Poor Pellet Formation/Cracking in Used Wood Pellet Mills? 5 Quick Checks
If your wood pellet mill has issues like low formation rate, loose pellets, or cracking (even with good output), no need for blind overhauls. Fix the problem with these 5 key checks for your pellet mill:
Raw Materials
Soft wood (e.g., pine) forms pellets easier in the pellet mill. For hard or flour-like materials, add proper wood shavings. Control moisture at 10%-20% (13%-17% optimal for pine/cypress). Adjust mix ratios as needed for the pellet mill.
Particle Size
Uniform particle size improves pelleting in the pellet mill (uneven sizes affect quality). Smaller particles aid gasification but don’t directly determine formation in the pellet mill.
Roller-Die Gap
Maintain 0.1-0.3mm gap for the pellet mill. Too large = insufficient pressure (no formation); too small = excessive die/roller wear (lower output), even with denser/smoother pellets from the pellet mill.
Temperature & Pressure
Low temp = material not heated enough (failed pelleting + higher power consumption for the pellet mill). High temp = surface decomposition (cracking, weak strength, or total failure in the pellet mill).
Die Compression Ratio
Match ratio (die hole length/diameter or horn hole diameter²/die hole diameter²) to raw materials for the pellet mill. Die holes wear (enlarge/shorten over time) – adjust ratio for current materials to ensure pellet quality from the pellet mill.