Today, the need for alternative fuel sources is clear. Our reliance on fossil fuels is no longer sustainable or affordable. There is a limited supply of fossil fuels, plus as the global population continues to raise at an accelerating rate, those supplies cannot meet the demands of a growing population. Also, fossil fuels are now known to be a key contributor to climate change and carbon emissions. Therefore the need for alternative fuel sources such as wood is driven on energy supply, fee and environmental concerns. The issue is how do we capture the fuel from biomass. Biomass in its organic form is not an ideal fuel source. Biomass generally has a low bulk density and therefore also a low fuel density. Also the moisture content of raw wood is generally too high to provide efficient incineration. Therefore the wood requires processing into a more useable form of fuel. Pellets are part of that biomass solution.

Learn more about Making Pellets

As discussed, biomass in its raw form is not ideal as an fuel source through its low density and high moisture content. One of the simplest ways to turn biomass into a highly proficient and cheap form of fuel is to compress the wood material into pellets. Pellets are in the shape of small cylinders, which for fuel pellets are usually 6 or 8mm in diameter. Pellets have a much higher bulk and energy density compared to the raw material plus also a much lower moisture content below 10%. This enables the pellets to burn much more efficiently than raw wood. There are also developments to create wood pellets even more efficient, as well as have a higher energy density. One interesting practice is torrefaction. Torrefaction is where the biomass is heated to between 200 in addition to 300 degrees, as well as a lot of the unwanted volatiles which decrease burning efficiency are burnt off. What is left is a much purer form of carbon which not only burns much more more efficiently than standard biomass along with biomass pellets, it also have several other payback. This payback include being hydrophobic, which means the pellets are not susceptible to moisture as energy pellets currently are. Torrefied biomass in addition to biomass pellets are gaining ground, plus are the future.

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Converting biomass energy into pellets brings house heating by way of solid biomass fuel away from high maintenance log stoves into the 21st century. Modern pellet stoves along with boilers have a variety of automated features which diminish the work load of the owner. For case fuel hoppers on pellet burners usually hold at least a days worth of energy. On the other hand some have large external hoppers which hold a years reserve. Owing to the demand for energy from wood plus a greater demand for pellets, interest in pellet production has also grown significantly. Generating quality fuel pellets requires more than a few pieces of gear from chippers, hammer mills, dryers in addition to pellets mills also known as pellet machines plus pellet press. Operating this tools requires a definite knowledge of what each matter requires to make quality pellets.

More information on Pellet Maker

Possibly this is the largest, by comparable overall mass and weight, of

all nitrogenous species. Having originated in China, this deciduous

tree can easily grow to 50 feet, often with leaves to 20 inches across.

This tree grows FAST.

* From planting to 5 years, it can be felled as a stable millable

timber, used for artistic carpentry, veneers, glory-boxes, cabinet

making, general lightweight furniture and musical instruments;

* from 5 to 10 years, it can be milled for projects requiring a more resilient timber, such as chairs and interior walls;

* from 10 years and on, it becomes millable as a hardwood for construction and structural quality timber;

* has a very high ignition point, and is also rot and warp resistant.

* At any point in its growth after 3 years, it can be utilized to make rather excellent charcoal, for artworks.

All of these qualities make it a rather attractive timber commercially.

Once cut, at any age, after having shed its stored nitrogen -

comparable to the biomass it has lost, the stump will re-shoot. The

shed nitrogen becoming fertiliser for the soil. The re-growth can then

be selectively pruned to re-start the whole plantation process.

Grazing animals find the leaves quite palatable, too, and it is not

uncommon to let them graze on the re-growth between the rows in

plantation systems.

Compatible plant species, with particular micro-environmental climatic

needs, such as coffee, cocoa, lychees, or any other understorey crop

for that matter, fare very well with this system. (more about this in

another article)

After the second or third season of growth (now at approx. 16 feet),

Paulownias start to flower, adding yet another fascinating dimension to

this remarkable tree.

The flowers, from lilac, or light mauve to white, are produced on

panicles about 18 inches long, or deep, remarkably similar foxglove

flowers.

As each flower falls from the panicle, they make an audible sound when

they hit the ground, they are so heavy. The flowers are a prime source

of bee food and subsequently produce a light, uniquely flavored, high

quality honey.

The seed-pod is fairly non-descript, other than that it is a dry pod

containing myriad minute seeds. (more on this in a following article)

The leaves, being huge, either green or spent, make an excellent mulch, or green manure, high in nitrogen.

There is also anecdotal evidence of the leaves being used in alternative therapies, such as a hedge against intestinal worms.

Paulownias will grow in poor to degraded soils and are often used as a

reclamation species. The only apparent specific growing needs being,

plenty of sun and a dislike of wet feet.

Being a very deep rooted plant, and a phyto-remediator species,

Paulownias take up and process contaminants present in ruined land, in

return delivering masses of organic material to bolster the land.

Due to the rapid rate Paulownia trees grow and their ease of

regeneration, they make an excellent primary reclamation species,

especially if incorporated with grazing animals.

Biomass builds phenomenally fast using this method, and reclamation of ecologically ruined land, is actually assured.

Indeed the paulownia is almost a miracle tree.

Organic Gardening Magic
Organic Food Gardening Beginners Manual
Compost – feed your plants as Nature really intended.

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