Objective The Herbst PST Peat Storage and Transport System is a new peat technology system with the aim of:1. Dramatically reducing energy costs in the most expensive phase of peat production namely transport and storage.2. Increasing the energy value of the peat during storage.3. Making it possible to exploit peat land with a minimum of infrastructure cost. No bridges are required. Therefore, less environmental impact is experienced.4. Reducing the development time of virgin bogland, traditionally 5 to 6 years, is reduced to 1 to 2 years.As the peat harvesting weather is very limited in Scotland (April to August approx.) each year we continued to operate this project during the 1991 season and we are now prepared to carry on during the 1992 season.One of the principle machines in the project is the Puzzicat, already described as using soft, tubed tyred wheels to turn and load the peat on to the conveyor, and because on all bogs some peat sods are not gathered each year consequently they become very dry and hard, thereby causing endless problems puncturing these soft tyres.The tyres themselves are perfect for the job except for this consistant "down-time" lost by having to repair these punctures. During the season we decided to purchase some aircraft DC8 tyres from Air Atlantic, Coventry, to replace the soft ones., and these solved the puncture problems but as they are much smaller in size they were inclined to slip on the peat when under load pressure. We have now replaced the aircraft tyres with 4 large flotation tyres "American Swampland Tyre". We have also altered the gearbox system on the Puzzicat to coincide with the large size tyres. We have now completed some trials and we are completely satisfied that this problem is solved once and for all.On the problem regarding covering the stockpiles we have deicded that the best method is by using the cros-over ropes secured by wooden stakes.The only problem that arises here is that when loading the peat from the stockpile on to the conveyor we must ensure that each stake is withdrawn and accounted for before loading commences, likewise the rope and of course the covering, because if these are left lying around they get caught up in the loader and cause severe damage. There can also be problems later on if any of these items are found when peat is being fed into hoppers etc. The stakes must be very close, say about a metre apart along the base of the stockpiles, the closer the better thus ensuring that the heavy winds prevalent in the north of Scotland can not get under the covers and blow it away as has happened previously.The Herbst Peat Storage and Transport system is a new peat technology system with the aim of dramatically reducing Energy Costs in the most expensive phase of peat production : Transport and Storage.The Peat energy value is increased during the storage.Because of the lightweight structure of the equipment used a minimum infrastructure cost on the swampland development is required. No roads or bridges are required therefore less environmental impact is experienced.Development time of a virgin bog usual 6 years can be reduced to 1 to 2 years.This is to be achieved with the three innovations demonstrated in the project : a light weight fold up conveyor (Herbst FCU Conveyor) constructed form low friction textile material.A newly developed low ground pressure swampland vehicle on tube tires (Herbst Puzzicat) with a stockpile loader and cleaner attachment. A new systematical way to collect peat for stockpiling with a minimum handling reducing losses of peat products. A new dryingcover (Herbst SA Cover) for peat storage and a tying down system. Programme(s) ENG-ENDEMO C - Programme (EEC) of demonstration projects and industrial pilot projects (EEC) in the energy field, 1985-1989 Topic(s) 8.6 - VARIOUS Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme DEM - Demonstration contracts Coordinator HERBST GROUP, PEAT AND ENERGY EU contribution No data Address KILPOOLE HILL WICKLOW CO. Wicklow United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data
