System and method for conditioning and packaging freshly chopped biomass feedstocks for long term storage

A method of conditioning freshly chopped biomass and packaging the freshly chopped biomass to prevent the chopped biomass from spoiling during long term storage, the method comprising:

• feeding the freshly chopped biomass into a baler having a compression chamber and a reciprocal plunger;
• densifying the chopped biomass by engaging the chopped biomass in the baler with the reciprocating plunger and compressing the chopped biomass against an end plate forming a part of the compression chamber;
• expelling air or liquid from the chopped biomass and out the compression chamber in the course of compressing the chopped biomass;
• continuing to compress the chopped biomass in the compression chamber until the bulk density of the compressed chopped biomass equals or exceeds 15 lb/ft3;
• wherein compressing the chopped biomass in the compression chamber forms a bale of chopped biomass;
• discharging the bale of chopped biomass from the baler into a generally airtight bag or container;
• and
• closing the bag or container such that anaerobic conditions are maintained in the bag or container.

A baler configured to condition and bale chopped biomass for long term storage without substantial spoilage, the baler comprising:

• a horizontal and elongated compression chamber;
• a powered reciprocating plunger configured to move into and through at least a portion of the compression chamber;
• the compression chamber including an initial section having a feed opening therein for enabling chopped biomass to be fed into the initial section;
• the opening in the initial section being disposed over the path of the reciprocating plunger;
• the compression chamber further including one or more slotted or perforated sections that project downstream from the initial section and wherein the slotted or perforated sections are configured to expel air or liquid from the chopped biomass in the course of compressing the chopped biomass in the compression chamber;
• the compression chamber further including two or more moveable end plates longitudinally spaced along the compression chamber;
• each end plate configured during one stage of baling the chopped biomass to assume a position extending transversely across the compression chamber and to form a bulkhead against which the chopped biomass is compressed by the plunger, and in another stage of baling the chopped biomass, the end plate assumes a position substantially outside of the compression chamber;
• and wherein the baler by virtue of the plunger and movable end plates is configured to form a compressed bale of chopped biomass by combining two or more compressed sections of the chopped biomass together.

A method of conditioning freshly chopped biomass and packaging the freshly chopped biomass to prevent the chopped biomass from spoiling during long term storage, the method comprising:

• stationing a bulkhead at an initial position in a compression chamber;
• feeding a first batch of freshly chopped biomass into the compression chamber and compressing the freshly chopped biomass against the bulkhead with a reciprocating plunger;
• continuing to compress the first batch of chopped biomass against the bulkhead until the bulk density of the first batch of chopped biomass exceeds a threshold value at which time the compressed biomass forms a partial bale;
• after forming the first batch of chopped biomass into a partial bale, moving the bulkhead from the initial position down the compression chamber to a second position downstream from the initial position;
• stationing the bulkhead in the second position;
• feeding a second batch of freshly chopped biomass into the compression chamber;
• compressing the second batch of freshly chopped biomass against the partial bale and in the process moving the partial bale and the second batch of freshly chopped biomass towards the bulkhead stationed in the second position;
• continuing to compress the second batch of freshly chopped biomass and the partial bale against the bulkhead in the second position until the combined partial bale and the compressed second batch of freshly chopped biomass exceeds a threshold bulk density;
• wherein the second batch of compressed freshly chopped biomass and the partial bale form a bale of freshly chopped biomass;
• and
• discharging the bale of freshly chopped biomass from the compression chamber into an airtight container.