, factors of self-heating and trigger to build robust predictive method.

What did we do?

The Solution

The real challenge within this project was to first identify and establish important self-heating factors. This theoretically split the project into two stages. Initially a comprehensive study into the material itself was required, investigating pellet chemistry, their microbial activity and physical properties. Additionally, variations in pellet production, geography, logistics and storage had to be considered with each result of the experimental study. All of which had to be thoroughly understood before developing a robust solution. The complexity of self-heating in wood biomass was quickly established during the initial investigations as correlations between each variable became apparent. AHK’s dedication to its customer has allowed vital networking throughout the KTP for significant project developments. This has allowed the development of a large analytical database consisting of pellet properties from samples sourced worldwide. The project solution is to apply multivariate modelling techniques to track pellet changes and therefore, identify the essential tests the model requires to accurately predict self-heating of biomass pellets.

What changed?

The Impacts and Benefits

Impacts for the Company

This project was undertaken at the request of a major power producer and consumer of wood pellets and since then has attracted and appealed to other major players in the industry for whom the risk from self-heating is the same. It is not typical of the routine service we provide, but was offered and requested on a “value added” basis to our client. The mere fact that we were receptive to having a go and the demonstrable progress that we have made have registered with our client who values the additional support over and above our routine service. This traditionally has not been provided by our competitors whom have held long term contracts for over 10 years and for which, we have unsuccessfully competed for on two previous occasions. This year we have succeeded in winning the contract which in part is due to this KTP as well as other value added and IT initiatives.

Whilst we may not conclude our study as the KTP ends in February 2025, we have committed to continue and progress this work ourselves as all involved recognise the wider impact of the project and our efforts across major players in the industry.

Impacts for the Academic Team

The KTP project has greatly increased industrial engagement across many departments within the university. This multidisciplinary project has directly involved 3 departments within the university. This has increased networking across each department as well as a relationship with the business. A relationship new to the university.

The university has gained access to AHK testing facilities and vice versa.

Each academic support has been given the opportunity to apply their expertise and gain insightful knowledge on a growing sustainable material, its logistics and future of the field. The project has initiated several students led projects.

The KTP project team have decided to maintain the collaboration following completion of the KTP project to fulfil further research studies. This will involve continuous engagement with resources, expertise and more student projects. This will bring revenue into two departments following the KTP completion date.

The associate has had an active involvement with each department, helping with student training both equipment and project management assistance as well as presenting at internal conference days.

The KTP project aims to produce a detailed final literature review and report, in addition to the KTP completion report.

Impacts for the Knowledge Transfer Associate

The KTP Associate benefits from:

Obtaining the role as KTP associate I was able to step into industry, using my experience and connections within the University to take on the challenge the business faced. As a material scientist, the project provided an excellent opportunity to expand upon my knowledge and skill set considerably. KTP’s are an excellent way to build your skills and experience in project management, communication and effective networking.

The professional development budget is an excellent way to build upon various skills, particularly those out with your expertise to broaden your skillset. I have been able to participate in several certificated courses and hope to attain chartered chemist status through my portfolio built as a KTP associate. I particularly enjoyed the KTP residentials which not only provided unique training, allowed me the opportunity to build a network of KTP associates. As associates tend to be a new role within a business, I found this helped both professionally and personally to have likeminded roles to connect with.

The People

Meet the Team

Dr Christina McKendry

KTP Associate

Dr Richard Lord

Knowledge Base Supervisor

Alan Porteous

Company Supervisor

Professor John Liggat

Lead Academic