How Long Do Biomass Fuel Pellets Last?

Biomass fuel pellets or wood pellets are types of renewable energy that are produced by enticing sawdust, wooden chips, or other agricultural products. We are seeing that costs of input power that is based on fossil fuel are expected to rise and this makes people embrace biomass pellets as the most effective, cheap, and renewable source of energy for home and business use. However, how long the biomass fuel pellets last in storage is still a question that deserves an answer.

However, certain considerations define or dictate the durability or shelf life of wood pellets and other biomass briquettes. This is important because failure to store biomass fuel properly predisposes it to moisture damage and shortens its burning duration.

Proper Storage Conditions

The major threats to the stored biomass pellets are moisture, insects, and heat. A few tips, while buying pellets, the packaging of the same should not have any water signs or products of insect attack. It’s also important to store pellets properly as soon as you receive them:

Store pellets in a dry place to avoid any form of contact with water pipes, spills, floods, and the like. It states that any form of moisture can lower the quality of pellets very fast.

Pellets should be stored in a cooler place away from the sunlight and other sources of heat that may lead to mold formation.

Pack in an airtight jar, bin, or sack so that the pellets will not soak up humidity.

For the best combustion efficiency use the pellets within one year of packaging. Hearing that the older they get the more fines/sawdust builds up through handling it.

When all necessary measures against moisture have been taken, the high-quality wood pellets can safely stay in storage for over 2 years before their quality deteriorates. The lower-grade pellets may begin to have problems after one year. The following are issues that should be checked before using aged pellets like signs of mold, insect infestation, or excessive sawdust in bags.

Indications of Poor Quality of Pellets

Prepared biomass pellets can be easily checked to determine if they are still intact, or have already begun to degrade while stored. Warning signs include:

Mold Growth- Small black or green dust-like substance surface spots suggest leakage and moisture penetrated the storage containers. Discard moldy pellets.

Insect Infestation – When homeowners see these signs, small bite marks, webbing, or actual insects the pellets have attracted pests. Discard infested batches.

Excess Fines & Dust – Fines at the base of bags/containers increase as pellets degrade further and produce more sawdust. Do not use very dusty pellets which can cause lots of dust.

Floating Mass - Failed pellets that had no shape or were crumbling apart were typically damaged by moisture. When it burns wet pellets more ash accumulates on the pot.

Stored biomass briquettes should always be checked to determine their level of deterioration and the older pellets should be used out to prolong their usability period. If the bags are worst off with double side effects; that is, moisture and bugs, then they should be discarded.

Maximize Shelf Life

To get the most from your bulk biomass purchases:

• High-grade pellets should also be purchased in well-sealed containers.
• Pellets should be used within one year for maximum effectiveness
• Examining containers for moisture, mold, and insects should be conducted periodically.
• Keep the store pellets in a cool, dry place in order you avoid them getting spoilt.
• Do not expose to cold or hot temperatures or humidity and the possibility of water leakage or flooding
• Supervise the conditions of pellets and remove highly decomposed batches.

Even if top-quality wood pellets get exposed to rain, floods, or the menace of pests, they can retain their solid structure and BTU heat output for a year three, provided the pellets are properly sheltered. It is always advisable to examine older-style pellets carefully and avoid the ingress of moisture which will otherwise shorten the usable life span of your biomass briquettes.

Therefore, the proper storage measures and the exclusion of moisture to a certain extent also provide the theoretically longest possible shelf life of biomass briquette at one whole year. The following aspects should be observed; signs of mold formation, insect infestation, excessive dusty incline, and sinking pellets in containers are indications that the pellets should be used up or discarded. High-quality wooden pellets are not likely to spoil within a year of production if some measures have been taken to prevent their exposure to moisture. Biomass fuel should be stored in appropriate condition; thus check the storage condition often and consume the pellets that appear degrading to get the maximum value of the biomass fuel you purchased.