Fuel pellets
Pellets (granules) - chopped and dried plant material, pressed into a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 25 mm. Pellets can be made of wood, reeds, peat, sapropel, grass, husk, straw, coal dust and many other types of plant material, as well as from the debris.
The most widely used wood pellets (wood pellets) and peat pellets (peat pellets), as well as pellets of grass (grass pellets, granulated vitamin meal, granular feed) and straw.
Since the best known is the use of pellets as a fuel, often called "pellets". Pellets are a renewable fuel, so alongside with briquettes, firewood, wood chips ("wood chips"), straw, etc. they are often called "biofuels" ("biofuel") or hard biofuels ("solid biofuel").
Advantages over other fuels.
- Low price. Cost of fossil fuels will continue to grow rapidly and, consequently, the relative price of wood pellets will be reduced.
- Ability to fully automate the submission of pellets in the combustion zone. The possibility of retrofitting existing boilers.
- Ability to use in the boilers of any capacity - to heat your home, to the giant thermal power plant.
- Full harmless to environment.
- The minimum fire-resistant residue (which is a fertilizer for plants).
- The minimum area of storage, the minimum amount for transportation.
- Thanks to the flowability and homogeneity can be transported by tanker trucks, and "injected" in the warehouse (in bunker fuel).
- Maximum safety during storage and transportation (not explosive, not subject to spontaneous combustion).
- Do not degrade during prolonged storage.
- Do not cause allergic reactions, do not carry weed seeds and insects - pests.
The characteristics of pellets.
Characteristics required of the granules, depending on their destination. Currently, of all the many uses of the granules is most commonly using them as a source of thermal energy. The leading role to play wood pellets. Therefore, in this section are requirements and standards is to this type of pellets.
To obtain high-quality pellets, you must perform three basic conditions: to use high quality equipment, strictly observe the production technology, and use high quality raw materials. Questions about the equipment and technology are considered in the relevant sections of our site. Below are the requirements for quality raw materials:
- Must be of soft pine and hardwood (hardwood preferably not more than 50% of the total).
- Must have a minimum amount of crust (well - not more than 5%, preferably - not more than 1%), as increase in bark leads to an increase in ash content of pellets.
- There should be an old (been lying over 1 year), as at granule has less energy content.
Humidity before pressing should be within 10-14%, since at higher moisture beads that are less robust, and the residual moisture after cooling may be higher than normal in these granules smaller energy value and as a consequence - the price.
After production of pellet quality is necessary to keep. To do this:
- Exclude the possibility of getting them moisture.
- Minimize mechanical disturbance.
So it's best to store granules in enclosed bags on pallets.
Appearance of high-quality wood pellets: the surface should be shiny and smooth, without cracks or bubbles, the color should be gray, smell - light, sweet smell of glue (a pellet made of other materials, these characteristics may be quite different).
The application of pellets.
Pellets are manufactured by method of pressing not only from wood chips, but also of peat, sapropel, straw, grass, campfires flax, reed, husks, spent grain, bran, lignin, coal dust, waste paper, trash and other materials. Pellets made from different materials have different properties, so there are many options for their use.
The most widespread use of pellets as a source of thermal energy. For this purpose, the pellets can be used from virtually any type of organic material, but the most popular are pellets from sawdust and wood chips.
In addition to combustion to produce heat, the pellets are used as follows:
Wood pellets:
- As an absorbent toilet pets;
- As of litter in the stables.
Grass pellets:
- As a vitamin-enriched feed for farm animals (indispensable for feeding birds).
Peat pellets:
- As an artificial soil in countries with high wind erosion;
- As an absorbent for industrial filters;
- As an amplifier of mineral fertilizers;
- As the material for storage of fruits and vegetables;
- To collect and remove oil from the surface of the earth and waters under their flood;
- For the production of activated carbon;
- For the production of heat-insulating building materials;
- For the production of porous bricks.
The use of pellets as a fuel has a leading position thanks to a large number of incontestable advantages. The main one these advantages is the ability to fully automate the process of combustion. This quality was the main driving force for the rapid development of systems of autonomous heating of country houses and cottages. Currently, the production of automatic boilers pellet, in many European countries put on an industrial basis. The model range consists of several dozens of options - all power and all tastes.
