Raw material particle size and
moisture content of woody biomass that meet for specific technical requirements
as long as adequate quantity then can be directly processed into wood pellets
with pelletiser. Stages such as debarking, size reduction, and drying become no
need to be done with the raw material in these conditions. The shorter route in
the process so it will be more economical production processes are carried out.
This is the ideal choice that be searched by all manufacturers of wood pellet.
Ideal conditions are not plentiful but can be met in some industries.
Waste wood shavings (planers) due to
the small its particle size and already
dried (MC~10%) generally can be directly processed into the pelletiser for the
production of wood pellets. Just an additional equipment, that is hopper as a
temporary reservoir is usually required before pelletiser for maintaining the
stability of the supply of raw materials to the pelletiser continuously. The
availability and sustainability of such raw materials would become one of the
key success factors for the production of wood pellets. The dried raw material
but if the raw material size is still quite large such as wood chips can not be
directly fed into the pelletiser for wood pellets.
History
ofthe
manufacture ofwoodpelletsbegin fromtheenergy
crisisof oil inthe 1970s.Wood pelletmaking technologyitselfis adoptedfromanimal feed/fishpellettechnologythathad alreadybeen
applied. Along
with the developmentof varioustechnological
modernizationin linewiththe characteristics ofraw materials,
product specifications ormarketdemandsaccordingto
international standards, production efficiencyandcapacity of the planttomeetmarket needs.
Efforts tocreatealternative energyfromrenewable sources with
several quality improvements of raw material intothe solutionat that time. After theoil crisisof
the 1970sendedthe productionof woodpelletsdecreased.
Butwhen theproblemof globalwarming, climate changeandefforts
toincrease theadded valueof woodybiomassand
the rapid depletionof fossilfuelsbeganin the 1990sfinallywoodpelletsagainreceived great attention.
Woodybiomassin
particularis said tobe asource ofalternativeenergythatcan berenewedonlyif
theproduction is donein a sustainable manner.Forestplantationsorenergy
cropsisan attempttosustainableproductionof biomasssourcesin addition tothe utilization ofwoodwastesfromvariousindustrialtimber that mustalsobe tracediffrom
legal sources. Sawdustin
particularisthe bestraw materialfortheproductionof woodpellets, butbecause ofits availabilityis usuallynota bigplusifcollectedfroma number ofsawmill waste for
example, and somuch demandthatshould be observedwhenactuallybeusedforthe
production ofwoodpellets.
The wood
logsarepartof aplantortreeare besttoproducepellets.If thepremiumqualitywoodpellets(pellets ClassA1) produced,thedebarkingprocessmust also bedonetominimizeitsash content. Whilepart of treesorotherplants thathavea higherash
contentso it can notbe usedforthe production ofpremium qualitywoodpellets.
Woodpelletshavethe bestqualitylowestash contentandhighcalorific valueandare generallyonlyusedforthehomeheatinginsomeEuropean countries, the U.S.andCanada. Whilewoodpelletswitha lowerqualitythan
thatits useinindustry.
Log wood for premium wood pellet feedstock after debarking
In
contrast toEuropean countriesand theU.S.aregenerallyusingwoodpelletsfordomesticconsumptionasheating, inAsiagenerallydigunakansebagaiwoodpelletfuelorpower generationindustries.Thedifferences
in consumption patternsdue toclimaticconditions, among others, asa result ofits geographical locationand theawareness of theenvironmental impact.
Variousadvantagesof woodpelletsforindustrialand domesticapplicationsanda wide
range ofdriving factorsonenvironmentalissues, climatechange, globalwarmingand theeconomymakesitincreasinglymassivedemand for the commodity.