[Stoves] Off Grid Pellitizing issues --- was Re: Bulk density of LPG vs pellets

[Dave Lello]

Hi All

The info out there on charcoal production is that it is very small producers and then some medium producers. Most of the money in the charcoal supply chain is made by the transporters of charcoal rom production sites to the cities where it is sold.

Based on the research on “larger” charcoal producers, I am working on a model of making a 200- 300 kg / hour pellet plant viable. Plant off this size needs about a 50 kW electrical supply. This would probably be a diesel generator. You all know the reasons for this.

My calculations are that 200 kWh of power is needed for every ton of pellets produced. Given that a ton of pellets has 4,8 gWh of energy, means that the conversion factor of under 5% of delivered energy.

A production facility like this would provide work for about 20 biomass collectors/traders. 4 - 6 production staff and another 10 distribution staff and agents. and is very comparable with the charcoal supply chain.

A summary of the full model looks something like this:



If anyone is interested in contributing to this model, I would welcome you emailing me to start a detailed conversation.

Dave Lello
Ekasi Energy
dave at ekasi.energy <mailto:dave at ekasi.energy>
Mobile: 082 891 8335

> On 15 Feb 2018, at 16:24, Paul Anderson <psanders at ilstu.edu> wrote:
> 
> Christa and all,
> 
> You raise an excellent question.   I changed the Subject line so the we see this discussion for what it actually is:  Offgrid pelletizing for fuel.    (There are off-grid pelletizing operations for animal-feed pellets; related but some significant differences.)
> 
> I will try to bring forward some info to answer your question about who is working on this issue, but it is not my decision to release the info or not.
> 
> There are also some very related questions:
> 
> 1.  Pellet production output (size) of the units.   You gave an example of 1 ton output per hour.   Thai is not as small as it sounds (even though the big industial sites are soooooo much larger).    Assuming (this can be discussed) a household would consume 2 kg per day of pellet fuel, one ton would serve 500 households.   In a 10 hour production day, that would be supplying pellets to 5000 households (maybe 30,000 people) and need 10 tons of appropriately processed / reasonably dry biomass per day.   (If 1.5 or 2.5 or 3 kg pellet consumption per household, that would greatly change the numbers).
> Variables include the operational hours per day, and if working 5 or 6  (or 7) days.    24 working days/month would mean serving 4000 households and needing 240 tons of appropriate feedstock per month.   I would suggest that maybe half or one quarter that hourly output might be more appropriate.
> 
> 2.  Alternatives for generating the needed power if grid was not present.  We
>> are talking at least 80 kW electrical power requirement or a corresponding PTO + diesel tractor.
> 
> 3.  And certainly more aspects.
> 
> Let's see if there are some discussions and some factual inputs about this topic on this Listserv.
> 
> Paul
> 
> Doc  /  Dr TLUD  /  Prof. Paul S. Anderson, PhD
> Email:  psanders at ilstu.edu
> Skype:   paultlud    Phone: +1-309-452-7072
> Website:  www.drtlud.com
> 
> On 2/15/2018 5:08 AM, CHRISTA ROTH wrote:
>> Neil,
>> the answer very much depends on the access to electricity in the area of potential production: if you want to achieve a considerable / commercially viable output of pellets e.g. 1 ton/hour, you are talking at least 80 kW electrical power requirement or a corresponding PTO + diesel tractor.
>> 
>> Does anybody have any off-grid pelletising success stories anywhere on this planet? Would be interested to know.
>> 
>> Christa
>> 
>>> Am 14.02.2018 um 22:25 schrieb neiltm at uwclub.net:
>>> 
>>> On 13 Feb 2018 at 9:15, Paul Anderson wrote:
>>> 
>>>> The people have
>>>> access to locally sources woody biomass fuel, but are interested in
>>>> having some better stoves with processed fuels.
>>> Could they not make their own pellets and circumvent the problem as you
>>> pose it altogether?
>>> 
>>> Neil Taylor
>>> 
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