••••In the premium wood pellet mark

•
•
•
•
In the premium wood pellet market a “quality pellet” refers to a pellet with very low
ash, for example, 0.3 percent. This book describes all types of biomass pellet
production; some of the pellets produced will have higher ash content. A quality
pellet is defined by its mechanical durability and moisture content.
Mechanical durability
Mechanical durability simply refers to how dense the pellet is, and how well it is
formed. Pellets that are denser are of course stronger, and can better withstand the
impact from transportation. They also function more efficiently in the pellet burner.
When a quality pellet has exited the pellet mill, it should have a smooth surface, with
little or no cracks. If the pellet is cracking and expanding it is because there is too
much moisture within the pellet, or there was poor compression within the pellet mill.
Once a quality pellet has cooled, it should be like a coloring crayon. The surface of
the pellet should be smooth and lustrous.
Wood pellets tend to shine more than others; the most important thing is the pellets
smooth compact state. Try tapping the pellet against a hard surface to see if the
pellet stays intact, or if it crumbles easily. The length of the pellet is not really that