The search for an alternative type of fuel sometimes leads to unexpected results. And it all started with wood - the mother of all modern coolants. And it would seem that she was finally lost against the backdrop of cheap gas, efficient diesel fuel or exotic. But the time has come to take a fresh look at the tree and the reason for this was the emergence of a new product - a fuel briquette, or, as they are also called, eurowood.
They are a compressed mass, consisting in most cases of wood waste (sawdust, shavings, etc.). Briquettes may differ in composition, shape and method of production. But regardless of these parameters, they all have certain physical properties.
The physical properties of the briquettes fully correspond to the tree, since it is it that is included in their composition. But there are certain performance differences.
The main problem of simple firewood is an increased moisture content and ash content. When any type of wood is burned, a certain amount of minerals remains. For many breeds, this parameter ranges from 1.2 to 3% of the total mass. At the same time, due to the primary processing of raw materials before the production of briquettes, the ash content can be reduced to 0.7%.
There is also the so-called external ash - mineral substances that got into the firewood during their harvesting, transportation or storage. These impurities can be included in the composition with 15% content. Briquettes are completely free from this "unnecessary" component.
The calorific value (transfer of internal energy to the environment) for firewood has a maximum value of 3000 kcal / kg. For briquettes, this value ranges from 4400 to 5200 kcal/kg.
You can sum it up with a small table of characteristics of briquettes:
Knowing these data, you can professionally choose one or another type of briquette fuel. But before that, it is worth considering their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- High calorific value.
- During combustion, a small amount of CO2 is released - several orders of magnitude lower than that of coal or gas.
- Minimal ash formation, which can later be used as a mineral fertilizer.
- Convenient form for storage.
- Higher density compared to conventional wood. This allows you to get enough heat with smaller briquettes.
Disadvantages:
- Briquettes are more expensive than regular firewood. But their efficiency is much higher.
- Organization of a special place of storage.
There are several types of this fuel, each of which differs in the degree of processing and form.
Cylindrical
In most cases, this is pressed wood pulp of a cylindrical shape, it is they who are often called eurofirewood.
The advantage of this technology is the minimum configuration of the production line and high productivity.
Geometric dimensions:
- Diameter: 60-90 mm.
- Length: from 50 to 350 mm.
Rectangular
This type of briquettes is firmly entrenched in another name - RUF. It was borrowed from the manufacturer of press equipment - the German company Ruf.
They have a rectangular shape and are easy to store. In their production, no special additives are used, only pure sawdust. Equipment for this form of briquettes is supplied by several European companies. And despite its low price, the quality of products almost always remains at a high level.
Geometric dimensions - 65 * 95 * 150 mm.
multifaceted
The main problem of the above products is the fear of moisture. To solve this problem, special equipment was developed that allows not only pressing, but also performing external heat treatment of briquettes.
Their shape can be 4-sided or 6-sided. As a result of exposure to temperature, the surface acquires a dark brown color and a protective moisture-resistant layer is formed. Another feature is the high pressure of the press - up to 1100 bar. This increases the density of the product and, accordingly, its efficiency during combustion.
Such fuels as firewood and coal are more and more confidently replacing heating briquettes, for the manufacture of which waste from the food, light and woodworking industries is used. Both from an economic and environmental point of view, pressed briquettes are much more profitable, because at a very affordable price, they have a very high energy efficiency and emit a minimum of carbon dioxide. Depending on the type of waste, briquettes are wood, coal, peat and pressed from sunflower husks.
Comparative characteristics of briquettes
Each type of briquettes has its own characteristics and advantages. And although they are all great for heating in living conditions However, it is worth familiarizing yourself with their characteristics in more detail in order to choose the best option.
This type of briquettes is obtained by pressing various wood waste - deadwood, sawdust, shavings, substandard wood. Before pressing, the waste is heated to a certain temperature, as a result of which an adhesive substance, lignin, is released from the cells. Thanks to lignin, briquettes acquire high strength and retain their shape during transportation and storage.
The advantages of briquettes over solid wood are obvious:
In addition, wood briquettes have other advantages:
- pressed wood does not spark during combustion and emits very little smoke;
- the boiler is maintained at a constant temperature;
- briquette burning time 4 hours;
- the remaining coals after combustion are great for cooking on an open fire;
- the correct form of briquettes simplifies their transportation and storage.
Such fuel is sold not in cubic meters, like wood, but in kilograms, which is much more profitable.
Prices for Eurowood Briquettes
Eurowood Pini-kay
This type of briquettes is obtained from screening hard coal. The screenings are first crushed, mixed with a binder, and then pressed under high pressure.
The main properties of such fuel:
- coal briquettes do not smoke;
- do not emit carbon monoxide;
- burning time in conventional boilers from 5 to 7 hours, with adjustable air supply - 10 hours;
- suitable for domestic use;
- have a compact shape;
- during combustion, 5200k / cal is released and a constant temperature is maintained;
- maximum ash volume - 28%;
- have a long shelf life.
Coal briquettes are the most optimal fuel in severe winters, when pressure drops in households due to low temperatures. Briquettes burn at any temperature, the main thing is that there is a constant flow of air.
Prices for coal briquettes WEBER
Coal briquettes WEBER
To make briquettes, peat is dried, heated and pressed under high pressure. The result is neat light bricks of dark color. With adjustable air supply, peat briquettes maintain the temperature for 10 hours, which is very convenient for heating the house at night.
Basic properties:
The ash that remains after the combustion of fuel can be used as an effective lime and phosphorus fertilizer. For many owners of private households, this factor is decisive when choosing heating briquettes. Since peat is a flammable substance, it should be stored at a safe distance from open flames and heating appliances. Even dust spilling out of the packaging can ignite and cause a fire, so you need to handle the briquettes correctly.
Sunflower husks, buckwheat and rice husks, rye, oat waste and even straw are widely used to make fuel briquettes. The most common are briquettes from sunflower husks, since a large percentage of waste remains in the production of oil. The maximum humidity of the pressing husk is 8%, which increases the heat transfer and reduces the ignition time.
Specifications:
- the density of briquettes is 1.2 t/m³;
- heat transfer - 5200 kcal / kg;
- the volume of ash is from 2.7 to 4.5%.
Additional benefits:
- no harmful impurities;
- affordable price;
- long burning time;
- ease of storage and transportation.
Comparison of the characteristics of heating briquettes and fuel shows that pressed materials are still more efficient. If you choose between the briquettes themselves, you should take into account their features and properties.
To less often lay fuel, you should purchase coal or peat briquettes; if ash is required for fertilizer, the best choice there will be wood briquettes and from the husk. They are also the most affordable. And in order to better determine, it is recommended to buy a small package of each type. This will help to accurately assess the strength of the briquettes, the duration of burning, the amount of heat generated and make the best choice.
| Type of fuel | Average weight of fuel for the production of 16,000 MJ of energy | Comparative price of obtaining energy for a consumer on average in Russia, rub. |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel briquettes | 1000 kg | 2000 |
| Wood | 1600 kg | 2200 |
| Gas | 478 cubic meters | 3500 |
| Diesel fuel | 500 l | 8000 |
| fuel oil | 685 l | 5500 |
| Coal | 1000 kg | 2800 |
How to make briquettes with your own hands. Photo + instruction
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AT recent times it has become fashionable to use not only traditional fuel in the form of firewood for kindling stoves, but also other, alternative options. For example, they are becoming more and more popular, compressed under high temperature natural materials: sawdust, peat, straw, etc. Created from biological waste, 100% natural and environmentally friendly, fuel briquettes allow you to effectively and inexpensively drink a house, a bathhouse.
In this article we will talk about how to make fuel briquettes with your own hands from improvised materials. To do this, you will need to buy or make suitable waste recycling equipment and learn how to properly make euro firewood. Making fuel briquettes with your own hands will allow you to solve several problems at once:
- get rid of waste;
- obtain efficient and technologically advanced fuel for home heating;
- save money on wood.
Homemade fuel briquettes can be of any shape
Main advantages
Fuel briquettes are modern look alternative fuel. They can be used in any stoves, fireplaces, boilers, barbecues, barbecues. Eurobriquettes are cylindrical blanks resembling firewood, or rectangular bricks. Small dimensions allow to place them in furnaces of any size.
What are briquettes made of? Most often, wood is used (sawdust, shavings, dust), but straw, paper, peat, coal, seed or nut husks, and even manure are also used. The composition of the eurobriquette can vary significantly, depending on which technology is used in the production.
At the same time, all types of raw materials from which wood firewood can be produced are natural, absolutely natural. Making fuel briquettes at home will allow you to create an environmentally friendly product that will almost completely burn in the furnace and at the same time emit a minimum of smoke.
A home-made eurobriquette can be used to kindle a sauna stove or heat a house. Since the raw material is compressed quite strongly and the amount of moisture is minimal, fuel briquette burns for a long time, constantly releasing a large amount of heat. An interesting point was noticed by people who are already actively using such fuel: if you melt your barbecue with eco-wood and fry food on it, it does not ignite if it gets on the briquettes of fat.
Warehouse for handicraft ready-made ecro-briquettes
For solid fuel stoves, boilers and fireplaces, great option become briquettes from sawdust. They slowly flare up, but after burning for a long time and emit a large amount of heat. This is explained by the high density of the pressed wood product. Heat transfer from briquettes significantly exceeds the level of heat obtained by burning even the driest firewood, which took at least a year.
Fuel briquettes- a type of solid fuel, an alternative to conventional wood or coal. Due to the correct shape and the same size, they are also called eurofirewood. They can be used in fireplaces, stoves, solid fuel boilers and other heating appliances operating on solid fuels.
Next, we will analyze what briquettes are made of and what are they? What are their advantages and disadvantages over firewood? Do briquettes really give more heat and burn better? Is it beneficial to use them? And also how to choose high-quality briquettes.
What are briquettes made of?
Briquettes are made from woodworking and food industry waste - sawdust, rice husks, buckwheat or seeds. Available and inexpensive materials are also used, representing energy value: straw, peat or tyrsu (herbaceous plant).
Briquettes do not contain glue or other binding elements. The briquette gains strength and shape due to strong pressing and maximum drying. Therefore, their burning does not harm human health.
Advantages of fuel briquettes
The main advantage of a briquette is that the combustion temperature is 1.5-2 times higher than that of firewood. At a humidity of 20%, the calorific value of wood is 2500-2700 kcal/kg, the briquette is 4500-4900 kcal/kg.
And there are simple and logical explanations for this:
- Briquettes have low humidity. The lower the moisture content of firewood, the higher their heat transfer. The normal moisture content of wood with proper storage is 15-20%. Briquettes have a moisture content of 4-8% and is achieved through forced drying - an obligatory stage in their production.
- Briquettes have a high density. Why does oak wood burn hotter than poplar wood? Because of the density. Density of oak is 0.81g/cm3, poplar is 0.4g/cm3. That is, each cm3 of oak contains more useful and combustible woody substance than poplar. The density of the briquette is 0.95-1g/cm3. In them, the content of combustible matter per unit volume is even higher than that of oak. Accordingly, the calorific value is higher.
Low humidity and high density are the key to the success of briquettes. If you dry firewood to a moisture content of 4-8%, then in terms of calorific value they will be compared with briquettes.
Other advantages of the briquette:
- They take up less space.
- Burn more evenly and last longer.
- Made from waste. If you care about the environment and the environment.
- Due to the low humidity, briquettes emit less soot and pollute the chimney less.
disadvantages
- Price. At first glance, fuel briquettes are more expensive than firewood. In fact, this should be considered the cost of a unit of heat received from firewood and briquettes. Next, we will analyze this issue in more detail.
- Fear of moisture. Wet briquettes crumble. Storage conditions are critical for them: in a closed ventilated area.
- There are bad briquettes. When buying briquettes, it is not always possible to be sure of the material from which they are made. Anything can be added to wood briquettes: soft wood, rotten, old, low-quality or chemically treated wood, and so on. This creates volume, but reduces the quality of the briquette.
What are fuel briquettes
Briquettes differ in shape and material of manufacture.
Differences in form
There are three main forms of fuel briquettes: pini-cay, ruf and nestro. Their difference is only in the maximum density that can be achieved in each of the forms. In terms of chemical composition or mass calorific value, there are no differences between euro firewood no.
Fuel briquettes pini-kay
The highest density is from 1.08 to 1.40 g/cm 3 . Section shape - square or hexagon. There is a through hole in the center, which provides better air movement and combustion of the briquette.
Fuel briquettes RUF
Fuel briquettes from sawdust ruf, in the form of a brick. They have a small size and the lowest density - 0.75-0.8 g / cm 3.
Briquettes Nestro
Nestro fuel briquettes have a cylinder shape and an average density of 1 - 1.15 g / cm 3.
Peat briquettes
Fuel peat briquettes a special form, not like the others. And because of the high ash content and the presence of other harmful impurities in the composition, they are not recommended for use at home. Such briquettes are suitable for industrial furnaces or boilers that can run on low-quality fuel.
Fuel briquette from peat
Differences in material
eurofirewood are made from sawdust, seeds, rice and buckwheat husks, straw, tyrsa, peat and other materials. The material affects the calorie content of the fuel briquette, ash content, the amount of soot emitted, the quality and completeness of combustion.
The table below compares the characteristics of briquettes made of different materials- husks of seeds, rice, straw, tyrsa and sawdust. Such an analysis shows not only that briquettes made of different materials differ from each other. But also the fact that even briquettes from the same material differ in quality and properties.
All data are taken from real test reports of fuel briquettes.
Calorie content, humidity, ash content and density of fuel briquettes from different materials.
Table comments
Seed. The highest calorific value of seed husk briquettes is 5151kcal/kg. This is due to their low ash content (2.9-3.6%) and the presence of oil in the briquette, which burns and is of energy value. On the other hand, due to oil, such briquettes more intensively pollute the chimney with soot, and it has to be cleaned more often.
Wood. Second in calories sawdust wood briquettes- 5043kcal/kg at 4% humidity and 4341kcal/kg at 10.3% humidity. The ash content of wood briquettes is the same as that of a whole tree - 0.5-2.5%.
Straw. Straw briquettes are not much inferior to seed husks or sawdust and have a good potential for use. They have a slightly lower calorie content - 4740 kcal / kg and 4097 kcal / kg, and a relatively high ash content - 4.8-7.3%.
Tyrsa. Tyrsa is a perennial herb. Such briquettes have a fairly low ash content - 0.7% and good heat transfer of 4400 kcal / kg.
Rice. Rice husk briquettes have the highest ash content - 20% and low calorific value - 3458 kcal / kg. This is even less than that of wood, at 20% humidity.
Two important takeaways
1. Different ash content
Two samples of straw briquettes have different ash content - 4.86 and 7.3%.
Ashes are mineral substances in the composition of wood, which either represent a weak energy value, or simply do not burn. And therefore, the more ash in the wood, the less its heat transfer.
Different ash content of fuel briquettes indicates different quality of production and raw materials. One manufacturer does not clean the straw well enough to remove dirt and external ash. The other one adds foliage and other materials for volume. At the output, this greatly affects the quality, calorific value and burning time of the fuel briquette. And this situation can be with any briquettes, not just straw.
2. Different humidity
Humidity of briquettes from seed husks in one case is 2.7%, and in the other - 8.51%. Some wood briquettes from sawdust, the moisture content is 4.1%, for others 10.3%.
This means that the moisture content of fuel briquettes is also different. Their strength and calorific value depend on this: at a humidity of 4.1%, the heat transfer of a briquette is 5043 kcal / kg, and at 10% - 4341 kcal / kg.
So in the end it’s cheaper - firewood or briquettes
The main thing in firewood is not weight and cost, but the cost of a unit of heat. You can burn 5kg and 10kg of different firewood, but get the same amount of heat. Let's carry out a simple calculation (figures as of the winter of 2013):
- 1 m 3 of firewood weighs 500-600kg and costs 550 UAH;
- 1 m3 of briquettes weighs 1000 kg and costs 1800 UAH;
1 m 3 of wood contains 40-50% less real fuel than the same volume of briquettes. Let's determine the cost of 1 ton of firewood.
1 ton of wood \u003d 1.66 m 3. Its cost will be 550 * 1.66 = 913 hryvnia.
Now let's calculate the cost of 1W of heat emitted by firewood and briquettes
As a result, it can be seen that the difference is insignificant - 4 kopecks per 1 watt of thermal energy. It turns out that the effect of firewood and briquettes is almost the same, despite the significant difference in price at first glance.
It is important to take into account:
- Poor wood quality. Often, when buying firewood, you can stumble upon freshly sawn wood with a moisture content of 40-50%. The calorific value of such firewood is even less
- Firewood takes up more space, which means that their transportation will cost even more.
Questions and answers
How much do fuel briquettes weigh
The weight of a briquette depends on its density. With a pini-kay briquette density of 1.08 - 1.36g/cm3, one cubic meter weighs 1080-1360kg. For comparison: 1 cubic meter of oak firewood at a moisture content of 20% weighs about 800kg, birch firewood 750kg, and pine firewood 520kg.
Burn time
The burning time of fuel briquettes depends on the same factors as the burning of firewood: traction force and ignition method. If you do not close the damper in time and supply a lot of air to the briquettes, they will burn out very quickly.
On the other hand, if you carefully fold the briquettes, set them on fire correctly and provide the minimum amount of air necessary for combustion, then they will high density and low humidity will burn longer than firewood.
The photo shows fuel briquettes pini-kay. They are neatly stacked and burn evenly from left to right.
To choose the best fuel briquettes for home use that will burn well and efficiently, adhere to the following principles:
- Prioritize - sawdust wood briquettes. In terms of combustion quality, they are as close as possible to firewood, burn well, have low ash content and high heat transfer. Seed husk briquettes also give a lot of heat, but due to oil, they more intensively pollute the chimney and heater with soot.
- Calorific value of fuel briquettes from solid and coniferous woods is the same, because they are based on the same woody substance. But softwood briquettes contain resin, which pollutes the chimney more with soot.
- Do not believe in the calorific value, humidity and ash content of briquettes in words. Ask the seller for test reports, which indicate the main characteristics of the briquettes. But be prepared for the fact that they may not be.
- Choose briquettes with maximum density. The higher the density, the more evenly and longer the briquettes burn, and also do not crumble and leave a lot of hot, long-burning coals. The highest density is in pinikey briquettes, the average is in Nestro, and the minimum is in Ruf.
- Before buying a large number of briquettes, take 10-20kg samples from different places. Check them for strength: if the briquette breaks easily and crumbles, then it is poorly compressed or contains a lot of moisture. Burn each sample in a heater. Pay attention to the heat, how long and at what thrust do the briquettes burn? The lower the thrust at which the briquettes are able to burn, the better. See what coals they leave behind. Do they hold their shape or break up into small embers? This is the only sure way to choose quality briquettes for heating.
findings
- Fuel briquettes are an alternative type of solid fuel to firewood or coal. They are suitable for fireplaces, solid fuel boilers, stoves and other heating appliances.
- Briquettes are made from production waste: sawdust, rice husks, seeds or buckwheat. Inexpensive and affordable materials are also used - straw, peat or tyrsu. The quality of combustion of the briquette and its calorific value depend on the material.
- Briquettes come in three shapes: ruf, pini-kay and nestro. The shape does not affect the chemical composition, but only the maximum allowable density of the briquette. Pikin-kay has the highest density, ruf has the lowest density.
- The two main advantages of briquettes over firewood are higher heat transfer and ease of use. Due to the minimum humidity and ash content, the calorie content of briquettes is higher. And thanks to the correct shape and high density, the briquettes fit snugly together and take up less space in volume.
- Not all briquettes are equally good in quality. Even briquettes of the same shape and from the same material can differ in ash content, humidity and combustion temperature. Everything strongly depends on the quality of preparation of raw materials, the degree of drying and pressing, as well as the storage of finished briquettes.
Everything about fuel briquettes: types, the better firewood, advantages and disadvantages, recommendations for choosing
Fuel briquette is an alternative material that allows you to quickly and efficiently kindle a stove or fireplace and warm up the room. However, it has many other advantages. Today, this type of fuel is becoming very popular. Let's look at why.
Advantages of the presented material
So, the main advantages of these elements are the following.
1. Making a fuel briquette with your own hands is quite simple, so you can do it yourself using simple devices - presses. In addition, you can even organize your own business.
2. Long duration of burning. The briquette can burn from 1 to 4 hours. At the same time, it constantly emits heat.
3. The minimum amount of smoke, sparks.
4. Ecological cleanliness, as they are made from plant and other natural materials with their own hands.
5. Profitability. The cost of one ton of such fuel is much less than the same amount of coal or firewood. At the same time, the energy efficiency is much better.
6. Practicality. The ash that is formed after the combustion of briquettes can be used as fertilizer.
7. Easy storage. The presented material does not take up much space, it can be in plastic bags. At the same time, it can be stored for a long time in conditions of high humidity.
8. Application in all types of fuel equipment: fireplaces, boilers, stoves.
9. Unpretentiousness in storage.
Applications of the material
Before you make a fuel briquette with your own hands, you need to figure out where it can be used. Most often, the material is used for heating residential buildings, educational institutions, catering establishments.
In addition, fuel briquettes can be used in warehouses where wood materials are dried and stored. Industrial enterprises the presented type of fuel is also often used in combination with other materials. In any case, the presented material is the most efficient and economical, especially in comparison with other types of fuel.
What raw materials are used in production?
Before you make a fuel briquette with your own hands, you need to select the necessary source material and equipment. First, let's figure out what the product can be made of. So, wood and plant waste is most often used in production.
For example, you can make a briquette at home from vegetable husks, sawdust, straw. In addition, it is also allowed to use materials such as fallen leaves, shavings, dry plant stems, chips, seed husks for production.
Naturally, for the production you will also need water, clay and other substances that can glue the raw materials together. In some cases starch may be added. In general, you can use for the manufacture of briquettes any combustible garbage that lies uselessly on your territory.
Applied equipment
In order to make a fuel briquette with your own hands, you need to choose the right press or chipper. When choosing a press, it is necessary to decide what shape and area the elements will have. Most often, round and rectangular briquettes are made.
Among the professional equipment, one can single out a screw, shock-mechanical and hydraulic press. The first apparatus is capable of producing octagonal elements with a small hole in the center. They are characterized by maximum density, therefore, they provide the highest burning time. produces rectangular elements with the smallest density, which ensures high material consumption. Making fuel briquettes at home using a shock-mechanical device gives you the opportunity to make material of any shape. At the same time, the elements have an average density.
You can make a machine for making briquettes at home. To do this, you will need a simple press and a mold (a sewer pipe with drilled holes). Please note that during the manufacture of the presented product, you will need to take into account the length of the firebox.
Material manufacturing technology
The production of fuel briquettes consists of several stages:
1. First you need to grind the waste that will be used to produce the elements.
2. Dry clay should be added to the same container, which will serve as a link.
3. Now you need to add water to this mixture. Moreover, the gruel should not be too liquid or thick. In any case, the mass should be well molded. In addition, the density of the briquette depends on the amount of water.
4. The resulting mixture must be poured into the mold and flattened with a press. Make sure that as much water as possible comes out of the gruel. After that, the resulting products must be thoroughly dried in the sun. In order for them to be durable, each element should be overlaid with paper or rags. After complete drying, all briquettes can be put together.
When you press the raw material with a press, you will have to put in a lot of effort to squeeze as much water out of the mixture as possible.
Do-it-yourself production of fuel briquettes is quite simple, although laborious. Please note that the humidity of each product should not exceed 13%. In order for the element to burn better, paper can be added during manufacture, which must be torn into small pieces. And so that all the constituent parts stick together better, a little starch can be added to the mixture.
Please note that for various kinds heating appliances you will need different briquettes. For example, peat and birch elements are well suited for fireplaces. For barbecues, it is better to use eurofirewood or wood briquettes. They can both burn and slowly smolder. In addition, they practically do not emit any carcinogenic or other harmful substances.
Now you know how to make a fuel briquette with your own hands. Good luck!
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