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6. What are Wood Pellets?
Wood pellets are made from sawdust and wood shavings. The material used cannot contain any foreign
substance such as glue, varnish or synthetic substances. Subjecting it to high pressure, the wood is
pressed through a plate with holes and due to the high pressure the sawdust is heated activating the
natural binders of the wood. Thus, the pellets keep their shape even without the addition of bonding
substances. The density of the wood pellet varies according to the type of wood and can be 1.5 – twice
greater than that of natural wood. The diameter of the cylindrical rods is 6-10 mm and their length can
vary between 10 and 50 mm. Their weight is equal to about 650 kg/m. Due to the low content of water
(approx 8%) they have a high energy content. The standards AS/NZS4014.6 define the quality of the
pellets:
Do not put the bag of pellets on the ceramic parts during the loading operations.
The pellets must be transported and stored in a dry place. They swell on contact with damp, and cannot
be used, They must always be protected from the damp both during transport and in storage. Ecoteck
recommends using a pellet with a diameter of 6 mm for the stove.
7. The Components of the Stove
7
2
3
6
1
8
9
5
4
9
1. Pellet loading screw
2. Resistance unit for ignition
3. Combustion fire pot
4. Tube for passage of smoke
5. Air intake tube (optional)
6. Stainless steel exchanger
7. Pellet hopper
8. Flame trap
9. Smoke exhaust tube
This drawing shows the internal parts
of a pellet stove. By filling the tank (7),
the pellets are loaded into the fire pot (3)
through the loading screw (1). Ignition
is by means of the resistance (2), which
overheats the air from the special entrance
(5) which on contact with the pellets will
allow the development of the flame. At
this point the exhaust smoke is deviated
towards the stainless steel exchanger (6)
and through the smoke extraction tube
(4) it is released into the flue, through the
connection with the smoke exhaust pipe.
(9).