How to Make Wood Pellets at Home

Wood Pellets are in High Demand

In today's uncertain times, saving money is essential and using a pellet stove will certainly help you save in the long run.  More and more people are seeing the benefit of pellet stoves and are converting over. With this the demand for wood pellet fuel has far out stripped the supply.

So now there is a new market which is "How to make Wood Pellets at Home", I have searched the internet and so far not found must useful information until now. The guys at PelHeat have created a small scale mobile wood pellet making machine that we can use in our home to manufacture our own wood pellets.

Many different materials including wood can be turned into pellets in the pellet mill, this is what makes the pellet stoves so attractive, our fuels can be used, and collectively they are called biomass pellets. These include wood and waste wood, straws and grasses, energy crops and many other materials.

Biomas pellets is a skilled process and requires some level of skill and understanding of the equipment used. This is where PelHeat as created an eBook to explain all this and more so you will have a good understanding of the process involved. The step by step guide to making wood pellets is explained in 10 easy to understand sections. The process from the beginning as a raw material followed by material size reduction, drying, mixing, conditioning, mill, sieving, cooling, bagging and storage.

Here's a brief breakdown of what's inside the guide:

Biomass Pellets and Future Potential

In the guide they will explain the production process. How in a pellet mill, heat and pressure are used to re-form the biomass into pellets. The guide will also explain how different percentages in moisture content and natural lignin affect quality and productivity.

Production Process and Principles

In the Wood Pellet Making Guide they will explain the process of production, explaining the heat and pressure is used to create the biomass pellets. Also the moisture content and natural lignin will affect the quality and productivity.

Machinery and Equipment

The Wood Pellet Maker guide will explain that different equipment is used depending on the size and scale and type of biomass material used.

Flat Die Mill and Ring Die Pellet Mill

Each of the above mills has their own advantages and disadvantages which will be clearly explained in the guide. These mills will also have their own speeds, metals and again depends on the raw materials that will be used.

Binders and Mill Lubricants

Some raw materials require binders and lubricants for the mill to improve quality and pellet mill productivity.

The ebook on making wood pellets is worth a read, even if you don 't want too make your own pellets the ebook is great value for your money. The cost saving's involved will easy cover the cost of the ebook within the first few months.

Click on How to make Wood Pellets and learn valueable lessons and knowledge for your pellet stove.

Heating Things Up: Pellet Stoves vs. Gel Fireplaces

Much of the country is in the grips of a brutal winter with no end in site. With dipping temperatures and rising home heating costs, Americans everywhere are dreading the arrival of their monthly heating bill. To combat both the cold and rising fuel costs, consumers are seeking out supplemental home heating alternatives like space heaters, electric fireplaces and yes, even pellet stoves. When weighing what type of supplemental heating source to purchase, consumers are often torn. Here is a little side by side comparison of two popular supplemental home heating options - the gel fireplace and the pellet stove.

The Gel Fuel Fireplace:

What Is It?: Gel fireplaces offer the look and feel of a traditional wood burning fireplace, without the hassle, mess or inefficiencies. Gel fuel fireplaces are often portable, vent-less, plug-less and super stylish. Gel fireplaces run on cans of gel fuel which last from 2.5 to 3 hours each. With an average heat output of 3,000 B.T.U. per hour, that's enough to heat a small room. Gel fuel is clean burning, odorless, smoke and fume-free. Gel fireplaces are also available in a variety of styles including that of a traditional-looking fireplace or a wall-mounted fireplace. Gel fuel fireplaces are also available as energy-efficient inserts which can be retro-fitted over an existing wood-burning fireplace.

The Pellet Stove:

What Is It?: A pellet stove or fireplace is an alternative supplemental heating source that burns "pellets" instead of fuel, gas or wood. Most pellets are made from recycled sawdust, wood chips, bark, agricultural crop waste, recycled paper or other organic, natural materials. Pellet stoves are highly energy efficient and heat efficient, producing anywhere from 8,000 to 90,000 B.T.U. per hour. Pellet stoves also produce very minimal air pollution, making them the cleanest of all solid fuel-burning residential heating appliances. With combustion efficiencies of 75 to 85 percent they are exempt from the EPA's smoke-emission testing requirements. Powered by electricity, pellet stoves do make a little noise while running. Additionally, pellet stoves are not available in as many styles as gel fireplaces, however pellet inserts are available for you to fit over your existing fireplace.

Why Choose One Over the Other:

Whether you opt for the gel fireplace or the pellet stove is up to you, but both have their own benefits and drawbacks. The biggest benefit that gel fireplaces have to offer is their fume/odor-free burning, while their biggest drawback would probably be their heat efficiency. Many gel fireplaces are more decorative accents than fully functional heating alternatives. Additionally, each can only burns for about 3 hours which requires more maintenance and won't last the whole night should you have one in a bedroom.

The biggest benefit pellet stoves have to offer would probably have to be how highly heat efficient they are. Depending on which model you purchase, a pellet stove will heat up a bigger space than a gel fireplace. The biggest drawbacks would have to be the simple fact that they require electricity to run, which could drive up your electric bill. Additionally, you're fairly limited when it comes to styles and finishes. Gel fuel fireplaces feature considerably more finish and style options when it comes to decorating your space.

This winter, consider your options when shopping for the right supplemental heating source for your home. Each option has its own list of pros and cons but if you have a specific space in mind in your home, and have an idea of how much you want to spend you should be fine. Knowing your space is crucial, as gel fireplaces only release so much heat, making it impossible to heat a larger room, whereas pellet stoves provide a great deal more warmth.

Harman Advance Pellet Stove

The Harman Advance Pellet Stove uses the state-of-the-art technology to adjust the room temperature automatically. Simply pour your pellet fuel into the convenient top-loading hopper and set the Advance’s temperature dial to your desired temperature. If the room temperature drops below the preset temperature, the Advance Pellet stove will light itself to increase back to your set temperature.

After your set temperature is achieved, it will constantly monitor by a sensing probe. If the temperature in the room drops even slightly, the Harman Advance Stove will increase its flame level. If an outside door is opened and the room temperature drops rapidly, the Advance will increase its fire in proportion to the temperature drop. And ivce verus if there is a rise in temperature.

Harman makes choosing a pellet stove easy [...] Continue Reading...

Harman Accentra Pellet Stove

The Harman Accentra Pellet Stove from Harman Stoves is a high performance pellet stove with outstanding beautiful and upholding traditional cast iron styling.

From just feeling the Harman Accentra you know this is a stove built to a standard far above any other cast iron pellet stove on the market today. The castings are smooth and detailed and the appearance accents a wide range of décor styles, so adding this peice of art will not be a problem. With the optional cast iron hearth pad and the outside air kit, you can install an Accentra Pellet Stove where other stoves just can’t go.

The Accentra stove has a remarkably precise temperature control system built right in so you won’t need an old-fashioned thermostat. The Harman Accentra constantly monitors room temperatures and [...] Continue Reading...

Harman Pellet Pro 38 Plus

The Harman Pellet Pro 38 Plus by Harman Pellet Stove is a quiet yet very powerful and still compact stove that provides up to 38,000 BTUs in normal operation plus an additional 5,000 BTUs in Turbo mode. This Harman Pellet Stove is easily installed in tight quarters, making it the perfect choice for modular and even in mobile homes.

The Pellet Pro 38 Plus is simple to operate and maintain. With a wide range of colors and door styles available to choose from, allowing you to create an addition to your home that is as eye pleasing as it is functional.
Features

Accordion Heat Exchanger - provides greater heat exchange surface in less space
Turbo Mode - allows for up to 43,000 BTU output
Glass Door Feature - over 100 square [...] Continue Reading...

Profile INS Pellet Insert by Whitfield

The Profile INS fireplace insert by Whitfield Pellet Stoves will deliver a higher degree of convenience, efficiency and comfort to any room. The start-up is incredibly easy and straight forward with the FastFire self-igniter that will give a vibrant fire with a comfortable 38,000 BTU of heating. With a medium size hopper that can carry up to 30 hours worth of pellet fuel.
Aesthetics and Design Versatility

With the attractive bay-view design with gold or nickel accents brings a beautiful decorative touch.
Optional decorative log set adds to the attractive look and realism
High-efficiency combustion output levels produces a customizable and vibrant fire experience.
Exclusive air wash system prevents ash build-up on the viewing glass for unobstructed fire viewing.

Comfort

A single hopper of pellets provides up to 30 hours of continuous warmth.
Patented UltraGrate achieves nearly [...] Continue Reading...

Principles of Operation

A pellet stove will normally consists of these six basic components in some form:

A hopper
An auger system
Two blower fans (combustion and convection)
A firebox (with refractory panels, burn-pot, and ash collection system)
Various safety features (vacuum switch, heat sensors)
A main control box/board (or "brain")

For pellet stoves to properly function they require electricity which can be plugged into a normal wall outlet. A pellet stove is a consistent heater consuming fuel that is fed evenly from a refillable hopper into the burn-pot (a perforated cast-iron basin), through a motorized system. The most commonly tpye of distributor used is called an auger, the system consists of a spiral length of metal encased in a tube. This mechanism is either located above the burn-pot or slightly beneath and guides a portion of pellet fuel [...] Continue Reading...

Harman P61 Pellet Stove

The P61 Pellet Stove from Harman Pellet Stoves uses state of the art technology to adjust the heat to the desired temperature. Just add the pellet fuel to the Harman P61 Pellet Stove and leave it to do its job.  If only a slight increae in temperature is desired then the P61 will burn a small fire.

After your set temperature is achieved, it is constantly monitored by a sensing probe. If the temperature in the room drops even slightly, the P61 will automatically increase its fire in proportion to the temperature drop.

In addition to adjusting temperature levels, the Harman P61 Pellet stove will automatically adjust itself for fuel quality. An ESP (Exhaust Sensing Probe) analyzes the output of the pellet fuel being burned and adjusts the feed rate accordingly [...] Continue Reading...

Country Flame Pellet Stove

In 1976, Country Flame was created out of an old warehouse in Mt. Vernon,Missouri. It began with only a few employee's and started with what they call the "smart-Fireplace. This design is still now our top seller.

Products innovation continued as the company developed the finest catalytic stoves on the market, and soon after that the Country Flame line was being sold nationwide. By the late 1980s, the company had postioned itself as top three stove manufacturers in the United States. Then in 2003, American Energy Systems bought Country Flame and moved the business up the road to a new facility in Marshfield in Missouri. Now with new state of the art facilities Country Flame Technologies can continue to grow and build on there rich history.

Now with emphasis on renewable energy sources, Country Flame is once [...] Continue Reading...

Harman Accentra Pellet Fireplace Insert

The Harman Accentra Fireplace Insert from Harman Pellet stoves gives you a level of convenience that you will not find in other pellet stoves by giving you more heat, better temperature control wiith these outstanding features it makes the Accentra Fireplace Insert a good value for money pellet insert.
The versatility design make the Accentra change from a heat wasting firepalce into a efficent heating source. The Accentra Insert could also be used to create a fireplace that doesn’t require a chimney for your home. The accentra can be converted to a zero clearance fireplace kit so you can place the pelelt insert in the corner r against any wall in the house. There is options to choose from a variety of mantels and facings that complement your home’s décor.

The [...] Continue Reading...