Pellets. Advantages of using pellets (wood pellets) - "FRP" Pellets Features of pellet boilers

One of the modern types of solid fuels are pellets, fuel granules, which are actively used in special pellet boilers for heating residential buildings, commercial and industrial facilities.

What are pellets?

is a granular type of solid fuel of cylindrical shape, made from compressed waste from agricultural production and the woodworking industry. The main materials for the manufacture of fuel pellets are:

• sawdust, wood chips, bark, slabs of coniferous and deciduous (the best option) wood species;
• peat;
• sunflower husks (the most common solution), rapeseed (the best option), straw of various grain crops, corn, husks, cake and much more;
• charcoal;
• household waste.

The base binder is a substance of plant origin - lignin, a natural polymer contained in almost any plant, capable of being plasticized during granulation under the influence of a sufficiently high operating temperature.

Pellet classification

The main regulatory document predetermining the production of pellets is the European Union standard EN 14961-2, adopted in January 2011, on its basis an international quality certificate EN Plus is issued. There are three classes of granular fuel:

• ENPlus-A1 – best premium quality, diameter up to 8.00 mm, ash content up to 0.70%, another name is “white granules”;
• ENPlus-A2 – with ash content up to 1.50%, also called industrial granules, can consist of mixed wood species;
• EN-B – standard quality, with ash content up to 3.00%, an alternative name for agropellets.

In terms of cost, the most expensive pellets are ENPlus-A1 class, the cheapest are EN-B class, it is better not to take substandard fuel.

Basic parameters of pellets

Pellets for heating are granules of white or shades of brown, with a length from 10.00 to 30.00 mm, a diameter of 6.00 and 8.00 mm, less common fuel with a diameter of 10.00 mm, the maximum diameter of the granules is 25.00 mm. The darkening of pellets is associated with the presence in the structure of the material of various non-combustible residues (dust, earth, and a number of others).

The main parameters of pellets are:

• ash content (the lower, the better and the less ash, so the boiler will have to be cleaned much less often);
• humidity;
• calorific value (ENPlus-A1 – 18.0 MJ/kg, ENPlus-A2 – 18.0 MJ/kg, EN-B – 15.0 MJ/kg).
• total length;
• degree of density;
• diameter;
• bulk mass;
• abrasion class.

Pellet manufacturing technology

The production of pellets consists of pressing waste that has been previously dried to a certain moisture content and crushed to a given fraction under a pressure of about 300 atmospheres. At the same time, the use of glue and other additives is prohibited (sometimes unscrupulous businessmen add sand and other non-combustible impurities to them to increase the weight of the granules, and synthetic polymers to ensure adhesive properties).

Main stages of pellet production:

• Grinding. The raw material enters the crusher and is crushed to a given fraction;
• Drying. The resulting raw material is dried to the moisture percentage specified by the technology (about 10% plus or minus 2%);
• Pressing. The dried raw material enters a press granulator, in which it is pressed into granules of a given length and diameter. As a result of compression, friction, and adiabatic processes, the temperature can reach 100°C Celsius, as a result, thermal energy is generated that softens lignin and the particles stick together into granules. This process is called pelletization;
• Cooling. To ensure the strength of the fuel granules, the pellets are cooled after pressing;
• Packing and sending to the consumer.

In some cases, water treatment and additional grinding are performed before pressing; everything directly depends on the type and quality of the raw materials from which the granules are made.

Pressing is carried out in molds, ring-type dies using rotary rollers (rollers), which press the raw material into cone-shaped dies located on the matrix. On the other hand, the resulting granules are cut with special knives.

After cooling, the pellets are sieved and small particles are sent for recycling. Closed cycle technology is virtually waste-free; only non-combustible impurities are removed.

In order to make one ton of pellets, three to five cubes of wood waste are needed. The raw material is compacted approximately three times. To prepare one ton of pellets you need from 30.00 to 50.00 kW per hour.

Necessary machines for the production of pellets

Equipment for the production of sawdust pellets includes:

• crushers (chopping machines) for grinding the raw materials used to a given fraction;
• dryers to ensure the required percentage of humidity of the initial, base raw materials;
• hammer mills (in some cases they are replaced by flaring machines, disintegrators, everything depends directly on the characteristics of the feedstock), make it possible to obtain raw materials with a fraction of up to 4.00 mm;
• screw mixers (used when using overdried raw materials with a moisture content of less than 8.00%, by dosed supply of steam or water);
• presses (differ in the type of matrix used, which can be flat or round).

Dryers, in turn, are divided into:

• principle of operation (can be drum or belt (cost more, but are more productive and safer to use));
• drying technologies (using flue gases, water vapor or hot air);
• the fuel used (gas, wood waste, coal, etc.).

Special equipment is used for burning pellets -pellet boiler.
The optimal solution in terms of price/quality/performance characteristics on the Russian market are heating appliances from the Polish manufacturer Metal-Fach, including boilers of the following lines:SD DUO, SD DUO BIO, SMART, SMART EKO, S.E.G.SEG BIO.

They have a steel heat exchanger (P265GH steel with a thickness of 4.00 to 6.00 mm is used for production), an efficiency of over 90%, an innovative, modern type controllerFL 310LGRTC, with continuous logic and PID control, as well as an upper combustion chamber and a retort burner.

Also worthy offers are:

• domestic boilers created in Krasnoyarsk,ZOTA series Pellet;
• joint development of a Russian-Polish companyVulkan, rulers ECO;
• pellet boilers from the legendary Italian companyFACI Caldaie, rulers FACI SSL/SSP.

You can purchase pellet boilers in a wide range, get the necessary advice, order installation, warranty and post-warranty service in Krasnoyarsk from the Kras-Kotel company.

Pellet sales form

Pellets are sold:

• in bulk;

In big bags (large packages weighing up to several tons, classic packaging from 500.00 to 1200.00 kg);

small packaging, several tens of kilograms (standard containers from 10.00 to 20.00 kg).

The cheapest fuel pellets are those sold in bulk, the most expensive are pellets in small packaging.

How to distinguish high, premium quality pellets from substandard fuel?

When purchasing pellets, you need to pay attention to:

• the surface of the material must be smooth, shiny, without signs of deformation (swelling and microcracks);
• diameter (this parameter is established by the standards, the minimum value is 4.00 mm, the maximum is 10 mm, also standard are fuel pellets that have a diameter of 6.00 and 8.00 mm, please note that a pellet boiler operates on pellets of a certain fraction);
• length (this parameter should be about 20.00 - 30.00 mm, this is the optimal value, although the equipment can work on pellets with a length of over 50.00 mm);
• smell (the granules should have a slightly sweet smell of freshly prepared glue, this is a clear sign of excellent quality);
• color (it is important to remember that the highest quality pellets are white or slightly cream-colored, agropellets are predominantly dark, and in wood pellets, dark color indicates that bark, other impurities have been added, or wood species have been mixed);
• dust (there should be a minimum amount of dust on pellets, so it is better to buy fuel in sealed packaging);
• impurities (the presence of non-combustible impurities in the granules themselves can only be checked by burning them and determining the residue in the form of solid particles).

Advantages and disadvantages of solid fuel in the form of fuel pellets

The main advantages of pellets:

• environmental cleanliness (when this type of solid fuel is burned, carbon dioxide is released in volumes equal to the volumes formed during the natural decomposition of various wood wastes);
• fire safety (pellets are less susceptible to spontaneous combustion than other types of solid fuel);
• optimal humidity (8-10% versus 30-50% for logs) and density (one and a half times higher than that of firewood);
• remarkable calorific value, one ton of fuel pellets is enough to produce 3500 kW/h of thermal energy;
• constant and very high bulk density, which facilitates logistics, loading and transportation of pellets;
• the uniformity of the structure in shape and size makes it possible to automate all processes of loading and loading and combustion of fuel pellets in boilers.

Cons of pellets:

• high cost of solid fuel at the present stage;
• to burn pellets you need a special pellet boiler equipped with automation, which also costs more;
• the volume of supply on the market is low, the situation will improve over time, but pellets must be purchased in reserve and stored in warehouses, preventing excess moisture from entering.

Pellet cost

Let's take the initial data:

• the average cost of industrial pellets in the Krasnoyarsk Territory as of December 2015 is 3,500 rubles per ton (3.50 per kilogram);
• the price of birch firewood is 1,300 rubles per cubic meter, in terms of tons (a cubic meter of dry birch firewood equals 650 kg of weight) is 1,846 rubles per ton (1.85 rubles per kilogram);
• the calorific value of birch firewood is 10 MJ/kg;
• The calorific value of wood industrial pellets is 18 MJ/kg.

In order to obtain 100 MJ of thermal energy, you need 10 kg of firewood (100/10), that is, 18.50 rubles, or 5.5 kg of pellets (100/18), that is, 19.44 rubles. The difference in cost is 1 ruble per 100 MJ. Moreover, it is necessary to note the undoubted advantages of pellets with an ash content of 1.5% over firewood with an ash content of 10%, the difference is obvious.

It should be taken into account that the pellet market is growing dynamically, and with an increase in supply, the price will undoubtedly decrease. By the way, pellets can be made independently from agricultural or wood waste. Read below how.

We make pellets with our own hands

You can make pellets with your own hands. To do this we need to assemble a granulator. It is necessary to take wood or agricultural waste, grind it to a particle fraction of 30.00-50.00 mm, dry it to a moisture content of 15.00%, grind it to particles with a fraction of 2.00 mm and place it in a granulator. In the case when you use agricultural waste, such as sunflower husks, rapeseed or sawdust, as the initial, basic raw material, you do not need to crush anything. But if branches, bark, or various substandard lumber are used, it is necessary to crush, although the use of a granulator allows you to omit this operation.

The dryer is made from an ordinary metal barrel.
It is better to use a granulator with a flat matrix (a cylindrical matrix in the shape of a perforated drum is a more complex solution) and a perforated disk with outlet holes in the shape of a cone with a diameter of 8.00-10.00 mm, this is the optimal solution.

You need to buy a matrix and rollers (the production of spare parts is carried out by manufacturers of equipment for the production of animal feed). The matrix is ​​also made independently, from steel with a thickness of at least 20.00 mm, and gears are used as rollers. You will also need a gearbox and an electric motor with a power equal to or greater than 15.00 kW. It is necessary to ensure rotation in the range of 60-120 revolutions per minute. The shaft can be installed both horizontally and vertically; the main thing is to make tanks for loading the raw materials and subsequent unloading of pellets.

Stages of making pellets:

• we take or make a matrix, make a hole in the center for the gearbox and always a groove intended for landing;
• gears (rollers can be used, the width of which must match the width of the working surface of the matrix used), are put on the shaft strictly perpendicular to the axis of the installed gearbox shaft using a conventional coupling;
• the cylindrical body is welded from sheet steel or steel pipe, taking into account the dimensions of the matrix, which should rotate easily and freely, providing holes for unloading pellets and a tray also made of sheet steel or steel pipe, the bottom and top of the structure can be made detachable to facilitate maintenance;
• the output shaft of the selected gearbox is strengthened in the lower part of the machine using a coupling and always bearings;
• the matrix, as well as the rollers, are installed in a cylindrical body;
• the resulting structure is mounted on a frame made of a channel or an ordinary angle, and is rigidly fastened; all that remains is to install the engine and connect the output shaft to the installed gearbox.

The future belongs to pellets and pellet boilers. Kras-Kotel specialists will help you make the right choice of pellet boiler, taking into account all your wishes and the characteristics of your home.

Recently, in all countries of the world there has been a growing interest in alternative heating sources that are environmentally friendly and affordable. It is precisely these in-demand resources that include a new type of fuel - pellets, small-sized cylindrical wood pellets obtained by pressing wood waste or processing various raw materials.

Making pellets

The pellet production process occurs without the use of glue and chemical additives, which ensures the fuel is absolutely safe and environmentally friendly. The production of biofuel includes several stages:

High-quality biofuels are produced only on high-tech equipment that meets all current standards and parameters. Therefore, it is so important to carefully select a reliable and responsible supplier. Deliveries of any volumes of certified, high-quality pellets are offered by the Russian Forest company, which is located in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk.

Main advantages of pellets

Using original pellets, consumers receive a number of obvious advantages:

Features of using pellets

Today, pellets are used to heat residential, commercial and industrial buildings. The main thing is to correctly select a heating boiler yourself or with the help of professional specialists, taking into account the individual operating conditions and parameters of the facility. Domestic and foreign manufacturers of solid fuel boilers offer a wide range of heating equipment with different power ratings, performance and cost. Among the most famous brands, it is worth noting the brands UNGARO, KLOVER, OkoFEN and BENEKOV.

Specialized and multifunctional boilers of the Kupper series, which are characterized by the following advantages, are very popular among modern Russian consumers:

• Automated loading and control system. After technological adjustment, the boiler ensures that the set temperature is maintained. Fuel is supplied from the bunker as needed without human intervention in automatic mode.
• High efficiency up to 95%.
• Large power range. In the Kupper boiler line, you can select equipment with a power of up to 500 kW or more.
• Long term intensive use. All Kupper boilers are manufactured in compliance with technological norms and European technical standards, guaranteeing a service life of 20 years or more.
• Easy to operate, with a high level of fire and explosion hazard.

The demand for pellets in our country is growing exponentially. It is caused by the affordable price of fuel, excellent operational and technical characteristics of boilers, as well as the constant growth of energy resources and the rapid development of the suburban real estate market.

When choosing an energy source for heating your premises, you need to answer the question:

“I want an automated boiler?!”

If you are satisfied with a non-automated boiler, into which you will need to load firewood or coal 3-4 times a day, then you can install a wood-burning boiler or a long-burning boiler. Perhaps you have a lot of free firewood or coal.

In this case, you need to understand one important point: all long-burning boilers, which claim that one fill is enough for 12-36 hours, actually work this way only if the moisture content of the firewood is 10-12%. To do this, you need to prepare the firewood in advance so that it can sit for 1-2 years, dry out, and only then use it for its intended purpose.

But as a rule, all firewood that is sold in Russia has a humidity of 30-40% and when burning such firewood in long-burning boilers, part of the energy will be spent on drying it to the required humidity and one bookmark will not be enough for the stated 12-36 hours, but in reality will last for 6-12 hours.

If you still need automated heating and you do not have mains gas, then you have a choice: pellets, diesel, electricity or propane gas.

The cheapest energy source listed is pellets.

Well, now the most important question: what are pellets?

Pellets are biofuels produced from peat, wood waste and agricultural waste. It is a cylindrical granule of standard size.

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Pellets are a renewable energy source. The most popular and effective are wood pellets; pellets are also made from: buckwheat husks, seed husks, peat, straw, etc.

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Here's a photo of pellets made from various raw materials:

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Compound feed!!! Everyone who sees pellets for the first time thinks so)

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In appearance, all pellets are the same: they have the same shape and dark color, but they have strong differences, I will talk about that later.

How much do pellets cost?

The cost of pellets varies depending on their characteristics and region from 5,500 rubles to 8,500 rubles per 1 ton.

But in fact, the cost of 1 ton of pellets does not mean anything, because it is not clear what the monthly fuel consumption will be.

On average, per 200 m2 of living space, monthly fuel consumption is 1400-2000 kg, depending on the insulation of the room. From here you can calculate the approximate cost of heating with pellets: from 8,400 rubles to 12,000 rubles per month, depending on the insulation of the room and the temperature outside.

Below is a graph of the cost of heating using various types of fuel for 200 m2 of living space per year, the data is given from a heat engineering calculation based on aggregated indicators:

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The graph shows that the cheapest energy carrier in Russia is

This is main gas, then there are pellets.

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Diesel heating is 2 times more expensive. Electricity is also 2 times more expensive, with the cost of 1 kW of electricity being 2.4 rubles. Propane gas is 1.5 times more expensive.

Also, when using pellets instead of electricity, you release free electrical power.

With an electric boiler, there may be a shortage of electricity. This means that, for example, 10 kW of electricity is allocated to the facility and that’s it. But you need to turn on the TV, kettle, refrigerator and there is nothing left for heating.

For people with energy education and for those who understand thermal power engineering: the cost of 1 gCal of heat is 1,100 rubles, or the cost of 1 kW of heat is 1.1 rubles.

For example: everyone knows the cost of 1 kW of electricity in their premises. If 1 kW costs 3 rubles, then the cost of heating with pellets will be 3 times cheaper.

Where can I get pellets?

Today in Russia there are more than 500 pellet producers. In each region there are 5-7 manufacturers and 10-15 trading companies that sell pellets. Therefore, I can say with confidence that there are a lot of pellets, you won’t be left without pellets.

It is always more profitable to buy pellets in the period May-July (summer), because during this period all pellet manufacturers experience a strong decline in sales.

The heating season has already ended or has not yet begun. The cost of pellets in the summer can be 2000 rubles cheaper per 1 ton than during the heating season. The peak prices for pellets occur in December and January.

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To do this you need to understand:

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How much does a pellet, diesel or electric boiler cost?

How much will heating cost per year using these types of fuel?

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The heating system itself, regardless of the choice of boiler, will cost approximately the same.

Let's consider the payback period using the example of heating 200 m2 of a residential building:

Conclusion: despite the fact that a pellet boiler is more expensive, installing a pellet boiler will pay for itself in the case of diesel in 1 year, in the case of electricity in 1.5 years.

How are pellets made?

Pellets are obtained by grinding raw materials to flour. It is then dried to a moisture content of 8 to 12%. Next is granulation, in a special device that resembles a “meat grinder” or granulator.

The gluing of wood pellets occurs due to the content of a substance - lignin, which, when heated, ensures the creation of the required shape.

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Pellets are an environmentally friendly fuel

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The pellet production process is as follows:

How do pellets differ from each other?

Diameter (mm). In Russia, pellets of 6 and 8 mm are most often found, but pellets with a diameter of 8 mm are more popular. 6mm pellets are mainly for Italian boilers, or for the supply of pellets for export and pellet fireplaces. 99% of pellet boilers in Russia can consume at least 6 mm or 8 mm pellets.

Ash content (%). This indicator means how much ash will be formed when burning 1 kg of pellets. The lower the ash content, the less frequently the boiler needs to be cleaned. For normal operation of a boiler using wood pellets, their ash content should not exceed 1%. The ash content of agro pellets (buckwheat, sunflower seeds, etc.) is from 3% and above. Accordingly, the boiler will have to be cleaned 3 times more often. I didn’t clean the boiler in time and fuel consumption increased.

- Heat of combustion or calorific value. This indicator means how much energy will be released when 1 kg of fuel is burned. Or the amount of heat released when burning 1 kg of fuel. Accordingly, the higher the combustion heat, the lower the pellet consumption.

Humidity (%) . The humidity of the pellets should be between 8 and 12%; if this figure is higher or lower, the pellets will crumble.

Pellet density. Subject to all production technologies, 1m3 pellets = 650kg. If the pellets are not dense, this reduces their efficiency and accordingly increases fuel consumption.

Package. There are 2 main types of packaging such as big bag (600-1000 kg) and bag (15-40 kg). Depending on the storage space, bunker and method of feeding pellets, the client chooses the packaging that suits him.

Bags are most often placed on a pallet and wrapped in packaging film, because... Since the film is not resistant to sharp objects, the pallets must be of high quality and not have a sharp surface. Also, pellets in bags can be shipped in bulk.

How to store pellets?

Storing pellets is very easy. The main enemy of pellets is moisture. Pellets are afraid of direct moisture. They do not absorb humidity from the air.

Therefore, they can be stored in bags outside on pallets and covered with waterproof materials, and big bags can simply be stored on the street. because they are already waterproof.

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Advantages of pellets over other types of fuel

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Advantages over diesel fuel:

The cost of heating with pellets is 2.5 times cheaper than with diesel fuel;

Pellets are non-flowing, non-flammable, non-odorous;

Pellets are a renewable energy source. The cost of diesel is growing faster than the cost of pellets.

Advantage over electricity:

Heating with pellets is 2-5 times cheaper than with electricity;

Release of free electrical capacity;

There are no high-power electric boilers.

Advantage over wood and coal:

Pellets have an ash content of 0.5%, firewood and coal have an ash content of 30-40%. Pellets have lower ash content and higher boiler efficiency;

A pellet boiler can operate autonomously from 7 to 30 days. Pellets can operate autonomously from 1 to 30 days;

Coal is dirty and burns with soot.

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Advantage over gas tanks (propane gas):

The cost of 1 kW is 2 times cheaper than using gas from a tank;

Pellet boilers do not require approval from the supervision (up to 1 mW);

The price of propane gas is rising rapidly;

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Advantage over mains gas:

Not all territories are gasified;

Payment is required for connecting to the main gas and mains up to the point of connection;

The price of 1 kW from main gas is only 20-30% lower, connection to the main gas will pay off only after 10 years;

Permits are issued slowly;

Gas fuel is constantly becoming more expensive;

In the event of an accident on the gas main, you will be left without heating;

It is impossible to extend gas to the “wild corners” of nature;

Pellet boilers do not require supervision approval (up to 1 mW);

Pellets are a renewable and environmentally friendly source of energy.

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How does a pellet boiler work?

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Device

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A pellet boiler consists of 3 main parts: a heat exchanger and burner, a fuel supply system, and a pellet storage bin.

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Operating principle of a pellet boiler

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Pellets are poured into the bunker. Using the fuel supply system, they are supplied to the combustion chamber (burner). A powerful air flow is pumped into the burner using a fan and the combustion process and water heating occur.

Pellets without forced air supply do not burn as they have an increased density. The boiler reaches the set water temperature of 80-85 C, turns off, and the supply of air and pellets stops. The pellets in the burner simply smolder. When the water temperature cools by 5-7 degrees, the boiler turns on again and this happens cyclically.

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Pellet boiler maintenance

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The frequency of filling the bunker with pellets depends on its volume; on average, a standard bunker is enough for 3-7 days of boiler operation. The boiler must be cleaned 1-2-3 times a month, depending on the ash content of the pellets and the design of the heat exchanger. The ash pan of the boiler is also emptied of ash and the burner is cleaned of “coke”.

The pellet boiler can be serviced by unqualified personnel; the service time takes 5-10 minutes. To operate a pellet boiler you do not need to have any special skills.

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Placement of the pellet boiler

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The pellet boiler can be placed in basements with low ceilings. The boiler can be placed in outbuildings, as well as in detached buildings. For reliable operation of the automation system, the temperature in these rooms must be positive. It is important to ensure easy access to the pellets and the pellet boiler from all sides.

Do I need permits or approvals to install a pellet boiler?

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Pellets are non-explosive and environmentally friendly fuel. Pellet boiler - belongs to the segment of solid fuel boilers. When installing a pellet boiler, no permits or approvals are required.

What to do with a pellet boiler if main gas is supplied in 3-5 years?

If you are planning to use pellet heating as a temporary heat source because you are waiting for a connection to the main gas, then you do not need to worry about unnecessary expenses.

You can sell the boiler to us after it has been used. We call this function trade-in of pellet boilers.

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Also, the pellet boiler can be left as a backup.

Call us, we will select a boiler for you based on power and calculate the monthly consumption of pellets in comparison with other energy sources.

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In order for a house to be as comfortable and habitable as possible, it must have high-quality and efficient heating. Here you need to take into account that not every building has the ability to connect to a central gas supply, and electric heating devices can lead to too much expense. Special pellets are an excellent heating alternative.

What it is?

Today, special wood pellets are called pellets. To put it simply, these products are ordinary wood processing waste. They are pressed into small granules. As a rule, such products are produced from environmentally friendly raw materials, which do not contain hazardous chemical compounds. Pellet heating belongs to the category of modern heating systems.

What are pellets made of?

Many owners of private houses wonder what pellets are made from. It is worth noting here that people often make such products on their own. To do this, it is enough to stock up on a crusher, a sieve, a dryer designed specifically for sawdust, as well as a granulator. The optimal raw materials for the manufacture of such products are waste from the wood processing industry:

• sawdust;
• trimmings;
• shavings;
• croaker;
• wood flour from deciduous and coniferous trees;
• other waste generated during wood processing.

The granules, which are made from wood waste, are light, gray and black.

For example, in the process of producing gray pellets, wood waste is often combined with bark. Pellets of this type are usually placed in large bags. They are very often used in European boiler houses, which have impressive power. Wood fillers for pet trays are also produced using a similar method. Pellets are also made from agricultural waste. The components in this case can be straw or dried hay. Today, many farmers create pellets for heating from raw materials such as:

• reed;
• sunflower husk;
• hay;
• rice husk;
• other agricultural waste.

If you take all the waste, then with the exception of rice husks, there are no difficulties in recycling them. To do this, it is enough to use simple equipment equipped with a ring-type matrix. Processing these components takes a minimum of free time, and large investments are not required.

If pellets are made from more capricious rice husks, then more reliable and wear-resistant equipment made from stainless steel is used.

Pellets are also made from raw materials such as peat. Such products are characterized by an impressive calorific value and high ash content. The manufacture of such options requires specialized equipment and good resources, because the procurement of peat raw materials is a seasonal procedure that requires certain costs.

Advantages and disadvantages

Today, pellet heating is chosen by many owners of private houses that cannot be connected to the gas mains for a number of reasons. People prefer this method of heating their home because it has significant advantages.

• Pellets are made from safe and environmentally friendly materials that do not harm health.
• Pellet heating has good safety characteristics. Granulated fuel from natural raw materials is not explosive, unlike, for example, gas.
• In most cases, pellet heating is characterized by low ash content (there are exceptions, for example, in the case of peat granules).
• In the case of using pellets, it is possible to use the ash in the future.
• Heating a private or suburban building with granulated pellets does not require approval for connection (unlike options running on gas).
• To store pellets, there is no need to separate a separate structure - you just need to choose a dry room.

• Pellets are made quite simply when we are talking about ordinary pellets from wood waste. Moreover, they can be produced at home if you have the appropriate equipment.
• Particles from sawdust and agricultural waste can be stored without problems in a place convenient for the homeowner. In addition, they are easily transported.
• Pellet boilers boast a high efficiency.
• In most cases, pellets do not emit any pungent odors when burned. In addition, they emit almost imperceptible smoke that has no color.
• Pellets have a high calorific value. For example, during the combustion of 1 ton of wood elements, the amount of energy generated is the same as when burning 1.6 tons of wood or 500 liters of diesel.
• Boilers running on such biofuel are very convenient to use - a person has to participate in their operation no more than once a week, since all processes are carried out automatically.

In the age of high technology, environmental safety of fuel has become a priority - this is why many homeowners choose pellet heating. However, even such a relatively new development has its weaknesses.

• Boilers that run on pellets are quite expensive (the cost is several times higher than that of classical gas options). Of course, you can also purchase simple burners that can be installed in an existing solid fuel unit.
• Such equipment requires constant care. Every week the heat exchanger in the pellet boiler must be cleaned using a special brush. This is especially true for older units. More modern boilers often have a special self-cleaning system.
• Pellet fuel itself can cost homeowners more than regular firewood.
• Servicing pellet heating units often costs owners a tidy sum.
• The production of some types of pellet fuel is quite expensive (as is the case with peat types).
• Many models of pellet boilers are not suitable for use in the Russian climate.

Consumption

It is necessary to take into account that granulated pellets are a packaging product that is sold in bags of a specific volume. That is why calculate what the consumption of granules will be for 1 kW and 1 sq. m. will not be difficult. There is no need to convert weight into volume, because manufacturers of such a product always register their products in kilograms, and the unit that measures heat is kW.

The correct calculation of granule consumption is carried out in several steps. The result will be the monthly fuel consumption of the boiler during the entire heating season, as well as its average cost. Below we describe in detail how to make all the necessary calculations using the example of an area of ​​100 square meters. m.

First, it is important to understand how much heat actually penetrates the heating system when burning 1 kg of pellets. This stage must be taken into account, since boilers operating from solid fuel are not ideal for directing absolutely all the heat energy received to warm up a private or country house - part of it is still redirected to the chimney pipe. For this purpose, the heat of combustion of particles is multiplied by the efficiency of the heat generator, divided by 100:

5 kW/kg x 80% / 100 = 4 kW/kg.

To make calculations easier, you should use the reverse action to find out how many pellets you need to burn to generate 1 kW of heat under the current circumstances:

1 kW / 4 kW/kg = 0.25 kg.

Since during the heating season the weather outside usually remains unchanged, and the temperature varies from +10 to -30 degrees, the specific heat consumption per season in a house with an area of ​​100 square meters. m will not be 10 kW, but half as much, that is, 5 kW. If we take into account that all power units refer to a time of 1 hour, then the heat consumption per day will be:

5 kW/h x 24 hours = 120 kW.

The same, but for a month:

120 W x 30 days = 3600 kW.

3600 kW x 0.25 kg/kW = 900 kg.

If you need to know the approximate consumption of pellets from wood waste per day, then you should make the following calculation:

120 kW x 0.25 kg/kW = 30 kg.

Features of pellet boilers

As mentioned earlier, pellet boilers are highly efficient, but are quite expensive. Such units have the following components in their design:

• compartment intended for pellet granules;
• mechanism responsible for feeding pellets;
• auto ignition module;
• burner;
• control module with sensors responsible for temperature conditions.

These heating units can be equipped with different types of burners.

• Flare. Fuel combustion in a burner of this type is carried out in an air flow that comes from a supercharger, forming a kind of torch consisting of hot coals. The temperature when using such a burner can reach up to 1200 degrees.
• Fireplace. Otherwise, such a part is called a grate. In this case, the granules themselves are poured into the burner bowl from the compartment with the dispenser. The air in this design comes from the side air duct or holes in the bowl itself.
• Volumetric combustion. Such burners are called rotary. They are a bowl made of cast iron or steel, into which the granules enter through the central part of the retort - from the bottom, and combustion occurs over the entire surface.

The fuel storage bunker in such a unit can be built-in, that is, inseparable from the device itself, or external. In the second case, any design can be used - a plastic barrel, a container with plywood walls and other similar devices.

As for the fuel supply mechanism, it can be:

• screw;
• pneumatic.

Automatic systems in pellet heating units are also different. For example, like this:

• lambda probes;
• local line control systems;
• GSM control systems;
• control via the Internet.

It is in well-thought-out automation that the main distinguishing characteristic of pellet boilers lies. Thanks to this feature, these units are extremely convenient to use, since they do not have to be constantly monitored.

However, we must not forget that today very often pellet granules are not of the highest quality. Low-grade fuel can negatively affect the operation of the boiler. It is also worth considering that in most cases such equipment is dependent on electrical energy. If the house is built in an area where frequent power outages are common, then heating the home may be at risk.

The main disadvantage of such units is the high cost of the pellet-type burners themselves. On the modern market, most models are produced in Germany, Italy and Spain. The cost of some products from well-known and proven brands reaches 3000-6000 thousand euros. Of course, in stores you can also find domestically made burners, which in many respects are similar to foreign versions, but are much cheaper.

Traditional firewood, fuel briquettes, coal - all this has its advantages and disadvantages. The choice is dictated by the availability and individual performance properties of each type of fuel, as well as the technical characteristics of the equipment.

In this article we will talk about an alternative source of thermal energy - pellets for space heating.

Comparative characteristics

Below are the main characteristics of known types of fuel.

1. Firewood. The most common and efficient type of fuel. For high-quality heating of premises, wood should have no more than 25% humidity. If this indicator is higher, the firewood may not ignite or will smoke heavily. Their main and, perhaps, only drawback is the need to constantly monitor the amount of fuel in the burner. By the way, unlike pellets, the supply of which is carried out fully automatically - it is enough to pour a portion of fuel into the firebox once, and this will be enough for several days of boiler operation.

   Firewood is a relatively cheap material if you prepare it yourself. Ordering dry wood, chopped into neat segments, will cost 2-3 times more. Coniferous species (spruce, pine) are among the most expensive, but burn out faster than others. Oak, hornbeam, maple, ash are premium options. Birch, alder, and aspen occupy an intermediate position in price and properties.

2. Coal. This type of fuel has excellent combustion duration and the amount of thermal energy released. However, the disadvantages are no less significant. In particular, after the combustion of coal, a large volume of slag remains inside the boiler, so it will have to be cleaned regularly. The second disadvantage is the unpleasant smell spreading throughout the room.
3. Fuel briquettes. They are nothing more than waste from the woodworking industry compressed into small blocks. Like fuel pellets, briquettes are environmentally friendly and leave minimal waste. For some, the decisive factor may be that they do not require retrofitting the boiler.

   It is not recommended to use cheap briquettes made from waste fiberboard, chipboard or MDF boards - they contain many harmful substances, in particular furniture glue. It is easy to distinguish such fuel by its white color and fine-grained structure.

4. Pellets. They are produced in the same way as briquettes, only pressed into small granules. They require additional heating equipment with a special pellet burner. This will entail additional expenses, but will be fully compensated by the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of consumption.

The choice of the type of solid fuel for the boiler is limited only by the budget and your own ideas about efficiency.

Note that Kupper boilers operate on all types of fuel, so here the user is not limited in choice by anything other than the budget and his own ideas about the effectiveness of a particular type.

Please note that boiler equipment produced by the Teplodar company is characterized by the maximum configuration, among other analogues on the market. The basic delivery set includes accessories for cleaning the boiler, a heating element block, a thermometer and a stainless steel rotary valve.

Pellets for boilers: advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of fuel pellets include:

• efficient heat generation with more than a small consumption (1 ton of pellets provides the same amount of thermal energy as 1.5 tons of firewood or 500 m 3 of gas);
• minimum waste (ash is 1% of the initial volume of fuel);
• rarely clean the boiler (no more than 1-2 times a month);
• uniform combustion and constant temperature;
• no sparking;
• ease of transportation (pellets are supplied in bags);
• absence of unpleasant odors;
• environmental friendliness (combustion produces only 0.03% sulfur);
• ash can be used as fertilizer;
• reasonable cost of fuel;
• No permits are required to equip the boiler with a pellet burner.

Solid fuel has such an indicator as calorific value - the amount of energy obtained from the combustion of 1 kg of material. For pellets it is 4500-5300 kcal/kg, which is comparable to the calorific value of black coal and dry firewood.

This fuel has only one drawback: before using pellets, you will have to buy a special burner.

The use of pressed granules sometimes requires the purchase of a new boiler, although more often you can get by with retrofitting an existing one. Special devices that operate only on this fuel include pellet boilers. The devices organize a complete heating circuit inside the house and also provide the owners with hot water.

Before using pellet fuel, you will have to buy a special burner.

Selection rules

Alas, not every manufacturer supplies good quality products to the consumer. Next - about the types of fuel and how to determine the quality of pellets by appearance.

Pellets consist of sawdust, shavings, and may include straw, peat, and seed shells.

In the Russian Federation, fuel standardization is poorly developed, so low-quality products are, unfortunately, quite common.

Typically, fuel is supplied in bags (packages) from 5 to 25 kg. It’s good if you can look inside and assess the condition of the granules. Some recommendations for choosing fuel:

• the less dust, fines, broken granules, the better;
• the color of high-quality pellets is brown or slightly lighter;
• the dark color of the fuel is a sign of a high concentration of bark, which impedes combustion;
• the lighter the granules, the more chemical impurities they contain.

The main criterion for classifying fuel by quality is moisture. There are three classes:

• first (minimum humidity, heat transfer up to 95%, high cost);
• second (intermediate option in terms of price and quality);
• third (the fuel is noticeably moist, smokes heavily, leaves a lot of ash, and is cheap).

The cost of pellets of classes I and III differs by 20-30%.

Typically, pellets are supplied in bags (packages) from 5 to 25 kg. It’s good if you can look inside and assess the condition of the granules.

Conditions of storage and use

When purchasing a large batch of pellets, you need to take care of where they are stored. When stored indoors, they should not be placed near open sources of fire. It is also necessary to protect the material from its worst enemy - dampness.

How to store pellets if there is no space in the house? Closed bags/packages can be placed outside under a canopy. However, this option is undesirable - when it rains, the risk of the packaging getting wet and irreversible damage to the fuel increases.

A few words about how to properly heat a solid fuel boiler with pellets. This requires a burner, which can be purchased separately and installed on the boiler literally within half an hour. The operation of such a tandem is extremely simple - the user will need to fill the hopper with fresh pellets from time to time and clean out the ash. The temperature balance is controlled using the control panel.

Fuel pellets are an economical, affordable, efficient solid fuel. And, although the cost of a special pellet burner is quite high, within no more than 1 year the investment in the equipment will fully pay off.