In order for a home to be as comfortable and habitable as possible, it must contain 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 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 species;
• other waste generated during wood processing.

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

For example, during the production of granules gray 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 if we're talking about 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. In more modern boilers There is often a special self-cleaning system.
• Pellet fuel itself can cost homeowners more than regular firewood.
• Servicing pellet heating units often costs owners a pretty penny.
• 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 is detailed information on how to do everything. necessary calculations using the example of an area of ​​100 sq. 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 in order to direct absolutely all the heat energy received to warm up the 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 heating season the weather outside usually remains unchanged, and temperature regime varies from +10 to -30 degrees, then 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 the following calculation should be made:

120 kW x 0.25 kg/kW = 30 kg.

Features of pellet boilers

As mentioned earlier, pellet boilers They are characterized by high efficiency, 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 air flow, which comes from the 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 fall through central part retorts - from below, 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 pellet boilers. 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 found that are not the most High 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 established brands reaches 3,000-6,000 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.

IN Lately In all countries of the world, interest in alternative sources heating, environmentally friendly and affordable. It is precisely these popular resources that include a new type of fuel - pellets, small-sized wood pellets. cylindrical, 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 biofuel is 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 range of obvious advantages:

Features of using pellets

Today, pellets are used for heating residential, commercial and industrial facilities. 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 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 accordance with technological standards and European technical standards guaranteeing a service life of 20 years or more.
• Easy to use, with high level fire and explosion hazards.

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

One of modern species 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?

- This is a granular type of solid fuel of a 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

Main normative document, predetermining the production of pellets, is the standard European Union EN 14961-2, adopted in January 2011, on its basis the 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.
Optimal solution in terms of price/quality/performance characteristics for Russian market This heating devices Polish manufacturer Metal-Fach, including line boilersSD 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 type 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 optimal value, although the equipment can also operate on pellets longer than 50.00 mm);
• smell (the granules should have a slightly sweet smell of freshly prepared glue, this a clear sign excellent quality);
• color (it is important to remember that the highest quality pellets are white or slightly cream-colored, agropellets are predominantly dark, and wood pellets dark color indicates that bark, other impurities or mixed wood species have been added);
• 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 burning this type of solid fuel, 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 modern stage;
• to burn pellets you need a special pellet boiler equipped with automation, which also costs more;
• low volume of supply on the market, the situation will improve over time, but pellets must be purchased in reserve and provided warehousing without allowing excess moisture to enter.

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 as an initial, basic raw material, such as sunflower husks, rapeseed or sawdust, there is no 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 ordinary metal barrel.
It is better to use a granulator with a flat matrix (a cylindrical matrix in the form of a perforated drum is more difficult decision) and a perforated disk with cone-shaped outlet holes 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, by 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. Specialists of the Kras-Kotel company will help you make right choice pellet boiler, taking into account all your wishes and the characteristics of your home.

Attention! New! High-precision CCD laser machine IL-6090 SGC (with camera), equipped with an advanced optical object recognition system. Thanks to modern software and high-quality components, the machine is able to independently recognize and scan the necessary objects from a variety of presented ones, and then cut them within the specified boundaries according to the required parameters.

Good afternoon The INTERLASER company informs you about a huge supply of lenses and mirrors for laser equipment. The lowest prices for lenses and mirrors: Lenses for ZnSe laser machines (USA): diameter 20, focus 2 (50.8 mm) - 3,304 rubles diameter 20, focus 5 (12.7 mm ) - 3,304 rubles diameter 25, focus 2.5 (63.5 mm) - 7,350 rubles Lenses for ZnSe lasers (China): diameter 20, focus 2 (50.8 mm) - 2,450 rubles diameter 20, focus 5 (127 mm) - 2,450 rubles diameter 25, focus 2.5 (63.5 mm) - 4,900 rubles Mirrors: diameter 20 mm, thickness 2/3 mm - 840 rubles diameter 25 mm, thickness 2/3 mm - 980 rubles diameter 30...

Pellet mill - designed for the production of wood pellets (pellets) from dry wood waste. The main processed raw material is sawdust. Small pellet mills allow you to produce granules from any biomass. Small pellet mills are in demand in private households, as well as in small industries. They are used for the production of pellets, for heating premises, as well as for the production of animal feed. more details......

INTERLASER is pleased to inform its customers of a significant (12.5%) reduction in the price of milling machines model Carver-0609. New models of Carver-0609 milling machines are equipped with a 1.5 kW water-cooled spindle, an electronic table zero point sensor, improved HIWIN (Taiwan) rail guides on all axes, and a water pump is also supplied with the machines. Control milling machine carried out via a DSP controller, Type3 software is included. Equipment is delivered within 60 working days from the date of advance payment (70% of the cost). For any questions, please contact our sales offices by phone numbers listed on the website.

Attention! New equipment is expected to arrive! The INTERLASER company informs its customers about the planned deliveries of fiber-optic laser markers for metal to the Company's warehouse in the near future!

During the period from February 28 to March 2, 2012, our Company took part in the Federal Wholesale Exhibition-Fair “TEXTILLEGPROM” (Moscow, All-Russian Exhibition Center, pavilion 55, 1st floor, stand A-12). At the exhibition we presented the HX 1290SE laser engraving machine and the RABBIT 1120H plotter. Our specialists demonstrated to the exhibition visitors the wide range of possibilities laser machine by cutting, laser cutting and engraving of textile materials, leather, plastic and veneer. Also, the work of a plotter for cutting rolled materials was demonstrated. All equipment samples brought to the exhibition were sold directly from the stand at the end of the exhibition. You can find a photo report on the exhibition in the photo gallery section.