Wood Pellet Production Line

The raw materials for wood pellet production lines come from a wide range of sources, mainly including forestry resources, wood processing byproducts, plantations and specific organic waste. The following is an analysis of the types of raw materials commonly used worldwide and their applicability:

1. Forestry and wood processing byproducts

• Sawdust:
  Main sources: sawmills, furniture factories, construction waste.
• Wood Shavings & Offcuts:
  Need to be additionally crushed, suitable for mixing hardwood and softwood (such as pine + oak) to optimize combustion value.
• Bark:
  Low calorific value (about 16-18 MJ/kg), needs to be mixed with high-energy raw materials, common in Nordic countries.
• Forest Residues:
  Includes branches and treetops after felling, which need to be crushed and dried, and are widely used in forestry countries such as Canada and Russia.

2. Plantations and fast-growing timber

• Pine/fir:
  Softwood fibers are easily compressed and suitable for high-capacity production lines (such as the southern United States and Brazilian eucalyptus forests).
• Eucalyptus:
  Fast growth (5-7 years to mature), but high resin content, particle durability needs to be controlled, widely used in Brazil and Portugal.
• Willow/poplar:
  Dedicated to the European "Energy Forest" project, low carbon emission characteristics are supported by policies.

3. Recycled wood and industrial by-products

• Waste wood pallets/construction waste wood (Recycled Wood):
  Metal, paint and other impurities must be strictly removed, and they can be exported to Europe only if they meet ENplus certification.
• Pulp Mill Residues:
  Such as black liquor particles (some factories in Northern Europe), but special processes are required to treat high alkalinity.

4. Other organic raw materials (process adaptation required)

• Coconut Shell, Palm Kernel Shell:
  Commonly used in Southeast Asia, with high calorific value (18-20 MJ/kg), but high hardness, requiring super strong ring mold pressing.
• Bamboo:
  Experimental application in China and Vietnam, fiber structure requires additional conditioning.

The selection of raw materials for wood pellets needs to comprehensively consider local resource endowment, target market certification requirements and production costs. Sawdust + forestry residue combination is preferred, taking into account efficiency and compliance; emerging markets can explore alternative raw materials such as palm shell/fast-growing eucalyptus, but process adaptation is required.

As an important component of renewable energy, the investment potential of wood pellet production lines is closely related to raw material resources, policy support, and market demand. The types of entities suitable for investing in wood pellet production lines include the following:

(1) Forestry and wood processing related enterprises

• Sawmills/furniture manufacturers:
  can use by-products such as sawdust and scraps to reduce raw material costs (such as North American yellow pine producing areas and Nordic sawmills).
• Pulp and paper companies:
  use by-products such as black liquor and bark to produce pellets to achieve resource recycling.

(2) Energy companies and industrial users

• Biomass power plants:
  self-produced pellets to replace coal.
• District heating companies:
  use pellets for heating, and policy subsidies are stable.
• High-energy-consuming industries (cement, chemicals):
  EU carbon tax promotes fuel switching (such as the conversion of German industrial boilers to pellets).

(3) Agriculture and land resource holders

• Fast-growing forest plantation owners:
  short-cycle tree species such as Brazilian eucalyptus and Southeast Asian rubber wood are exclusively used for pellet production.
• Agricultural waste managers:
  Southeast Asian palm shells, rice husks, Eastern European straw (needs to be mixed with wood raw materials).

(4) Export traders and supply chain operators

• Port-surrounding investors:
  Pellet distribution centers in the Gulf of Mexico in the United States (export to Europe) and Vietnam (export to Japan and South Korea).
• Certified pellet suppliers:
  Focus on the ENplus/FSC certified market, with higher premiums (such as Austrian and Italian brands).

(5) Policy-driven investors

• Governments and public funds:
  Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Malaysia) promote "agricultural and forestry waste energy".
• Carbon reduction project developers:
  Obtain carbon credits through pellet production (such as REDD+ projects).

In addition to being used as fuel (such as power generation and heating), wood pellets have achieved high added value in many fields due to their high density, degradability and physical properties. The following are the main application directions worldwide:

1. Industrial raw materials and manufacturing

• Activated carbon production:
  Wood pellets are made into activated carbon after high-temperature carbonization, which is used for water treatment (such as water purification plants) and air purification (gas masks, industrial waste gas adsorption).
• Composite material additives:
  As a filler for plastics or building materials (wood plastic composites/WPC), it enhances strength and reduces costs (commonly used in the North American construction industry).
• 3D printing materials:
  Some companies process wood pellets into bio-based printing filaments, which are suitable for making degradable prototypes.

2. Agriculture and horticulture

• Organic fertilizer carrier:
  Pellets absorb nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus and then slowly release them (such as greenhouse planting), which is more environmentally friendly than traditional chemical fertilizers.
• Animal bedding:
  Pine wood pellets are used in stables and poultry farming. They absorb moisture and deodorize, and can be composted after use.
• Soil conditioner:
  Mix soil after crushing to improve air permeability (urban agriculture application).

3. Environmental protection and life consumption

• Cat litter substitutes:
  Pine/fir wood pellets are made into low-dust cat litter, which can be flushed or composted (North American brands such as "Feline Pine").
• Dehumidification and moisture-proofing agent:
  The moisture absorption rate of pellets reaches 300% of their own weight, which is used for container transportation and warehousing to prevent mildew (commonly used by Southeast Asian exporters).
• Smoked food fuel:
  Applewood and beech pellets provide flavor smoking for European and American barbecue restaurants (such as bacon and cheese processing).

4. Emerging technology field

• Biocalor:
  Pellets are used for carbon sequestration after high-temperature pyrolysis (Australian soil carbon sequestration project), or as electrode materials (battery experimental stage).
• Cellulosic ethanol raw materials:
  U.S. Department of Energy pilot project, hydrolyzing and fermenting pellets to produce second-generation biofuels.

5. Special market uses

• Military supplies and emergency supplies:
  Troops use pellets as field fuel (lightweight, high energy), or temporary hemostatic materials (fiber adsorption).
• Art and Decoration:
  Dyed granules as vase fillers, stage scenery (low-cost props for European theaters).

Yes, a wood pellet production line can be compatible with a variety of wood raw materials, but the process parameters and equipment configuration need to be adjusted according to the characteristics of the raw materials. The following is an analysis of the key points:

1. Available mixed raw material types/h4>

(1) Softwood and hardwood mixture

• Softwood (such as pine, fir):
  long fiber, easy to compress, but high resin content (need to prevent mold adhesion).
• Hardwood (such as oak, birch):
  high calorific value (18-20 MJ/kg), but the pressing energy consumption increases by 20-30%.
• Common ratio:
  European and American manufacturers often use 70% softwood + 30% hardwood to balance efficiency and calorific value.

(2) By-product mixing

• Sawdust (easy to shape) + bark (low cost but high ash content, need ≤5% ratio).
• Recycled wood (need to remove metal/paint and meet ENplus standards before export).

2. Key points of process adjustment/h4>

• Grinding particle size:
  Hardwood needs to be finer (≤3mm sieve), and softwood can be relaxed to 5mm.
• Tempering temperature:
  High resin softwood (such as pine) needs to lower the tempering temperature (70-80℃) to prevent coking.
• Ring die adaptation:
  Hardwood particles need to use a high compression ratio ring die (above 1:8), and softwood can use a 1:6 standard die.
• Drying control:
  Bark/wet wood needs to be dried additionally to a moisture content of ≤12%, otherwise it will affect the molding rate.

The requirements for raw materials in wood pellet production lines involve physical properties, chemical composition, source compliance and other aspects, which directly affect the quality of pellets, equipment life and market access. The following is a summary of key requirements:

1. Physical property requirements

• Moisture content:
  Ideal range: 8%-12% (too high will make molding difficult, too low will be brittle).
  Exceeding standard treatment: A dryer (such as gas/steam drying) is required, and the cost increases by $10-20/ton.
• Particle size uniformity:
  The particle size after crushing is ≤5mm (hardwood needs ≤3mm), and the content of screened impurities (sand, stone, metal) is <0.5%.
• Fiber structure:
  Softwood (pine, fir) has long fibers and is easy to compress; hardwood (oak, birch) requires higher pressure (ring die compression ratio of 1:8 or more).

2. Chemical composition restrictions

• Resin/gum content:
  The resin of softwoods such as pine needs to be ≤3%, otherwise the mold will stick to the mold at high temperature (the ring mold needs to be cleaned regularly).
• Ash control:
  Ash content of industrial-grade pellets ≤1.5% (ENplus-A1 grade requires ≤0.7%), and the proportion of bark, straw, etc. added needs to be limited.
• Sulfur/chlorine elements:
  Sulfur ≤0.03% (anti-corrosion boiler), chlorine ≤0.02% (avoid dioxin generation).

3. Compliance of raw material sources

• Sustainable certification:
  FSC/PEFC certification is required for export to the EU, and illegal logging is prohibited (such as traceability documents are required in some Southeast Asian countries).
• No pollution residue:
  Recycled wood must not contain paint or preservatives (such as CCA-treated wood is prohibited).

4. Economic adaptation suggestions

• Preferred raw materials:
  dry sawdust (cost 50-80/ton), forestry residual branches (50-80/ton), forestry residual branches (20-40/ton).
• Use raw materials with caution:
  high-resin pine (additives are required to prevent sticking), rice husks (ash content >15%, only for mixed use).

Specific standards need to be adjusted according to the target market (such as EU ENplus, US PFI).

1. Raw material data

• Type and characteristics: wood type (pine/hardwood/mixed material), moisture content (if the moisture content is 30% at the factory and needs to be dried), impurity content (metal/sand ratio). If non-standard raw materials (such as bark, palm shell) are used, the maximum blending ratio must be stated (for example, ≤10%).
• Supply stability: average daily supply (such as 50 tons/day), raw material form (wood chips/lumps/recycled materials), affect the crusher selection.

2. Production target

• Capacity requirements: hourly output (1-5 tons small line, 10-20 tons large line), annual operating time (such as 300 days/year).
• Pellet specifications: diameter (6mm/8mm), length (10-30mm), density (≥600kg/m³), determine the ring die compression ratio (1:6 to 1:8).
• Usage standard: ENplus certification is required for export to the EU (ash content ≤0.7%), and the ash content can be relaxed to ≤3% for industrial boilers.

3. Site and energy conditions

• Plant parameters: area (such as 2000㎡), floor height (≥8m to install vertical drying tower), load-bearing (equipment area ≥5 tons/㎡).
• Energy type: electricity (380V/50Hz), steam pressure (such as 0.8MPa gas boiler), which affects the selection of wood dryers.

4. Automation and environmental protection requirements

• Automation level: basic (semi-automatic packaging) vs fully automatic (manipulator palletizing + AGV transportation), the cost difference is about 30-50%.
• Environmental compliance: dust emission (such as ≤20mg/m³), noise control (≤85dB), pulse dust removal or soundproof cover is required.

5. Budget and after-sales needs

• Investment range: small wood pellet line (US$500,000-300,000), medium line (US$400,000-1,000,000), medium line (US$1,000,000 or more), specify whether to start production in stages.
• Service terms: installation and commissioning cycle (e.g. 60 days), warranty period (core equipment ≥ 1 year), spare parts inventory requirements.

6. Recommended additional materials

• Raw material samples: for manufacturers to test formability.
• Site drawings: mark water and electricity interfaces and logistics channels.
• Market certification documents: such as FSC certificate template (if exported).

We will provide a process flow chart + equipment list based on the data you provide, and will also be refined to energy consumption (e.g. electricity consumption per ton ≤ 100kWh) and maintenance costs (e.g. mold life 500 hours).

The processing technologies of wood cat litter pellets and wood fuel pellets are similar in basic processes, but there are significant differences in key links, mainly reflected in raw material processing, additive use and post-processing. The following is a specific analysis:

1. Raw material requirements

• Fuel pellets: ordinary wood chips (pine and hardwood can be mixed), moisture content ≤12%, a small amount of bark or resin is allowed.
• Cat litter pellets: high-purity softwood (such as pine), no resin residue is required (to avoid pet allergies), moisture content ≤10%, and dust and impurities need to be removed.

2. Crushing and tempering

• Fuel pellets: conventional crushing (3-5mm), steam tempering (70-90℃) to increase the molding rate.
• Cat litter pellets: ultra-fine crushing (1-3mm, reduce dust), low-temperature tempering (≤60℃) or no tempering (to prevent oil precipitation from affecting pet health).

3. Molding and post-processing

• Fuel pellets: high-pressure pressing (ring die compression ratio 1:6~1:8), no additional processing is required, and they are directly packaged after cooling.
• Cat litter pellets: medium-low pressure pressing (1:4~1:6, keep the pellets loose and fragile), deodorants (such as activated carbon, plant essential oils) need to be added, and some products need to be sprayed with a moisture-proof layer on the surface.

4. Function and certification

• Fuel pellets: focus on calorific value (≥16 MJ/kg) and low ash content (≤1.5%), and must comply with ENplus or PFI standards.
• Cat litter pellets: emphasize water absorption (≥300% of dead weight), non-toxicity (FDA/EU pet product standards), and some require flushable certification.

From the above content, it can be seen that the fuel pellet process pursues efficient pressing and combustion performance, while cat litter pellets pay more attention to safety, hygroscopicity and environmental protection. If the same production line switches production, it is necessary to adjust the crushing particle size, tempering temperature and additive system, and thoroughly clean the equipment to avoid cross contamination.

Yes, you can refer to the contents of these pages:

We understand what your goal is and what your requirements are.

So don't worry, let me explain to you :

Firstly, The best wood pellet is depending one:

• *- Best design of production line
• *- Best quality of each single machine
• *- Best quality of pellets raw materials

Secondly , Best wood pellet production line should be designed with focus on:

• *- operational safety
• *- cost reduction technologies
• *- optimal power consumption
• *- optimal man power requirement.

You can find that , we can provide it. So don.t worry.

Thirdly , Best single machine:

• best design of single machine by best engineers.
• best raw materials of machines.
• best workers in the workshop, manufactured with full caution and full responsibility.
• best quality control and supervision team to re- inspection.

we are doing this , so don't worry.

I will keep introducing machines in wood pellet production line , by this way, you will understand our RICHI more and more and trust our RICHI more and more.

How to analyze the quality of suppliers on the Internet? We have some experience and suggestions:

A: Quotation check:

If some equipment is yellow, some is red, and some is blue, and the photos on the quotation have all kinds of colors, it means it is a trading company or a small factory.

B: Company website check:

B1: Are the colors of all the machines on the website the same or different?

If the equipment displayed on the website has a variety of colors, it means it is a trading company or a small factory.

B2: Are the equipment photos in the project cases he showed on website obviously different from the colors of the equipment he quoted? If they are different, it means that the project cases are fake.

B3: Are the machines advertised on the website large or small?

You cannot buy large equipment from a company that only advertised small machines.

C: Previously installed animal feed production lines:

During the previous discussion, did he send you enough real project cases?

If only a few cases are sent to you, or the cases are obviously fake, yes, it means he is a trading company or a small factory

D: Most important - Equipment workshop inspection:

You can arrange a zoom meeting to observe the following points through video conferencing:

D1: Are there many large pellet machines completed and ready for delivery in the workshop (more than 10 units)?

If there are only a few (or many) small pellet machines for transportation or display, it means that he does not have the ability to manufacture large machines.

D2: You must check his electric control cabinet production workshop to see:

• First check:
  You need to see the semi-manufactured electric control cabinet , to know he manufacture the electric control cabinet or not? if without semi-manufactured control cabinet , means he is a small factory , can not make control cabinet by himself.
• Second check :
  Are there enough orders/control cabinets under manufactured ? If there are many orders (more than 10 units), his workshop must be showing various control cabinets of different production lines and semi-finished cabinets

D3: Are the colors of the machines in the workshop the same?

If not, the machines in the workshop have different colors, which means they bought the machines from different factories. They do not have the ability to manufacture it.

D4: If the workshop is not full and very empty, it means it is not good.

....

Why are there at least 10 production lines of electric control cabinets (not counting single machines) and pelletizer ? Because the production cycle of each production line is 30-180 days, we calculate it based on an average of 60 days (2 months), which means that if there are 60 orders a year, and an average of 5 orders a month (not many orders), then there should be more than 10 orders in production in any month of the year.

For example, if you see 3 electric control cabinets, it means that he has only 2-4 orders in the past 2 months, an average of only 1-2 orders per month, and only 10-20 orders per year. Such a factory is very small in scale, with unstable quality and unstable personnel.

(Our engineers and purchasing managers shared these key points, because when our factory needs to buy some materials and processing equipment, they will first do an online inspection and then select 2-3 good ones, secondly they will visit the factories to confirm the final supplier, when they do online inspection, they will very carefully check those points one by one to avoid to choose a trading company or a small factory )

1. We will send you a proforma invoice with you /your company information, design & machines information ,total price , our bank account , our seal.
2. You transfer 40% as deposit
3. We start to produce machinery and start the online after-sales service
4. During the manufacturing process, we will send photos of semi-finished machinery for your quality supervision and all related installation drawings to you.
5. After the manufacturing is completed, we will send you all detailed photos for your inspection or a third party designated by you can visit us to do inspection.
6. After the inspection is completed, you transfer 60% as the balance.
7. We will load the container and deliver the machinery to you.
8. According to your requirements, we will send engineers or online guidance to complete the installation, commissioning and training.
9. In the future, if you have any questions about the production line, you can directly leave a message in your own online after-sales service discussion group, and our engineers will help you solve the problem, keeping after-sale service .

Function of mixer:

• 1- Mix different raw materials (such as hardwood and softwood, wood sawdust and straw sawdust, sawdust and coal powder.......)
• 2- Used to mix adhesives with sawdust (organic binder is best, which can be 100% burned wihout polution).
• 3-If materials are too dry , less than humidity 15%, we can add water into mixer, to increase the moisture content of sawdust to at least 15% . here need to equip with a automatic liquid adding machine (2800 USD), it will storage water and add quantitative water into mixer full automatically.

The wood pellet production line is a mechanical equipment used to convert wood waste such as wood chips and sawdust into wood pellet fuel. It has the characteristics of high efficiency, energy saving, environmental protection and resource recycling, and plays an important role in the field of modern biomass fuel.

The working principle of the wood pellet production line is to compress the raw wood chips into high-density pellet fuel through a compressor after crushing, screening and other processing processes. The entire production line includes multiple equipment, such as raw material processing systems, crushing equipment, drying equipment, pellet machines, cooling equipment, etc., which work together to complete the wood pellet production process.

Milling, lumber, wood products, and the construction industries produce large volumes of related byproducts that can be easily turned into profits. Richi Machinery works extensively with the wood industries by offering equipment designed to meet your unique needs. Small or large, automatic, semi-automatic or manual, our wood pellet plant machines give you the RICHI advantage with built-to-last reliability.

Biomass wood is organic matter that can be converted into energy. Biomass energy commonly include: wood waste and by-products (both mill residues and non commercial biomass in the woods), energy crops, food crops (e.g., prairie perennials or switch grass), agricultural residues (e.g., corn stover), and animal manure.

Biomass wood materials used as fuel sources can provide heat, electrical and motive power. Biomass in its original form is difficult to successfully use as a fuel in large-scale applications because it is bulky, wet, and dispersed. Biomass densification (pelleting) is a technology for converting wood residues into wood fuel.

Compacting wood at a very high pressure is pelletizing – the process of producing pellets. They have significantly smaller volumes than the original biomass wood and a larger volumetric energy density which makes them a more compact energy source, easy to transport and store.

Hence, biomass wood pellet fuels are a manufactured biomass wood fuel. They could offer interesting opportunities for development of renewable energy.

The wood pellet production line has broad market prospects and can be combined with other equipment to form a complete biomass energy production system. Its development and application help promote the development of clean energy and achieve sustainable development goals.

Wood pellet production line is an important biomass energy production system, the success of which is directly related to energy sustainability and environmental protection. Here, we will explore the key process technologies in wood pellet production, including pre-treatment of raw materials, pellet size control, optimization of energy consumption, pellet size and shape control, temperature and pressure control, use of additives, maintenance and cleaning of equipment, and process monitoring and adjustment.

Whether you are involved in wood pellet making or interested in, here will provide you with important insights into biomass pelletization process.

The biomass wood pellet plant pelletisation process consists of multiple steps, including pre-treatment of raw material, pelletisation, and post-treatment. The figure below presents the schematic of the wood pellet production process.

1. Material Preparation

The first step in the wood pellet manufacturing process is the preparation of the wood waste raw materials, which includes selecting a materials suitable for this process, and its filtration, storage, and protection.

The raw materials used are sawdust, wood wastes, agricultural and forestry residues, etc. Filtration is done to remove unwanted materials like stone, metal, etc. The materials is stored in such a manner as to prevent contamination by impurities and moisture.

2. Drying

In cases where there are different types of biomass wood materials, a blending process is used to achieve consistency. The moisture content in biomass wood waste can be considerably high, and hence needs to be reduced to 10 to 15%.

Drying increases the efficiency of wood, and it produces almost no smoke on combustion.However, the wood materials should not be over-dried, as a small amount of moisture helps in binding the biomass wood particles. The drying process is the most energy-intensive process and accounts for about 70% of the total energy used in the wood pelletisation process.

3. Chipping & Crushing

The wood materials is reduced to small particles of not more than 3 mm before it is fed into the wood pellet mill machine. Size reduction is done by grinding, using a wood hammer mill equipped with a screen of size 3.2 to 6.4 mm. If the wood feedstock is quite large, it is put through a wood chipper machine before grinding.

4. Pelleting

The next and the most important step is pelletizing where the wood is compressed against a heated metal plate (known as a ring die) using a roller. The die has holes of fixed diameter through which the wood is passed under high pressure. Due to the high pressure, frictional forces increase, leading to a considerable rise in temperature.

The high temperature causes the lignin and resins present in the biomass to soften, which acts as a binding agent between the biomass wood fibres. In this way, the biomass wood particles fuse to form pellets.

During wood pellet line pelleting process, a large fraction of the process energy is used to make the biomass flow into the inlets of the press channels. Binders or lubricants may be added in some cases to produce higher quality pellets. Binders increase pellet density and durability. Wood contains natural resins which act as a binder. Similarly, sawdust contains lignin which holds the pellet together.

5. Cooling & Screening & Bagging

Excess heat is produced by the friction generated in the die. Thus, the pellets produced are very soft and hot (about 70 to 90℃). They need to be cooled and dried before they are stored or packaged. After they have cooled, they are packaged in bags or stored in bulk. Wood pellets can be stored indefinitely, but they must be kept dry to prevent deterioration.

A wood pellet production line is a complex and efficient process system where each step, from raw material collection to packaging of the final product, has its own unique importance and challenges. To ensure success, a deep understanding of this field is essential. Efficient production and quality assurance can only be achieved with a deep understanding of the technology and requirements of each wood pellets manufacturing process.

A complete wood pellet production line requires major equipment such as wood chippers, crushers, dryers, wood pellet machines, pellet coolers, and packaging machines, as well as conveyors, electric control cabinets and other conveying equipment and control systems.

• Because the wood pellet machine has requirements on the size of the raw materials entering the machine, for example, to produce wood pellets with a diameter of 8mm, the size of the raw materials needs to be no larger than 8mm. Therefore, if the size of the raw materials is too large, a wood chipper and a crusher are needed to slice the raw materials and process them into fine powder. , so that the raw material size meets the requirements of the wood pellet machine.
• Similarly, the wood pellet machine also has requirements for the moisture content of the raw materials. The moisture content of the raw materials is required to be 10~15%. If the moisture content of all raw materials is too high, it needs to be naturally dried to a moisture content of 10~15%, or a drum dryer can be used to dry the moisture content of the raw materials. Moisture is dried.
• When wood pellets are just produced, the temperature can reach 80~90 degrees Celsius. Under such circumstances, there is no way to package them immediately. All the pellets need to be cooled in a counterflow cooler, and the temperature can be lowered to room temperature before entering the vibrating screen for processing. Screening, and finally packaging machine.

When developing a wood pellet plant business plan the following things should be considered first:

• What biomass raw materials will be used?
• How much of biomass wood raw materials can be obtained at a price point that works within your business model?
• What is the incoming moisture content?
• What is your target market, residential fuel, industrial grade fuel, animal bedding, feed, etc.?
• What is your market area?
• Do you intend to sell your end product wholesale or retail?
• What is the market volume potential for the end product in your target market area?
• What is the value of your end product wholesale and retail in your target market area?
• What wood pellet plant volume do you plan to produce?

It is our experience that there are two types of wood pellet production lines. At this time we will define them as pellet production lines that needs drying and does not need to be dried.

1. Wood pellet production line with dying system

A wood pellet plant is a facility that will receive its raw materials with a moisture content higher than 15%. This could be in the form of sawdust, wood chips, or even whole logs.

For a wood pellets factory that pelletizes products other than wood this could be spent grains, ag products, agricultural and forestry waste, alfalfa, lucerne, grass, straw, etc.

This type of wood pellet production plant will require a drying process which can add considerable cost to the initial project as well as added operating cost. When considering a wood pellet processing plant, bear in mind that raw material can be received at a moisture content as high as 50%.

These products must be dried to something below 15% prior to the pelleting process. A typical conversion rate for wood is 2 to 1 therefore for every ton that is delivered to the wood pellet making plant, you will have ½ ton available after drying to produce pellets. If you intend to use wood to fire the burner for the dryer you will consume an additional 25% of the incoming material as fuel.

Cost to build a 300kg/h-40t/h wood pellet manufacturing plant: A good average to consider when building a wood pellet plant from start to finish is approximately 80,000 to 5 million U.S. dollars.

It doesn't take very long to understand that in order to pay for and create profit, a pellet plant doesn't need to produce large volumes (tons per hour) in order to provide the required return on investment.

Because the wood pellets industry has a very good prospect, as long as it is operated properly and reasonable wood pellet production technology and wood pellet manufacturing equipment are selected, wood pellet production lines are generally profitable.

2. Wood pellet production line without dying system

When considering a wood pellet manufacturing plant without dying section, keep in mind that raw material will be received at a moisture content of 15% or less. In this case, no drying is required which substantially reduces the investment on the front end as well as creating a defined raw material cost.

Cost to start a new no-drying wood pellet manufacturing business: 50,000 to 3 million U.S. dollars.

It is our experience that if you can acquire dry raw materials for a cost of $45.00 per ton or less, a plant producing as little as 2 tons per hour can be profitable (assuming you are able to market the finished product for at least $125.00 per ton).

A dry pellet plant will have maintenance cost of approximately $5.00 to $7.00 per ton and will have electric cost between $7.00 and $10.00 per ton.(Each country and region is different, please consult the details online directly.)

Richi Machinery complete wood pellet production lines can be combined according to different process requirements and various types of equipment to meet different customers' needs.

The following are just a few of the wood pellet plant project designs we have done. They are all customized. Even if your output is the same as the following case, your wood pellet manufacturing process and equipment configuration can still be different.

In order to avoid your misunderstanding of the wood pellet production line design, please contact RICHI directly to customize your own wood pellet production line.

The following equipment configuration is just an example. If you have similar needs, we will provide you with customized process solutions and the latest equipment quotations.

The following equipment configuration is just an example. If you have similar needs, we will provide you with customized process solutions and the latest equipment quotations.

The following equipment configuration is just an example. If you have similar needs, we will provide you with customized process solutions and the latest equipment quotations.

The following equipment configuration is just an example. If you have similar needs, we will provide you with customized process solutions and the latest equipment quotations.