Wood Pellet Fuel
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Wood pellet fuel is made from sawdust and ground wood chips, which are waste
materials from trees used to make furniture, lumber, and other products.
Most wood pellet fuel has a low 5%–10% moisture content compared to 15% for
fuel corn and 20% for seasoned fire wood.
Some pellets contain either petroleum or non-petroleum lignin used as a lubricant in
the pellet production process, though most contain no additives. Pellets made from
agricultural waste contain more ash, but they may produce more heat than pellets
made from wood.
The Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) maintains National Residential Pellet Fuel Standards,
although fuel quality certification is the responsibility of the pellet manufacturer.
Under the standards, there are two pellet fuel grades: premium and standard. The
only difference between grades is in the inorganic ash content: premium should be
less than 1%, and standard less than 3%. Premium is usually made of core wood
(not bark).
You can check pellet fuel quality by inspecting the bag for excessive dirt and dust.
(Dirt can form clinkers in the stove.) There should be less than one half of a cup of
dust at the bottom of a 40 pound (18 kg) bag.
Pellet stoves designed for low-ash (typically top-fed stoves) tend to operate poorly
when used with pellets of a higher ash content. Many pellet appliance
manufacturers are redesigning their products to burn pellets with varying ash
contents.
Although pellet fuel availability is increasing, you should be sure there is a reliable
pellet fuel supplier in your area before purchasing a pellet stove.
materials from trees used to make furniture, lumber, and other products.
Most wood pellet fuel has a low 5%–10% moisture content compared to 15% for
fuel corn and 20% for seasoned fire wood.
Some pellets contain either petroleum or non-petroleum lignin used as a lubricant in
the pellet production process, though most contain no additives. Pellets made from
agricultural waste contain more ash, but they may produce more heat than pellets
made from wood.
The Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) maintains National Residential Pellet Fuel Standards,
although fuel quality certification is the responsibility of the pellet manufacturer.
Under the standards, there are two pellet fuel grades: premium and standard. The
only difference between grades is in the inorganic ash content: premium should be
less than 1%, and standard less than 3%. Premium is usually made of core wood
(not bark).
You can check pellet fuel quality by inspecting the bag for excessive dirt and dust.
(Dirt can form clinkers in the stove.) There should be less than one half of a cup of
dust at the bottom of a 40 pound (18 kg) bag.
Pellet stoves designed for low-ash (typically top-fed stoves) tend to operate poorly
when used with pellets of a higher ash content. Many pellet appliance
manufacturers are redesigning their products to burn pellets with varying ash
contents.
Although pellet fuel availability is increasing, you should be sure there is a reliable
pellet fuel supplier in your area before purchasing a pellet stove.
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