Wood briquette is a very popular heating material that works well both in higher-power boilers and domestic fireplaces. It allows for the utilization of shredded sawdust, shavings, or offcuts, which, after appropriate preparation, can be formed into convenient-to-use cylinders or cubes. Hydraulic or mechanical briquetting presses can achieve high capacity and ensure the production of top-quality products. Let’s find out how these types of devices work.
How do briquetting machines work?
Briquetting machines are designed to compress dried, sifted, and appropriately shredded wood biomass and give it a form that allows for convenient storage, transportation, and loading into a boiler or other heating device. Although the principle of binding the material remains the same—it involves applying a force that generates high pressure and an increase in temperature, leading to the plasticization of cellulose and hemicellulose molecules, which causes them to bond together—individual briquetting machines may operate in slightly different ways. The basic division of briquetting machines includes hydraulic and mechanical devices.
What characterizes hydraulic briquetting machines?
Hydraulic briquetting machines are capable of pressing the material, leading to its compaction and achieving full cohesiveness thanks to the pressure exerted by hydraulic cylinders. They allow for the generation of high forces with low energy consumption, while simultaneously forming the raw material at a relatively high speed. Using this type of equipment, one can produce both wood and straw pellet.
How do mechanical briquetting machines work?
Mechanical briquetting machines utilize a drive supplied by an electric motor. The material is compressed by a moving piston. This allows for achieving the appropriate force while maintaining good operating capacity. Mechanical briquetting machines can be equipped with a screw conveyor to automate the raw material feeding process. Just like hydraulic devices, they can produce briquettes from both wood and straw.