Firelog Igniter Briquette, a Unique and Specific Product for Wood Briquette Users

The use of biomass fuels for space heating has been around for a long time, from simple open fireplaces to automated stoves equipped with IoT (Internet of Things). From firewood collected from forests to the use of wood pellets and (on a smaller scale) wood briquettes. The driving forces related to decarbonization, climate change, and the environment also play a strong role in the use of biomass fuels, especially wood pellets. Premium-grade wood pellets are an option for space heating with a very low ash content of less than 1%, known as A1/A2 pellets. For more details, read here, as well as for wood briquettes (consumer briquettes). The main difference between wood pellets and wood briquettes is their size, and sometimes their shape, and their production technology is also more diverse than wood pellets. For more details, read here.

For wood briquette (consumer briquette), there are various stoves that can use it, but generally, any stove or oven that uses firewood can use it. Because firewood is no longer readily available in Europe, many people purchase wood briquette from vendors who typically also sell stoves or ovens. In Europe, wood briquette is sold directly to buyers on pallets or through supermarkets.

The size of briquettes makes it difficult to light them directly with a match. Typically, they are lit in a separate place (firestarter), using small twigs or breaking the briquettes to make them ignite more easily. However, this is considered difficult and impractical. This is why innovations have emerged in the form of briquettes enriched with paraffin, making them easy to ignite as starters for briquette stoves. These briquettes (igniter briquettes) can be easily lit with a match and are more practical. Currently, paraffin is generally derived from petroleum, making it a fossil fuel. To be more in line with the aforementioned decarbonization and climate change initiatives, paraffin sources should also be renewable, such as from plants. HRBDPS, or hydrogenated RBD palm stearin, derived from or derived from palm oil, can be a substitute for paraffin from this fossil source.

Ash Content and Quality of Premium Grade Wood Pellets

Compared to industrial wood pellets, which have looser specifications, particularly regarding ash content, which can reach 6%, premium-grade wood pellets, for use in space heating, have stricter specifications, specifically a maximum ash content of 1%. Premium-grade wood pellets generally have a diameter of 6 mm, while industrial pellets are generally 8 mm. The color or appearance of premium-grade wood pellets also plays a role, with brighter colors generally preferred. This is why premium-grade wood pellets are naturally more expensive. Demand for premium-grade wood pellets increases during the winter due to the increased need for space heating.

Regarding ash content, several standards even stipulate ash content lower than 1%, such as DIN Plus with a maximum of 0.5%, ENPlus-A1 with a maximum of 0.7%, and Ö NORM M7135 which requires a maximum of 0.5%. This is why strict control of raw material selection and treatment is applied in the production of wood pellets to meet these specifications. Although the ash chemistry for premium grade wood pellets may not be as stringent as for industrial pellets because the application operation is at lower temperatures, the production of wood pellets with very low ash content requires high-quality raw materials.

In premium grade wood pellets, even a slight difference in ash content can significantly impact the selling price. For example, wood pellets with a maximum ash content of 0.55% can differ by around USD 30 per ton compared to wood pellets with a maximum ash content of 0.35%. Because they are used for space heating, premium grade wood pellets are generally packaged in small plastic bags, such as 15 kg, while ordinary industrial pellets are packaged in jumbo bags or even bulk due to the much larger volume requirements.