In the middle of the United States energy shortage in 1970’s engineers came up with wood pellets as an alternative fuel, Saw mills, paper mills and manufacturing facilities can all generate wood pellets from wood waste. By using a pellet stove and wood pellets we can substitute many forms of fuel like electricity, fossil fuels, gas and propane. Likewise pellet fuel can be used in a variety of appliances like freestanding stoves, fireplace inserts, furnaces and commercial furnaces.
Convenience of Pellet Fuel
Pellet fuel is clean and allergy-free. No dust or dirt is brought into the home with pellet fuel compared to other fuels.
The storage footprint of wood pellets is relative low compared with the likes of cordwood and is 4times smaller and typically a six cubic foot of pellet fuel will last the whole winter. So it can be stored in rather small places such as garages, basement and sheds.
Pellet Fuel is easy to use. Load once a day. Precisely regulated fuel feed automatically operates the stove according to owner-determined settings.
Efficiency of Pellet Fuel
Higher efficiency than any cordwood, the moisture content of pellet fuel is 5 to 10% compared to cordwood which will lie within the range of 30 to 60%. Therefore pellet fuel is a much more efficient fuel than cordwood.
They have a higher Btu content than cordwood. Wood pellets have a Btu output content of 350,000 per cub. Ft. of fuel, versus 70,000 to 90,000 for cordwood or wood chips. This means pellets produce more heat than cordwood or wood chips.
Environmental of pellet fuel
Pellet fuel is a natural fuel and does not require glue or a binder and will hold there natural shape and form.
Cleaner to burn than other fuels. Pellet fuel has proven to provide the cleanest burn of any solid fuel. Pellet stoves exhaust an average of 1.2 particulate grams per hour – well below the United States EPA wood burning limit of 7.5 grams. This is because the combustion air can be easily regulated, which optimizes the burn efficiency, and because of pellet’s low moisture content.
Pellet fuel as a Long Term Sustainability
One of the big attractions of pellet fuel it is created from waste and is also made from waste products. Therefore pellet fuel as become a practical way to use a biomass materials from sustainable forest initiatives, especially for commercial applications
Other Biomass products. Cornstalks, straw, wastepaper and even animal waste can be converted into pellets.
