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BTU value in wood pellets

hot_rod
hot_rod Member Posts: 23,405
went too high in 06 and are now dropping. Canada is the largest producer selling all but 5% to European markets. Pellet use is climbing in Canada, however.

1/2 of the pellets made worldwide are used to generate power. Coal fired power plants are are blending and sometimes switching to straight pellet use. Sweden use pellets to generate electricity and district heat distribution.

German boiler manufacturers planned on selling 20,000 pellet boilers in 07 but missed the mark by 7,000 due to high pellet prices. Viessmann delayed the launch of the new Vitoligno pellet boiler until current inventory is sold off. Send 'em our way, I say!

hr
Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream

Comments

  • Toddid Goldsmith's
    Toddid Goldsmith's Member Posts: 77
    BTU value in wood pellets

    One of the guy's at work is thinking about a pellet stove. Pellets are going for about $235.00 a ton. What is the BTU value in a ton of pellets or a pound or a bag or however it is computed, anybody know?
  • J.C.A._3
    J.C.A._3 Member Posts: 2,980
    It DEPENDS....

    What are the pallets made of?

    We still get some high class oak pallets around here....but some are also pine. The BTU content of both are quite different. Chris
  • Chris S
    Chris S Member Posts: 177
  • J.C.A._3
    J.C.A._3 Member Posts: 2,980
    OOPS !

    Pellets/Pallets...Big difference. Chris
  • Dick Charland
    Dick Charland Member Posts: 178


    In a recent conversation with someone on the equipment side of the pellet business I was told approximately 112 gallons equivalent to 1 ton of pellets. I asked the question re: hardwood vs softwood pellets and was told they are pretty equivalent BTU wise, remember the wood product is compressed under high heat so the softwood would have an equivalent density. Soft wood pellets tend to burn a little hotter because of resins in the wood. Of greater importance is the need to use premium pellets which have a maximum 4% ash. In a heating appliance you need to figure cleaning the appliance every 3-3.5 tons, roughly 2-3 times a year. Attractive at this time with an equivalency of $2.00/gallon at $235/ton. I understand that pellet prices are climbing.
  • Bob Harper
    Bob Harper Member Posts: 1,091


    According to the National Fireplace Institute's Pellet Hearth Systems Reference Manual, Premium pellets usually run about 8,000 BTUs/ lb. on the wet basis with a moisture content of 6-10%. You can contact the Pellet Fuels Institute for info. on the new voluntary fuel stds.
    HTH,
    Bob
    NFI Instructor and Master Hearth Professional
  • Dick Charland
    Dick Charland Member Posts: 178


    > went too high in 06 and are now dropping. Canada

    > is the largest producer selling all but 5% to

    > European markets. Pellet use is climbing in

    > Canada, however.

    >

    > 1/2 of the pellets made

    > worldwide are used to generate power. Coal fired

    > power plants are are blending and sometimes

    > switching to straight pellet use. Sweden use

    > pellets to generate electricity and district heat

    > distribution.

    >

    > German boiler manufacturers

    > planned on selling 20,000 pellet boilers in 07

    > but missed the mark by 7,000 due to high pellet

    > prices. Viessmann delayed the launch of the new

    > Vitoligno pellet boiler until current inventory

    > is sold off. Send 'em our way, I say!

    >

    > hr



    I stopped today to checkout what is availble in wood burning boilers, I got a brochure on wood/coal. When I asked about a pellet boiler the woman told me I'd never see one this year due to orders and production. Amazing, $6,300. plus another $200 for a tankless coil.
  • Dick Charland
    Dick Charland Member Posts: 178


    I stopped today to checkout what is availble in wood burning boilers, I got a brochure on wood/coal. When I asked about a pellet boiler the woman told me I'd never see one this year due to orders and production. Amazing, $6,300. plus another $200 for a tankless coil.
  • Glen
    Glen Member Posts: 855
    Just had a quick trip to Montana -

    where I saw pellets advertised for 160/ton. Which seems like a bargain compared to prices here in BC. Bring on the pellet boilers!
  • Rich Kontny_3
    Rich Kontny_3 Member Posts: 562
    Tarm USA

    I went to Tarm USA and found not only information and links but pictures and examples of residential and commercial installs of wood pellet and corn fired boiler systems.


    Rich
This discussion has been closed.