Agripellet

agripellet

Agripellet, WASTE becomes a PRODUCT

Biomass from farming waste and repurpose as a ecological biofuel.

Straw pellet

Straw pellet

Miscanthus pellet

Pellet miscanthus

rapeseed-pellet

Rapeseed pellet

 almond-shells

Almond shells

Hazelnut shells

Hazelnut shells

Walnut shells

Walnut shells

Coconut shells

Coconut shells

grape seeds

Grape seeds

These are just some example of agripellets. Each type is characterized by a different chemical composition. In general, agripellet is considered as a low quality biomass due to the high ash content. It tends to be rich in low-melting components that make its application challenging due to the problem of synterizations. These problems can be solved with the application of a burner specially designed for agripellet.

Agripellet burner

Agripellet characteristics

Agripellet synterization

Synterization

In the biomass can be present chemical components that melt at low temperature (low melting point). During the combustion, these components melt; as a result the ash is agglomerated in large solid blocks. This phenomenon is called synterization and it needs to be addressed in order to prevent the stop of the heating system.

Ash content

Ash content

The ash content The percentage of ash generated from the combustion of the agripellet depends on the type of biomass in consideration. With the term agripellet we include a large range of farming waste and biomass. Each different coltivation varies grately also based on the geographical location, method used for harvesting. Straw pellet can have a ash content that ranges from 5 to 20%.

Certified wood pellet CEN/TS 14961 has a ash content equal to 0.7%. For every 100 kg of pellet we would therefore obtain 700 grams of ash. When we use agripellet with ash content equal to 3%, we would obtain about 3 Kg of ash every 100 kg of pellet; a much larger volume of ash compared by the one generated from wood pellet. For this type of applications it is therefore necessary to have a burner specifically designed for this type of challenge.

Pellet burner in bread oven

Heating capacity

The heating capacity of agripellet is extremely variable and depends on different factors; it is usually lower than the heating capacity of wood pellet (about 4.7 kW/Kg).

Cost

Agripellet is obtained from farming waste. Its cost is therefore very low.

Agripellet from grapes shoots

Repurposing of waste from the grape harvesting

Example of a short supply chain: harvesting grapes shoots, peletizing and combustion. Project presented in collaboration of the university “Università Politecnica delle Marche”. (Available only in Italian)