Abstract: A woody biomass baler having a baling chamber adapted to receive woody biomass material and a compression system adapted to compact the material into a parallelepiped bale in the baling chamber, wherein the baling chamber has a front wall that acts as a reciprocating compression platen corresponding in dimensions to the width W and height H of the bale, opposing upper and lower walls corresponding in dimensions to the length L and either of the W and H of the bale, and opposing sidewalls corresponding in dimensions to the L and the other of the W and H of the bale, and wherein each chamber wall selected from among the upper wall, the lower wall, and each of the sidewalls can withstand a distributed force perpendicular to the selected chamber wall of between (0.11×Pp psi×Aw) pounds and (0.3×Pp psi×Aw) pounds, wherein 0.11 and 0.

Abstract: Comminution process of wood chips to produce wood particles, by feeding wood chips in a direction of travel substantially normal to grain through a counter rotating pair of intermeshing arrays of cutting discs arrayed axially perpendicular to the direction of wood chip travel, wherein the cutting discs have a uniform thickness (Td), to produce wood particles characterized by a length dimension (L) substantially equal to the Td and aligned substantially parallel to grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) aligned normal to W and L, wherein the W×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel end surfaces with crosscut fibers.

Abstract: Cargo of rectangular bales 22 of switchgrass or miscanthus unchopped stalks having a cargo payload density of between 14.6 and 20.5 lb/ft3, loaded on a semitrailer truck 16, and preferably having an energy value of at least 240 million Btu.

Abstract: Comminution process of wood chips to produce wood particles, by feeding wood chips in a direction of travel substantially normal to grain through a counter rotating pair of intermeshing arrays of cutting discs arrayed axially perpendicular to the direction of wood chip travel, wherein the cutting discs have a uniform thickness (Td), to produce wood particles characterized by a length dimension (L) substantially equal to the Td and aligned substantially parallel to grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) aligned normal to W and L, wherein the W×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel end surfaces with crosscut fibers.

Abstract: Comminution process of wood veneer to produce wood particles, by feeding wood veneer in a direction of travel substantially normal to grain through a counter rotating pair of intermeshing arrays of cutting discs arrayed axially perpendicular to the direction of wood veneer travel, wherein the cutting discs have a uniform thickness (Td), to produce wood particles characterized by a length dimension (L) substantially equal to the Td and aligned substantially parallel to grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) aligned normal to W and L, wherein the W×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel end surfaces with end checking between crosscut fibers.

Abstract: Cargo of rectangular bales of switchgrass or miscanthus stalks having a cargo payload density of between 14.6 and 20.5 lb/ft3, loaded on a semitrailer truck, and preferably having an energy value of at least 240 million Btu.

Abstract: Corn-stover biomass feedstocks characterized by tight particle size distribution profiles at field moisture contents.

Abstract: A woody biomass baler having a baling chamber adapted to receive woody biomass material and a compression system adapted to compact the material into a parallelepiped bale in the baling chamber, wherein the baling chamber has a front wall that acts as a reciprocating compression platen corresponding in dimensions to the width W and height H of the bale, opposing upper and lower walls corresponding in dimensions to the length L and either of the W and H of the bale, and opposing sidewalls corresponding in dimensions to the L and the other of the W and H of the bale, and wherein each chamber wall selected from among the upper wall, the lower wall, and each of the sidewalls can withstand a distributed force perpendicular to the selected chamber wall of between (0.11×Pp psi×Aw) pounds and (0.3×Pp psi×Aw) pounds, wherein 0.11 and 0.

Abstract: A process of comminution of wood chips (C) having a grain direction to produce a mixture of wood particles (P), wherein the wood chips are characterized by an average length dimension (LC) as measured substantially parallel to the grain, an average width dimension (WC) as measured normal to LC and aligned cross grain, and an average height dimension (HC) as measured normal to WC and LC, wherein WC>LC, and wherein the comminution process comprises the step of feeding the wood chips in a direction of travel substantially randomly to the grain direction through a counter rotating pair of intermeshing arrays of cutting discs (D) arrayed axially perpendicular to the direction of wood chip travel, wherein the cutting discs have a uniform thickness (TD), and wherein at least one of LC, WC, and HC is less than TD.

Abstract: Cargo of rectangular switchgrass or miscanthus bales having a payload density of between 14.6 and 20.5 lb/ft3.

Abstract: Method of baling switchgrass whole stalks into square bales at bulk densities between 12.5 and 20.5 lbs/ft3, optimized for highway transport after dry down to maximize semi-trailer truck payloads.

Abstract: A process of comminution of corn stover having a grain direction to produce a mixture of corn stover, by feeding the corn stover in a direction of travel substantially randomly to the grain direction one or more times through a counter rotating pair of intermeshing arrays of cutting discs (D) arrayed axially perpendicular to the direction of corn stover travel.

Abstract: A baler for making compacted bales of a cellulosic biomass material, the baler comprising: a housing defining a compaction chamber therein, wherein the housing comprises a top wall, an infeed opening defined in the top wall for introducing the material into the compaction chamber, and wherein a cutting device is mounted on the housing alongside the infeed opening.

Abstract: A beneficiation process and apparatus for the continuous treatment of comminuted woody biomass, particularly hog fuel, to substantially remove mineral impurities and bark and to recover white wood therefrom for use as industrial feedstocks.

Abstract: Wood particles having fibers aligned in a grain, wherein: the wood particles are characterized by a length dimension (L) aligned substantially parallel to the grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) normal to W and L; the L×H dimensions define two side surfaces characterized by substantially intact longitudinally arrayed fibers; the W×H dimensions define two cross-grain end surfaces characterized individually as aligned either normal to the grain or oblique to the grain; the L×W dimensions define two substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces; and, a majority of the W×H surfaces in the mixture of wood particles have end checking.

Abstract: A woody biomass baler having a baling chamber adapted to receive woody biomass material, a compression system adapted to compact the material into a rectangular bale in the chamber, and an ejection system adapted to move the bale from the chamber, wherein each baling chamber wall can withstand a minimum distributed force perpendicular to the wall of at least (0.11×Pp psi×Aw) pounds, wherein Pp is the maximum pressure that the compression system can apply to the material and Aw is the area of the wall expressed in square inches, and wherein the compression system can apply at least one platen pressure between 26 psi and 126 psi to the material.

Abstract: Plant biomass particles coated with a biological agent such as a bacterium or seed, characterized by a length dimension (L) aligned substantially parallel to a grain direction and defining a substantially uniform distance along the grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) normal to W and L. In particular, the L×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel side surfaces characterized by substantially intact longitudinally arrayed fibers, the W×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel end surfaces characterized by crosscut fibers and end checking between fibers, and the L×W dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces.

Abstract: Rectangular switchgrass bales optimized for highway transport on semi-trailer trucks, produced by a process of compacting a switchgrass biomass material at between about 22 and about 32 psi into a rectangular switchgrass bale having a bale density of between 14.6 and 20.5 lb/ft3.

Abstract: A beneficiation process and apparatus for the continuous treatment of comminuted woody biomass, particularly hog fuel, to substantially remove mineral impurities and bark and to recover white wood therefrom for use as industrial feedstocks.

Abstract: Process of baling a switchgrass biomass material at between about 22 and about 32 psi into a rectangular switchgrass bale having a bale density of between 14.6 and 20.5 lb/ft3. A 3×4×8 ft switchgrass bale so produced weighs between 1,402 and 1,968 pounds.