Not All Wood Pellets are the Same, Learn Why

The wood pellet fuels market has seen impressive growth over the last decade, as well as along with growing oil prices and concerns over climate change the growth of the premium biomass pellets market is set to continue. There are many diverse grades of biomass pellet fuel, some targeted more at the residential market, and some more a industrial applications. Higher ash content pellets are referred to as more of a standard or industrial grade biomass pellet. This means the pellets will be used in larger pellet boilers and burners which can handle the ash content, in addition to the user does not mind cleaning the unit on a more regular basis for the fee advantage of the pellets. Premium wood pellets are targeted more at the residential market. So for small pellet stoves and residential pellet boilers premium wood pellets are most wanted for heating.

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Both high grade premium biomass pellets as well as lower grade wood pellets are accessible for sale, though the incineration characteristics of the pellets must be accurately described so the consumer can produce an educated decision on their fuel acquire. Both premium along with lower grade wood pellets generate almost equal BTU warmth values, the only real difference is the amount of maintaince required to burn the grades of energy. Consumers pay a considerable premium charge on higher grade wood pellets to not have to clean the combustion unit as frequently. Some residential in addition to small scale pellet consumers may find the increased maintenance plus lower price acceptable, however they may not be able to use the lower grade biomass pellets. The construction in addition to design of the pellet burner plays a key role in if the pellet stove or boiler can burn lower grade wood pellets at all.

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Consumers who buy more variable pellet incineration units have a wider choice of pellet fuels, along with can always use lower grade biomass pellet energy if the price of premium wood pellets becomes unacceptable. However, there are other reward to more variable pellet stoves as well as boilers in addition to lower grade biomass pellet fuel. It is a way to develop a local economy on wood pellet fuel, with a complete local resource chain of pellet production in addition to consumption. Take local tree surgeons for instance, here huge quantities of wood waste is shaped that still today for many has very little use in addition to may even go to landfill. The type of biomass residue from thinning’s as well as whole trees will contain bark in addition to even leaves. This will therefore make a lower grade wood pellet, that only fuel flexible pellet stoves can use. However, this energy would also be very affordable. Even on a small scale production level, as the transport of the raw matter in addition to finished fuel pellet is reduced, the price of pellets can be reasonable. To process this type of local biomass waste into pellet energy will almost certainly necessitate a drying solution. Virgin timber usually has a moisture content around 50%, and around 15% moisture content is required for the pellet mill. Once the material has been milled to a dust along with dried, it is then ready for the pellet mill. Here compression plus warmth form a dense solid energy pellet.

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What Are The Benefits of Using Pellets Compared To Wood Logs

Wood heating however the use of logs is a long established form of solid fuel heating using logs. On the other hand, now the wood pellet has arrived on the market place. Some consumers yet are not clear on the advantages of biomass pellets compared to combustion logs, plus cannot see the benefits in either fee or heat. Here is a comparison of pellet vs biomass logs. Biomass logs have customarily been used for heating, on the other hand very rarely are biomass logs used at a complete heating solution. The reasons for this are simple, time, required maintenance, sufficient fuel storage along with fuel consumption. Loading a wood log heating system is very time consuming, plus getting the fire going can take up to half an hour. Constant loading of the fire every few hours is required, making it difficult to do other things plus remember the best up the fire. Also, as a fuel source, logs are by way of no means ideal. Firstly, to get a reasonable burn the wood must be seasoned to around 30% moisture content. This can take several years to achieve this moisture content, as it log form the moisture is well protected. Therefore a large volume of drying wood along with dry biomass for use needs to be stored. Yes, some consumers purchase dried logs, on the other hand when you actually compare the figures between dry logs as well as pellets, there is a clear winner. As wood pellets have a much lower moisture content plus lower density, measuring charge per heating value biomass pellets are cheaper than purchasing dried logs. So you would be essentially be paying more for a energy that generates less warmth plus required much more work.

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One of the key factors in a pellet vs wood comparison is automation, or specially lack of automation by way of wood log heating systems. A pellet system generally can hold at least a days worth of fuel, as well as in many cases more than a few days. Hopper extensions are common to take the fuel capacity of the unit up to a week, plus external hoppers can be used to hold up to a years worth of energy. Now compare this to wood lo heating systems, and not just the additional work required but the time. Due to the hopper system, a adaptable speed timed auger can meter energy into the fire to control the heat to a specific set level via a thermostat. A log stove cannot really control temperature as there is no control over fuel resource. Wood pellet systems have the processes required to fit the modern lifestyle.

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Biomass logs or chips can be processed into pellet fuel via a series of processes. Primarily, shredding the biomass to a suitable size for the wood pellet press is required. Also note that a wood pellet press is also known as a wood pellet appliance or biomass pellet mill. Once shredded the sawdust is then monitored for moisture if above 15%, drying will be required, usually using waste wood as the energy source for the dryer. Once dry, on many large scale pellet plants, the wood is first conditioned before it enters the pellet mill. This can mean quite a few things, in many cases it refers to heat treatment via dry steam to start the melting process of the natural lignin within the wood to bind the pellets together. The matter then enters the mill.

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Exchanging Oil and Gas Heating, For A Modern Pellet Stove

If you are thinking of a new form of heating to replace your existing oil or gas system due to the high prices, there has never been a better time to choose a pellet stove such as a Whitfield pellet stove. Biomass pellets along with other biomass energy pellets are not only a cheap choice to oil or gas, they are also better for the nature. Also all pellet stoves including the Whitfield pellet stove are highly automated, as well as require little maintenance. A full hopper of pellets can last up to a few days. Also now to lessen the cost of installing a Whitfield stove, there are tax reductions up to 30% on the fee of the pellet stove as well as installation. The prices of fossil fuels are set to increase into the future. The continued enlarge in prices is driven by increased demand for energy as well as green taxes. Pellet Energy, such as biomass pellets as well as other biomass pellets offer the opportunity of energy independence, away from foreign oil as well as gas. There is an abundance of accessible purpose grown along with waste resources that can be used to produce energy pellets. Many of these so called ‘waste’ resources are at this time sent to landfill, plus charged for it. A growing national pellet energy production market can help support the economy, as well as reduce our dependence on foreign oil in addition to gas.

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The economic recession has effected almost everyone, so now more than ever is the need for new stable, long term jobs. Local pellet energy production, provides that opportunity. Long term jobs can be shaped in pellet production, distribution along with pellet stove sales and servicing. Due to reduced transportation, it is also possible to provide cheap fuel, even with small scale wood pellet production.

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Not all energy pellets burn the same, for case fuel pellets constructed from biomass along with grass will provide almost the same heating value, yet the grass pellets will generate more ash. The compromise to using the grass pellets in addition to higher ash content is a much cheaper fuel, almost half the price of the wood fuel pellets. However you cannot take for granted that the Whitfield pellet stove can burn the much cheaper grass pellets. The design of the stove may limit its capabilities to low ash content fuels, this therefore means the consumer has less fuel options. To help consumers purchase more fuel flexible pellet stoves, at PelHeat we have developed the Pellet Stove as well as Boiler Guide. As you can see from the video above, we have tested a range of pellet fuels for their ash content and other factors, as well as how this effects combustion. Purchasing a more energy flexible Whitfield pellet stove could save you hundreds if not thousands in energy costs.

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