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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Wood pellets as a source of alternative energy over the usual non renewable fossil fuels have been gaining a lot of interest all over the world. As a matter of fact, heating systems designed specifically for the use of wood pellets are now widely available in the markets of some countries across the globe.It is believed that wood pellets as a wood fuel (a form of biofuel) is better than any other kinds of fuel. In fact, it can be compared to high quality coal and other similar goods. Below are some strong points of wood pellets as an alternative fuel.

• Environmental Friendly
Wood fuels which include fuel derived from wood pellets release lesser amount of ashes and emissions that are harmful to the environment and to human beings. The carbon dioxide that is released during the combustion of wood pellets is being used by the growing plants. Thus, it does not add up to the problem of global warming. Moreover, there would be no worries on how to dispose wood pellets which are basically waste products because they can still be utilized as an alternative fuel. This would greatly reduce problems on waste management.

• Convenient
Wood pellets are generally small – sized, highly densed and compacted unlike other biomass fuels such as wood chips. These characteristics would make a stack of wood pellets easy to store and transport. Their small, regular and uniform shapes enable them to flow like a fluid resulting on easy feeding on automated heating systems.

• Available
Availability has been always one of the concerns in the use of non renewable fuels. There may be numerous resources now, but it might create a problem on scarcity in the future. This is where the production of biomass fuels enters. Wood pellets, a biomass, are byproducts of sawmilling and other similar activity. With this in mind, instead of discarding these waste materials, these can be utilized as a useful alternative source of energy. As long as trees are continually growing and a balance between cutting and planting exists, availability would not cause a major problem.

• Effective
Wood pellets are proven effective as a wood fuel. Their low moisture content (humidity is typically 7 – 8%) does not require a lot of energy to burn it off making them highly efficient burnable material. Moreover, this feature also explains why it is easier to ignite (7-8% against 30-35% humidity of wood chips). Wood pellets generate high heat output.

• Natural
Aside from being biodegradable, chemicals or additives are not necessary in manufacturing wood pellets. A natural substance called lignin is found in wood itself that serves as a binder. A small amount of maize starch is added though sometimes. Furthermore, the wood pellets are manufactured from pure and not contaminated woods.

• Versatile
Wood pellets can be used in stoves (pellet stoves models and most traditional stoves), boilers, heating furnaces and similar heating systems. Lots of these appliances are now available in the markets.

These are the benefits that can be gained in utilizing wood pellets as biomass fuel. Such advantages make the wood pellets more popular among the manufacturers and consumers.

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With the gaining popularity of wood pellets as a wood fuel, the manufacturers need to ensure that they are producing high quality wood pellets. The consumers must also at least know the essential properties of good wood pellets.Property # 1: Check the dimension. It should be small-sized wood pellet. Most wood pellets that are utilized as fuel have a diameter of about 6 – 8mm and a length of about 2cm. Furthermore, it should be uniform, regular and highly compacted. With this property, they can be easily stored and delivered. They will not take a lot of space. Also, they can be easily fed in an automated fuel handling system.

Property # 2: Know the moisture content. Remember that the lower the moisture content, the lower the need for energy to burn it off. The humidity of good quality wood pellets should be around 6-10%.

Property # 3: Ensure that they are mechanically durable. This means that high quality wood pellets can endure numerous handlings. They should withstand any kind of operation otherwise they would easily break and wear causing an increase on the number of fines in the pellets. Also, it is generally good when wood pellets can stand shipping even in long distance and time.

Property # 4: Check the amount of fines. The amount of fines would greatly influence the smoothness and easy flow of wood pellets in the boiler’s fuel feeder. The greater the amount of fines present in the wood pellets, the greater the likelihood of obstacle in the feeding system of boilers.

Moreover, minute particles burn faster compared to wood pellets. Thus, if numerous fine particles are found in the wood pellets, there is a big probability that they would generate unnecessary intense flame. The worst case scenario is it might lead to precipitation of ash that will demand cleaning the burner after cooling it off.

Currently, the manufacturers make it sure that the amount of fines should be at most 1%. It is checked time after time in the entire manufacturing process. Furthermore, to ensure that fewer fines are present in wood pellets, the producers measure it even at the last processing phase and screen it before distributing.

Property # 5: Know if additives are added. Preferably, the whole wood pellets should be natural. The chemicals or substances added would significantly influence the wood pellets’ emissions during combustion. Wood pellets are commonly produced from sawdust. Thus, a substance that must serves as a “binding agent” is necessary to hold them together and be compacted. Lignin, a natural component found in woods, serves this purpose. In any case those additives/chemicals are used, the quantity and type should be stated.

Property # 6: Check the density of wood pellets. Wood pellets should be highly densed. The degree of compactness would likely determine the possible amount of fines that can be found on the pellets. As mentioned, preferably zero to a very small percentage of fine particles must be present in wood pellets for these minute materials would affect the quality of flame produced. The looser the wood pellets are, the higher the amount of fines.

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