Impact of press channel diameter-to-length ratio on the mechanical properties of biomass pellets during storage

Journal
Fuel processing technology  
Volume
265
Article Number
108149
Citation
Fuel Processing Technology 265: 108149 (2024)
Publisher DOI
10.1016/j.fuproc.2024.108149
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85207693599
Publisher
Elsevier
This study investigates the effects of press channel length on the quality of wood pellets, focusing on key aspects such as density, radial porosity distribution, and mechanical stability, both at the time of delivery and during storage. Wood pellets were produced using press channels with diameter-to-length (D/L) ratios of 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5 to evaluate how variations in die geometry influence pellet quality. Micro-computed tomography (μCT) analysis indicates that the D/L ratio of the press channel significantly impacts the porosity within the pellets. Short press channels are associated with great variability in the radial porosity distribution of the wood pellets, while longer press channels lead to uniformly low porosity over the radius. Furthermore, pellets produced with longer press channels exhibit a smoother surface with fewer cracks and greater resistance to structural degradation under varying humidity conditions. Although high-density pellets show improved mechanical strength and recovery potential in humid environments, remaining damage in the form of cracks and alterations in radial porosity distribution lead to reduced strength compared to their initial state.
Subjects
Biomass pellet
Mechanical stability
Microcomputed tomography
Pelleting process
Porosity distribution
Storage
DDC Class
660: Chemistry; Chemical Engineering
Lizenz
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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