[Gasification] new pellet mill source, and cuber question

[Thomas Reed]

Dear Greg, Jim, list and all:

I have a pellet stove in my garage lab that I use to test pellets, 
cherry pits, corn  etc.  Sawdust is best (<1% ash), but others work to 
varying degrees, depending mostly on ash content. 

Naturally I also test all of these in our WoodGas stove.  Since it is 
"flaming pyrolysis" gasifier (T ~ 700C) and a batch operation, the ash 
is no problem. 

And we use wood pellets regularly in our 10 kW gasifier for testing.  No 
problem with fluffing as described by Greg. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Greg may be using a nozzle type gasifier (WWII).  The air comes 
in horizontally, burns local gas and diffuses both up and down in the 
incoming fuel.  In areas between the nozzles there is slower heating and 
if high moisture gas circulates it could cause the "fluffing" described 
by Greg.  Conventional pellets are certainly very moisture sensitive and 
must be stored and used in dry conditions.

Comments?

TOM REED                       BEF/BEC

Greg Manning wrote:
> Greetings Jim, and list members,
>
>  Jim, the problem with pellets are that they expand when heated, and "fluff
> out" causing bridging problems in a downdraft unit (I have to assume you are
> going after engine quality gas here).
>
> If you start adding binders like clay to the pellets to control fluffing,
> then a raft of other issues emerge like slaging and clinker formation just
> to name a few....
>
> Cubers are not that common (that I know of) there is a company about an hour
> south of Winnipeg Manitoba, that is doing some work with cubes, but what the
> status is, I have no idea.
>
> If you are planning to use the pellets in some other method of gasification,
> please disregard my comments.
>
> Greg Manning,
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org
> [mailto:gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org]On Behalf Of jim mason
> Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 12:13 AM
> To: Gasification list
> Cc: Russell Groves
> Subject: [Gasification] new pellet mill source, and cuber question
>
>
> i've been spending a reasonable amount of time searching for
> inexpensive pellet mills online.  other than the answer that "they
> don't exist" and "design your gasifier so that you don't need them", a
> pellet mill in an affordable range still seems important.
>
> there are inexpensive pellet mills being made in china.  the only
> importer of them in the US i have found is here:
> http://www.pelletpros.com/index.html.  if you know of others, do pleas
> tell.
>
> they have a variety of sizes (small), as well as hammermills to
> prepare fuel sources not already granulated.  these chinese models are
> the only ones i've found in the less than 10k range.   used commerical
> ones, like the california pellet mill models can be found for around
> 5k, but most are larger than needed, and run very large electric
> motors.
>
> you can go direct to the chinese sources for these mills via
> alibaba.com, as usual.  attached is an example of a price quote i got
> from one of them for both pellet and hammer mills.  i can pass on
> specific company names on request.
>
> does anyone have any experience with hay cubers for gasifier fuel
> prep?  i can't seem to find them, but they must be plentiful for
> ag/farm feed prep.
>
> j
>
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