Great Lakes Renewable Energy, Inc.
PELLET SPECS Pellet Fuels Institute
The Pellet Fuels Institute has designated the
standards listed below for pellets.
Compliance to the standards by pellet
manufacturers is voluntary.
PREMIUM GRADE: Less than 1% inorganic
ash content.
STANDARD GRADE: Less than 3% inorganic
ash content.
COMMERCIAL GRADE: More than 3%
inorganic ash content.
DIMENSION: Diameter of 1/4 inch to 5/16 inch
LENGTH: Less than or equal to 1.5”.
FINES CONTENT: Not more than 0.5% by
weight; must pass through 1/8-inch screen.
SODIUM ADVISORY: Natural uncontaminated
wood has less than 300 ppm of water-
soluble sodium. Larger amounts may be
found in funnels made from particleboard,
agricultural residues, paper and other
materials, and wood contaminated with salt.
The Pellet Fuels Institute has designated the
standards listed below for pellets.
Compliance to the standards by pellet
manufacturers is voluntary.
PREMIUM GRADE: Less than 1% inorganic
ash content.
STANDARD GRADE: Less than 3% inorganic
ash content.
COMMERCIAL GRADE: More than 3%
inorganic ash content.
DIMENSION: Diameter of 1/4 inch to 5/16 inch
LENGTH: Less than or equal to 1.5”.
FINES CONTENT: Not more than 0.5% by
weight; must pass through 1/8-inch screen.
SODIUM ADVISORY: Natural uncontaminated
wood has less than 300 ppm of water-
soluble sodium. Larger amounts may be
found in funnels made from particleboard,
agricultural residues, paper and other
materials, and wood contaminated with salt.
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| ONE TON OF WOOD PELLETS EQUALS |
| 3 - 40 GAL BARRELS OF FUEL OIL 120 GALLONS |
| 7- 100 LB PROPANE BOTTLES 170 GALLONS |
| GLRE BROCHURE Click to download and print |
FUEL EMISSION LEVELS VARIOUS FUELS
Pounds per Billion Btu of Energy Input
Pollutant Natural Gas Oil Coal WOOD PELLETS
WOOD CHIPS
Carbon Dioxide 117,000 164,000 208,000 0
0
Carbon Monoxide 40 33 208 707
2,350
Nitrogen Oxides 92 448 457 12
188
Sulfur Dioxide 1 1,122 2,591 23
23.5
Particulates 7 84 2,744 23 TO 141
70.5 TO 3,760
Mercury 0.000 0.007 0.016 <0.0011
<0.0011
NOTE: Burning of biomass such as wood pellets also emits CO2; however, unless
there has been a change in land use, it is considered that CO2 emitted from
biomass is removed from the air by new growth, and therefore it should not be
included as a CO2 contributor.
Fossil fuels emissions data from
The United States Department of Energy
Wood pellet and Wood Chip test data reference from:
Emission factors and emissions from residential biomass combustion in Sweden
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: + 46 (0)8-698 10 00, Fax: + 46 (0)8-20 29 25
E-mail: natur@naturvardsverket.se
Address: Naturvårdsverket, SE-106 48 Stockholm, Sweden
Internet: www.naturvardsverket.se
ISBN ISSN © Naturvårdsverket 200
Because there is no formal designation of
hardwood or softwood our pellets are in the
category of hardwood as we use primarily a
hardwood and softwood mix compressed to
40lbs +- density. They are referred to as
either blend or hardwood they are not to be
considered softwood as softwood has
generally meant all pine species.
hardwood or softwood our pellets are in the
category of hardwood as we use primarily a
hardwood and softwood mix compressed to
40lbs +- density. They are referred to as
either blend or hardwood they are not to be
considered softwood as softwood has
generally meant all pine species.
HARDWOOD VS SOFTWOOD
WHAT DOES BTU'S/LB. REALLY MEAN?
| CORN CONVERSIONS Wood pellets based on 40lbs./cu.ft. 1 BUSHEL EQUALS 1.2444 CU FT. 1 BUSHEL WOOD PELLETS WEIGHS 49.776LBS. 1 TON OF WOOD PELLETS EQUALS 40.2 BUSHELS BTU CONVERSION CORN BASED ON 7000 BTU/LB @ 13% MOISTURE WOOD PELLETS BASED ON 8500 BTU/LB. BUSHEL CORN 392,000 BTU BUSHEL WOOD PELLETS 423,104 BTU ASH CONTENT PREMIUM WOOD PELLETS 2/3RDS LESS ASH STANDARD WOOD PELLETS SAME ASH |
Wood Pellets – Hardwood or
Softwood?
We are frequently asked if hardwood pellets are
superior to softwood pellets. Most people’s perception
is that hardwoods are superior; after all, hardwood
logs do burn better than softwood logs. However, this
is not necessarily the case when raw material is
processed to form wood pellets.
Hardwood logs are significantly drier than softwood
logs and the low moisture content results in a hotter,
cleaner burn. However, in the process of
manufacturing pellets – whether softwood or
hardwood – the moisture content of the wood is
brought down into a narrow range of about 4%.
Once the moisture has been removed, the two
remaining components of any pellet are cellulose (the
wood fiber itself) and resin (or the sap in the wood,
which is essentially a natural oil). Cellulose has the
same heating value, whether originating in softwood or
hardwood form. Resin has a higher heating value than
cellulose and the resin content of softwoods is higher
than that of hardwoods. As a result, softwood pellets
burn hotter than hardwood pellets, yielding a slightly
higher heating value (BTU’s per pound).
Heating values are close across almost all pellets; as
a result, what really matters most to consumers is ash
content. The main factors that impact ash content are
the cleanliness of the raw material (that is the absence
of bark and other impurities) and the quality of the
manufacturing process.
Softwood?
We are frequently asked if hardwood pellets are
superior to softwood pellets. Most people’s perception
is that hardwoods are superior; after all, hardwood
logs do burn better than softwood logs. However, this
is not necessarily the case when raw material is
processed to form wood pellets.
Hardwood logs are significantly drier than softwood
logs and the low moisture content results in a hotter,
cleaner burn. However, in the process of
manufacturing pellets – whether softwood or
hardwood – the moisture content of the wood is
brought down into a narrow range of about 4%.
Once the moisture has been removed, the two
remaining components of any pellet are cellulose (the
wood fiber itself) and resin (or the sap in the wood,
which is essentially a natural oil). Cellulose has the
same heating value, whether originating in softwood or
hardwood form. Resin has a higher heating value than
cellulose and the resin content of softwoods is higher
than that of hardwoods. As a result, softwood pellets
burn hotter than hardwood pellets, yielding a slightly
higher heating value (BTU’s per pound).
Heating values are close across almost all pellets; as
a result, what really matters most to consumers is ash
content. The main factors that impact ash content are
the cleanliness of the raw material (that is the absence
of bark and other impurities) and the quality of the
manufacturing process.
| CORD WOOD VARIES BY SPECIES AVERAGE ONE TON OF WOOD PELLETS EQUALS APPROXIMATELY 1.2 to 1.5 CORDS OF WOOD AIR DRIED RED OAK IS 7000 BTUS'/LB GREEN RED OAK IS 5012 BTU'S/LB WOOD PELLETS ARE 8,500 BTU'S/LB LESS DENSE WOOD HAVE LESS MATERIAL FOR COMBUSTION AND MAY REQUIRE TWO CORDS TO PRODUCE THE SAME HEAT AS ONE CORD OF A HEAVIER, DENSER WOOD. SOME EXAMPLES OF LOW-HEAT FIREWOODS INCLUDE WILLOWS, BASSWOOD, COTTONWOOD, AND YELLOW (TULIP) POPLAR. SEASONED, THEY WEIGH ONLY ABOUT HALF AS MUCH AS DENSER SPECIES, EVEN THOUGH THEIR HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT WHEN GREEN MAY SUGGEST THEY ARE DENSER THAN THEY ARE. THEY'RE NOT GOOD FOR HEATING BECAUSE THEY BURN UP QUICKLY, BUT CAN SERVE WELL AS KINDLING, ALSO BECAUSE THEY SPLIT EASILY UNIVERSITY EXTENSION UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI |
| VIDEO Water & Wood Pellets don't mix |