Effect of pelletizing conditions on combustion behaviour of single wood pellet

Abstract

This paper presents how pelletizing die temperature and moisture content affect combustion behaviour of single wood pellet. Pine wood particles with two different moisture contents (i.e. 1wt.% and 12wt.%) were pelletized in a laboratory-scale single pelletizer (single die pellets) at die temperature of 20, 100, 150 and 200°C. The pellets were combusted in a laboratory scale furnace at 800°C. Time required for single pellet combustion generally increased with both increase of pelletizing temperature and moisture content of biomass. In addition, combustion behaviour of single die pellets was significantly different than those produced in a pilot scale pelletizing plant (semi-industrial scale pellet). That difference was due to variation in physical properties of pellets (e.g. density, and morphology).