IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v71y2017icp1-11.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Factors affecting wood, energy grass and straw pellet durability – A review

Author

Listed:
  • Whittaker, Carly
  • Shield, Ian

Abstract

Pellets produced from wood, energy grasses and straw present a higher energy density feedstock than wood chips or bales, and therefore reduce the costs of handling, transport and storage throughout the supply chain. European specifications provide limits to the proportion of fines (particles less than 3.15mm) allowed in pellets, which refers to the durability of the pellets. Fines have implications for health and safety in supply chains, and cause issues with slag formation in combustion systems. This paper reviews the factors affecting biomass pellet durability. The industrial trade for wood pellets has expanded greatly over the last decade and involves the international trade of tens of million tonnes annually. Due to increasing demands for pellets, there has been growing interest in utilising more varied biomass types. The aim of this review is to examine feedstock qualities and pelleting conditions that produce durable pellets. Pellet durability can be affected by the feedstock characteristics, the moisture content or size reduction during pre-processing, and by pelleting conditions, including the use of binders, feedstock mixes, temperatures or die pressures. Post-production conditions can also affect durability, such as the storage conditions and handling frequency, therefore an understanding of all the factors affecting durability throughout the supply chain is needed in order to prioritise where advances can be made.

Suggested Citation

  • Whittaker, Carly & Shield, Ian, 2017. "Factors affecting wood, energy grass and straw pellet durability – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 1-11.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:71:y:2017:i:c:p:1-11
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2016.12.119
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032116311777
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2016.12.119?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ahn, Byoung Jun & Chang, Hee-sun & Lee, Soo Min & Choi, Don Ha & Cho, Seong Taek & Han, Gyu-seong & Yang, In, 2014. "Effect of binders on the durability of wood pellets fabricated from Larix kaemferi C. and Liriodendron tulipifera L. sawdust," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 18-23.
    2. García-Maraver, A. & Popov, V. & Zamorano, M., 2011. "A review of European standards for pellet quality," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 3537-3540.
    3. Samuelsson, Robert & Larsson, Sylvia H. & Thyrel, Mikael & Lestander, Torbjörn A., 2012. "Moisture content and storage time influence the binding mechanisms in biofuel wood pellets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 109-115.
    4. Larsson, Sylvia H. & Rudolfsson, Magnus, 2012. "Temperature control in energy grass pellet production – Effects on process stability and pellet quality," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 24-29.
    5. Karkania, V. & Fanara, E. & Zabaniotou, A., 2012. "Review of sustainable biomass pellets production – A study for agricultural residues pellets’ market in Greece," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 1426-1436.
    6. Larsson, Sylvia H. & Lestander, Torbjörn A. & Crompton, Dave & Melin, Staffan & Sokhansanj, Shahab, 2012. "Temperature patterns in large scale wood pellet silo storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 322-327.
    7. Sultana, Arifa & Kumar, Amit, 2011. "Development of energy and emission parameters for densified form of lignocellulosic biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 2716-2732.
    8. Biswas, Amit Kumar & Rudolfsson, Magnus & Broström, Markus & Umeki, Kentaro, 2014. "Effect of pelletizing conditions on combustion behaviour of single wood pellet," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 79-84.
    9. Zamorano, M. & Popov, V. & Rodríguez, M.L. & García-Maraver, A., 2011. "A comparative study of quality properties of pelletized agricultural and forestry lopping residues," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 3133-3140.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mostafa, Mohamed E. & Hu, Song & Wang, Yi & Su, Sheng & Hu, Xun & Elsayed, Saad A. & Xiang, Jun, 2019. "The significance of pelletization operating conditions: An analysis of physical and mechanical characteristics as well as energy consumption of biomass pellets," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 332-348.
    2. Feng, Cheng & Yu, Xinxin & Tan, Hanqiu & Liu, Tian & Hu, Tianyu & Zhang, Zhuoyan & Qiu, Shi & Chen, Longjian, 2013. "The economic feasibility of a crop-residue densification plant: A case study for the city of Jinzhou in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 172-180.
    3. Bruno Rafael de Almeida Moreira & Ronaldo da Silva Viana & Victor Hugo Cruz & Paulo Renato Matos Lopes & Celso Tadao Miasaki & Anderson Chagas Magalhães & Paulo Alexandre Monteiro de Figueiredo & Luca, 2020. "Anti-Thermal Shock Binding of Liquid-State Food Waste to Non-Wood Pellets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-26, June.
    4. Rudolfsson, Magnus & Larsson, Sylvia H. & Lestander, Torbjörn A., 2017. "New tool for improved control of sub-process interactions in rotating ring die pelletizing of torrefied biomass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 835-840.
    5. Arkadiusz Dyjakon & Tomasz Noszczyk, 2019. "The Influence of Freezing Temperature Storage on the Mechanical Durability of Commercial Pellets from Biomass," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-13, July.
    6. Proskurina, Svetlana & Heinimö, Jussi & Mikkilä, Mirja & Vakkilainen, Esa, 2015. "The wood pellet business in Russia with the role of North-West Russian regions: Present trends and future challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 730-740.
    7. Larsson, Sylvia H. & Rudolfsson, Magnus & Nordwaeger, Martin & Olofsson, Ingemar & Samuelsson, Robert, 2013. "Effects of moisture content, torrefaction temperature, and die temperature in pilot scale pelletizing of torrefied Norway spruce," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 827-832.
    8. Anukam, Anthony & Berghel, Jonas & Henrikson, Gunnar & Frodeson, Stefan & Ståhl, Magnus, 2021. "A review of the mechanism of bonding in densified biomass pellets," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    9. María Teresa Miranda & Irene Montero & Francisco José Sepúlveda & José Ignacio Arranz & Carmen Victoria Rojas, 2017. "Design and Implementation of a Data Acquisition System for Combustion Tests," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.
    10. Yılmaz, Hasan & Çanakcı, Murad & Topakcı, Mehmet & Karayel, Davut & Yiğit, Mete & Ortaçeşme, Derya, 2023. "In-situ pelletization of campus biomass residues: Case study for Akdeniz University," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 972-983.
    11. Aneta Saletnik & Bogdan Saletnik & Czesław Puchalski, 2021. "Modification of Energy Parameters in Wood Pellets with the Use of Waste Cooking Oil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    12. Rodolfo Picchio & Francesco Latterini & Rachele Venanzi & Walter Stefanoni & Alessandro Suardi & Damiano Tocci & Luigi Pari, 2020. "Pellet Production from Woody and Non-Woody Feedstocks: A Review on Biomass Quality Evaluation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-20, June.
    13. Martín-Gamboa, Mario & Marques, Pedro & Freire, Fausto & Arroja, Luís & Dias, Ana Cláudia, 2020. "Life cycle assessment of biomass pellets: A review of methodological choices and results," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    14. Atay, Orhan Alp & Ekinci, Kamil, 2020. "Characterization of pellets made from rose oil processing solid wastes/coal powder/pine bark," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 933-939.
    15. Kong, Lingjun & Tian, ShuangHong & He, Chun & Du, Changming & Tu, YuTing & Xiong, Ya, 2012. "Effect of waste wrapping paper fiber as a “solid bridge” on physical characteristics of biomass pellets made from wood sawdust," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 33-39.
    16. Rabaçal, M. & Fernandes, U. & Costa, M., 2013. "Combustion and emission characteristics of a domestic boiler fired with pellets of pine, industrial wood wastes and peach stones," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 220-226.
    17. González, William A. & López, Diana & Pérez, Juan F., 2020. "Biofuel quality analysis of fallen leaf pellets: Effect of moisture and glycerol contents as binders," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 1139-1150.
    18. Nunes, L.J.R. & Matias, J.C.O. & Catalão, J.P.S., 2014. "Mixed biomass pellets for thermal energy production: A review of combustion models," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 135-140.
    19. Pitak, Lakkana & Sirisomboon, Panmanas & Saengprachatanarug, Khwantri & Wongpichet, Seree & Posom, Jetsada, 2021. "Rapid elemental composition measurement of commercial pellets using line-scan hyperspectral imaging analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    20. Chico-Santamarta, Leticia & Godwin, Richard John & Chaney, Keith & White, David Richard & Humphries, Andrea Claire, 2013. "On-farm storage of baled and pelletized canola (Brassica napus L.) straw: Variations in the combustion related properties," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 429-437.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:71:y:2017:i:c:p:1-11. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.