Ajax Equipment Supplies Mobile Biomass Handling System to UK Biochar Research Centre

Ajax Equipment has supplied the UK Biochar Research Centre (UKBRC) with a mobile twin screw feeder and hopper for biomass handling as part of a pyrolysis system.

Based at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Geosciences, the UKBRC investigates how biochar can be used in resource management, soil improvement, and energy production.

The screw feeder and hopper replace an existing handling system that failed to provide adequate flow of material, as it did not address the material’s extreme particle shape and propensity to interlock. To ensure the required supply of biomass, Ajax designed a hopper that provides a reliable flow under gravity, while the twin screw feeder directly below utilises screws with a progressive pitch to secure even draw down of biomass from the full length of the hopper’s outlet.  

“Since commissioning Ajax Equipment’s screw feeder and hopper, the equipment has performed exactly as expected, handling the material very well,” said Christian Wurzer, researcher at the UK Biochar Research Centre.

“It’s great for Ajax to support the UK Biochar Centre in Edinburgh with their vital work,” said Eddie McGee, managing director, Ajax Equipment. “The biomass materials being processed present significant challenges to handling as they readily interlock or 'bird's nest', forming obstacles to flow. Ajax’s technical understanding of flow properties and the material’s interaction with equipment helps us optimize performance with even the most challenging materials. By exploiting the most appropriate flow shape for the hopper and pairing it with state-of-the-art twin screw feeder design, the flow and feed of the material are ensured.”