Quality Analysis of Commercially Available Wood Pellets and Correlations between Pellets Characteristics
In this study, the quality of wood fuel pellets, commercially available in the Greek market, was evaluated using the ISO 17225 Standard Requirement Thresholds as a benchmark. The examined quality criteria were calorific value, ash content, mechanical durability, bulk density and moisture content. Th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/8/2865 |
| _version_ | 1797434809855770624 |
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| author | Vasiliki Kamperidou |
| author_facet | Vasiliki Kamperidou |
| author_sort | Vasiliki Kamperidou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, the quality of wood fuel pellets, commercially available in the Greek market, was evaluated using the ISO 17225 Standard Requirement Thresholds as a benchmark. The examined quality criteria were calorific value, ash content, mechanical durability, bulk density and moisture content. The reliability of the information on packages was evaluated. Meanwhile, the potential correlation between the most crucial qualitative properties of pellets was investigated to elucidate their potential contribution to pellets’ quality estimation. Most of the pellet brands showed low moisture and ash content and acceptable calorific values for residential use—although the quality of half of the pellet brands was found to be lower than that reported, mainly with regard to the mechanical durability and bulk density. The application of two different collection periods highlighted a stability in quality over time. Higher calorific value seemed to be provided by pellets which had low ash and low moisture content and were mechanically durable. As regards the specific samples, a dark colour and high roughness were correlated with lower fuel quality (impact of 56.2% and 43.6%, respectively). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:39:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fceeeafe90404dc0b33ff9776abf307d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:39:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-fceeeafe90404dc0b33ff9776abf307d2023-12-01T20:49:14ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-04-01158286510.3390/en15082865Quality Analysis of Commercially Available Wood Pellets and Correlations between Pellets CharacteristicsVasiliki Kamperidou0Department of Harvesting and Technology of Forest Products, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceIn this study, the quality of wood fuel pellets, commercially available in the Greek market, was evaluated using the ISO 17225 Standard Requirement Thresholds as a benchmark. The examined quality criteria were calorific value, ash content, mechanical durability, bulk density and moisture content. The reliability of the information on packages was evaluated. Meanwhile, the potential correlation between the most crucial qualitative properties of pellets was investigated to elucidate their potential contribution to pellets’ quality estimation. Most of the pellet brands showed low moisture and ash content and acceptable calorific values for residential use—although the quality of half of the pellet brands was found to be lower than that reported, mainly with regard to the mechanical durability and bulk density. The application of two different collection periods highlighted a stability in quality over time. Higher calorific value seemed to be provided by pellets which had low ash and low moisture content and were mechanically durable. As regards the specific samples, a dark colour and high roughness were correlated with lower fuel quality (impact of 56.2% and 43.6%, respectively).https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/8/2865biofuelbioenergybulk densitycalorificcolourheating value |
| spellingShingle | Vasiliki Kamperidou Quality Analysis of Commercially Available Wood Pellets and Correlations between Pellets Characteristics Energies biofuel bioenergy bulk density calorific colour heating value |
| title | Quality Analysis of Commercially Available Wood Pellets and Correlations between Pellets Characteristics |
| title_full | Quality Analysis of Commercially Available Wood Pellets and Correlations between Pellets Characteristics |
| title_fullStr | Quality Analysis of Commercially Available Wood Pellets and Correlations between Pellets Characteristics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality Analysis of Commercially Available Wood Pellets and Correlations between Pellets Characteristics |
| title_short | Quality Analysis of Commercially Available Wood Pellets and Correlations between Pellets Characteristics |
| title_sort | quality analysis of commercially available wood pellets and correlations between pellets characteristics |
| topic | biofuel bioenergy bulk density calorific colour heating value |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/8/2865 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vasilikikamperidou qualityanalysisofcommerciallyavailablewoodpelletsandcorrelationsbetweenpelletscharacteristics |