Wood pellet fuel is made from various types of organic material or biomass. It can be produced from industrial waste, food waste, agricultural residues, specially grown trees, but most commonly, wood pellet production utilizes sawdust. Sawdust is generated from furniture manufacturing, wood processing, construction, and milling waste. Additionally, pellets can be produced from softwood branches, coconut husks, tree tops, and unsuitable wood for lumber.
Wood pellets are primarily used as fuel in pellet stoves. Their usage in conventional solid fuel stoves is not efficient as it would require excessive fuel consumption to achieve the same heating results. Wood pellets are most effectively utilized in dedicated biomass boilers designed for pellet combustion. Wood pellets differ from other types of fuel in that they have lower ash content.
Wood pellet fuel has high density and low moisture content. With a density of 750 kg/m3, it provides a heating value of 3941 kcal/kg. The moisture content of wood pellets is typically below 10% of their mass. Due to the highly efficient combustion of pellets, they are well-suited for industrial heating and electricity generation. Pellet boilers often feature convenient automatic fuel feeding systems for easy operation.
The most important requirement for wood pellet storage is to keep them dry at all times. Since pellets have very low moisture content, they can absorb moisture easily. In fact, wood pellets are sometimes used as animal bedding. It is best to store pellets in the original packaging provided by the manufacturer, as it prevents water penetration. Pellets packaged on pallets will remain safe in storage as they are not in direct contact with the floor.
