Wood Pellets Guide - Home Heating Alternative

With the pursuit to find a reliable source of energy other than non renewable energy such as fossil fuels, lots of studies and researches has been done through the years. Biofuels made from biomass (organic materials) have been proven to be an effective substitute. These biofuels are derived from biodegradable materials such as manures, plants, etc. Now, let us focus more on another effective organic material, the wood pellets.

In general, the very fine wood particles (sawdust) when compacted turn into wood pellets. These wood pellets are considered to be a form of wood fuel. Wood fuel, in its simplest explanation, is a fuel generated from wood. Wood pellets are normally the byproducts of sawing logs or woods by method of sawmilling. However, this can also be produced by any activities that involve transforming and cutting of woods.

Wood pellets are basically solid and consistently hard. With the pellets’ very low moisture content (humidity of 6 – 10%), they contain higher energy component that is likely comparable to high caliber coal. This would only means that their low humidity content saves a lot of energy that is needed to burn the amount of moist. These characteristics – a diameter of about 6 – 8mm, usually 2cm long, lower humidity and high density – allows the wood pellets to be automatically used in clean – burn heating appliances. Moreover, these attributes make the wood pellets highly effective as a burnable material.

In addition, since wood pellets are considered to be a biomass, then they should be environmental friendly. They release less emissions and ashes that could be detrimental to the surroundings. As mentioned, these pellets are compacted, thus they do not need a lot of space unlike any other type of wood fuel. This would also make it easier to ship even in long distance.

Not frequently used to manufacture pellets are similar organic materials such as straw, corn, etc. As a renewable material, wood pellets give the benefit of continuous energy supply. Moreover, woods and logs are not basically cut down to produce wood pellet but they are merely the byproduct of any wood processing activities. Also, pellets are actually waste materials, therefore utilizing them as an energy source would mean lessening the problem on waste disposal.

With the current situation, where the cost of fossil fuels is expected to continually rise, installation for more capable pellet heating systems resulted. From the year 1999, there have been numerous pellet stove models, heating furnaces and other form of heating machines that are widely distributed in the markets.

These stoves specifically designed for wood pellets are advantageous over other types of home heating systems. The usual wood stoves need more constant maintenance compared to wood pellet stoves. They are easy to operate and even more convenient than using traditional stoves. Though physically, they may look like the usual traditional stoves, however, they have microprocessor controls that ensure a clean and efficient fire.

As of 2005, the demand for wood pellets as a wood fuel has significantly increased due to costly fuels in different parts of the world.

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Lately, we have been hearing a lot about an efficient alternative biomass fuel. Wood pellets are by-products of sawmilling that are compacted and manufactured to become wood fuel. These solidified, low moisture and uniform goods are proven to be a competitive burnable material. Recently, lots of homes have been using wood pellets for their heating systems. With the increased demand of wood pellets among consumers, it cannot be avoided that some wood pellets distributed are not good enough in terms of their quality. Consumers need to be aware of the essential properties of high quality wood pellets. Some home-based tests can now be done without the need for complicated laboratory gadgets. They are simple and easy to do.

Test 1: Using the sense of smell

With just the use of the nose, you can check if the wood pellets are purely wood pellets and not mixed.
• Grab a handful of wood pellet.
• Place them in a plastic container.
• Position the container close to your face.
• Smell the odor the wood pellets.
Note: Expect that it should smell like fresh cut softwood. If not, then it might be mixed.

Test 2: Using the sense of sight

By simply using the eyes, you can determine what is good and what is not.
• Grab a small quantity of wood pellets.
• Look at these wood pellets closely and carefully.
Note: You must observe light brown colored wood pellets if they are made from clean compacted sawdust. However, if they are dark, then it might indicate that they were derived from bark which emits more ashes. Furthermore, some pellets are darker on the outside but once broken, they are still colored light brown,this would not be a problem.

Test 3: Using both the sense of smell and a fire.

• Choose one longer pellet.

• Ignite the tip of the pellet.

• Smell the smoke produced.
Note: A good quality of wood pellets should smell like a burning wood. Otherwise, the quality is questionable.

Test 4: Using a glass of water

• Get a small amount of wood pellets.
• Place them into glassful water.
Note: Just a few minutes, they should be dissolved into sawdust. Otherwise, a chemical might have been added to bind them together.
• Then, observe the settlement of particles inside the glass after swirling it.
Note: Heavy particles will lie down at the bottom. If there are numerous particles that settled, another feedstock might have been mixed. This would likely result to increased amount of emissions and risk for precipitation.

These are some of the simple ways to check the quality of wood pellets being used. Most are just common sense, thus, these tests can be easily performed anytime at home. In this way, problems can be avoided. Likewise, good quality wood pellets provide lots of benefits. Consumers should watch out for those wood pellets that are sold cheaply in the market. A more costly wood pellets may be a pain the pocket, but you can ensure that what you are buying is cleaner, safer and more efficient.

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Through the years, many countries commit themselves to discover new sources of energy other than those generated from non renewable resources. They continue to seek a different form of biomass fuel to obtain a sustainable energy that is at the same time effective.

It is a fact that wood is an alternative source of energy. When it undergoes into any transformational processing activity such as sawmilling, it could produce sawdust that are considered to be waste products that need to be discarded. However, because of constant innovation, these sawdust when compressed can become into a highly densed, solidified material termed as wood pellets. Instead of disposing these materials, these are now proven to be an effective alternative wood fuel.

Basically, wood pellets have a size that range between 4 and 20mm. Pellets also have at most 10% moisture content. Their shape has the properties of uniformity and regularity. They are highly compacted materials. No chemicals are added to bind them together. Pellets naturally have lignin, a substance that serves as a binding agent.

Wood pellets, nowadays, are starting to boom in several countries all over the world. They offer many benefits that make them more favorable to use than any other type of fuel. The most important advantage of using wood pellets is they generate lesser harmful gas. Unlike other fuels such as oil, they are cleaner and are not detrimental to the environment. They do not hasten global warming. The use of wood pellets would offset the carbon dioxide released by the growing trees and plants that would used it for the photosynthesis process. With this environmental friendly feature, they are way better than using traditional oils which emit tremendous and toxic gases.

Moreover, with their consistent small size and uniform shape, they can easily flow like a fluid, thus making them possible to be fed in automated machinery. They also ignite quickly since it would only take a small amount of energy to burn the moist off. Consequently, with less energy being consumed, they can generate high energy output. Due to their high density, they do not occupy more volume/space, therefore, they are more convenient to handle, store and transport. In addition, it can be at least assured that unlike traditional oils/fuels, they would not be used up as long the growing of plants and trees will never cease. All these and the fact that they are clean and efficient make them especially suitable for domestic use.

Without a doubt, the demand for wood pellets is expected to increase. Due to their nonstop gain of popularity among the consumers, probably time will come that most heating systems will be utilizing wood pellets. With their strong appeal especially for those pro-environment groups, this type of fuel undeniably attracts many nations.

It is such an amazing wonder that once; wood pellets were considered a trash which has no use at all. But with the strong will of several countries to cut down their overdependence to foreign fossil fuel, they make cash out of these wood pellets. It would only be a matter of time, when wood pellets production and utilization will boom and hit the world.

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What:

Wood pellets are biomass substance that is produced from sawdust. They are regular and small sized (between 4 and 20mm). They also contain moisture of below 10%. Moreover, they are solidified with high density. Most good quality wood pellets are generally pure and natural. They are free from any additives or chemicals.

How:

Biomass material such as straw, corn but commonly wood are milled through a piece of machinery to become very fine sawdust. In addition, the sawdust can also be a byproduct of any wood processing procedures such as sawmilling. Then, this fine sawdust is compacted under extreme pressure by feeding them in pelletising machinery. They are then shaped by forcing them through a dye.

At the same time, a natural component of this kind of biomass, lignin, dissolves and acts as a “binding agent” holding them together to form and shape as extruded pellet. This substance keeps it solidified as they dry. This natural component also makes a “glaze” kind appearance on the outside of pellets. At a temperature of 90OC, these pellets are forced through a dye. Afterwards, the lignin cools. The pellets are then solidified and set. Other chemicals or additives are not necessary. When they are cooled and ready, the pellets can be either packed for domestic use or loaded into transportation vehicle for distribution. A variety of biomass materials can be used for pellet production but mostly wastes from wood industry are utilized.

Why:

Wood pellets are now considered as an efficient alternative for traditional oils/fuels. Pellets attract both many manufacturers and consumers because of their advantages over the conventional fuels. These advantages are listed below.

• Less volume to store
Their high density and compact properties enable them to occupy lesser space.
• Easy to transport
As mentioned, wood pellets are highly densed and compressed, thus, they are easier to ship in long distance since they don not easily break or loose.
• Lower moisture content
This property enables the wood pellets used lesser energy to burn the moist off, therefore a lot of energy is saved.
• Versatile
Wood pellets as wood fuels can be utilized on most standard heating systems such as boilers and stoves. Moreover, for the past years, pellets stove, boilers and similar products are now available in the market and are used in many homes.
• Lesser emission and ash
Wood pellets are carbon neutralized form of fuel. Thus, the carbon dioxide released during combustion is compensated during the process of photosynthesis by growing plants and trees.
• Easy to handle
Again, the wood pellets consistency and solid features make them easier to handle especially throughout the manufacturing process and they can withstand numerous handlings without breaking.
• Easy to ignite
As already mentioned, the moisture content of wood pellets is at most 10%. This means that less energy is needed to burn them off.
• Contribute to the economy
With wood pellet, any nation can use its own resources. It does not have to rely much on foreign oils. Therefore, production and usage of wood pellets adds up the income of the country.

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