I went to get my switchgrass pellets today

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jtakeman

jtakeman

Minister of Fire
Dec 30, 2008
13,495
Northwestern CT.
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I had some extra time today after work , So I took a ride to get my switchgrass pellets. Tomorrow I will clean my stove and start to burn them. If people are interested I will post my findings with these pellets. I have a IR temp gun so I can check the output temps of the heat exchanger. Might bring home my meter that I can check the exhaust temps too!

I have a few pictures to post as well.

They look like wood pellets and of coarse are the same size. The color is a little different than I'm used to, Kind of dark. And have a sweet smell to them.

Here's the pictures.

Let me know what you need for info on these and I will post it for you.
Jay
 

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How much per bag? is the a break for a ton? Where did you buy them? could you post a pic of the PFI label? It says they are "high ash"? I was planning on buying a ton of barefoots tomorrow, but if these are decent and a decent price, i would consider them...
 
Orange Crush CJ-7 said:
How much per bag? is the a break for a ton? Where did you buy them? could you post a pic of the PFI label? It says they are "high ash"? I was planning on buying a ton of barefoots tomorrow, but if these are decent and a decent price, i would consider them...
Click to expand...

$6.00/bag- $240.00/ton Bought from here: http://www.btpellet.com/

You must have a multifuel stove to burn these. Not recommended for standard stoves. Do a google and there is a site that will tell witch stove might handle them. Edit link to site:

http://www.grassbioenergy.org/intro/intro.asp

jay
 

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Ash over 3%? Granted, price is better than wood pellets, but w/ that much ash, and 3-5% less BTU, I'd think about an industrial or standard grade wood pellet rather than these. Granted, tech is still new on these, something to watch. Can't have too many options. And, yes the Revolution is rated for them.
 
hoss,

I was just dieing to try them. With the so called limited saw dust these days(couldn't tell with all the ton's and ton's of pellets this guy had). I wanted to test ahead before I might get cought in a pinch.

I also have a local farmer that is selling corn. Going to try to get some tomorrow or early next week.

I am getting a furlow next week so I going to play with the stove some(Wife says I have to clean the basement) So I will be down there anyways.

I also scored some spruce pointe pellets to try. Softwood and a 8600BTU rating. Only picked up 2 bags of them. They were $6.00 a bag and $270 a ton.

The gent I talked to said By April to early May. He will drop the prices to move the pellets he has. I'm keeping my eye on there prices. Might be able to score the switchgrass cheap.

jay
 
Im sure the omega can take the 3% ash
when they were testing the Prototype Omega for 3 months burning they used Bark pellets make from 100% bark
I seen it in the lab when I visited the facory
 
burnemifyagotem said:
why does it say the material is wood?
Click to expand...

I don't see any saw dust! Smells kind of like rabbit food!

hearthtools said:
Im sure the omega can take the 3% ash
when they were testing the Prototype Omega for 3 months burning they used Bark pellets make from 100% bark
I seen it in the lab when I visited the facory
Click to expand...

I'm not to worried about the ash, I don't mind scrapping the pot either.(I probably over do it now!)
I wondering about the heat from them. If they don't throw much heat I will stick to pellets or corn.

jay
 
Anyone try them in a Harman pellet stove outside of the Cornell
research project? A P61 stove seemed to perform well in the analysis.

The user manuals for Harman pellet stoves claim to have the ability
to burn any grade of pellets but warns not to exceed 8% moisture
content.
 
Am I reading the label wrong?
material/wood
????
 

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Interesting, thanks for posting the info.

If these are switchgrass pellets, why does the front of the bag say "wood pellet" and the back of the bag say that the material these are made of is "wood"?
 
I have the same question, why is "Wood" stated on the bag. I searched the net for "Pheonix Wood Pellets" and could not find anything on them. The only mention of them was on a page listing manufacturers:

Energex American Inc. RR5 Box 343, Mifflintown, PA 17059 (866) 373-5538 www.energex.com
Brand names: Energex American/Juniata pellets, Phoenix high ash, low cost wood pellets
Click to expand...

This leads me to believe that they are made by Energex even though I could not find anything on the Energex site. Does the bag list a website to visit for more information?
 
The bag doesn't say anything about switchgrass. Phoenix Economy wood pellets and a mention of containing bark. The only other person that I see a post about trying them was drcoolbreeze. He gone now.

Pellets Direct in mass also has them listed. $225.00/ton.

I will try emailing energex, Ask them, if there really is switchgrass in them?

jay
 

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Tempature on the left heat tube Avg.(used 3 readings for avg. Heat setting on the stove was at 3 medium.) Temps are rounded to nearest degree!

Premier Hardwood heat Pellets Temp= 265°
Turmans 100% Oak Pellets Temp= 270°
Hamer HotOnes Pellets Temp= 275°

Phoenix Wood Pellets Temp= 278°

Next to test!
Corn Temp= xxx°

Spruce Pointe Pellets Temp= xxx°
Oak Furnace Grade Pellets Temp= xxx°


jay
 
jtakeman said:
Just getting ready for the comparisons Will update soon. Stove is cooling down for the cleanup.

Tempature on the left heat tube Avg.(used 3 readings for avg. Heat setting on the stove was at 3 medium.) Temps are rounded to nearest degree!

Premier Hardwood heat Pellets Temp= 265 degrees
Turmans 100% Oak Pellets Temp= 270 degrees
Hamer HotOnes Pellets Temp= 275 degrees

Phoenix Wood Pellets Temp= xxx degrees

jay
Click to expand...

What kind of temperatures do have up there today? I had my stove off last night and this morning. We are expected to get up to 71° today.
 
codebum said:
What kind of temperatures do have up there today? I had my stove off last night and this morning. We are expected to get up to 71° today.
Click to expand...

Supposed to get in the low 60° range.

Thats why I got up early so I can get testing. Once I do the temp check in around 30 minutes. I got to shut it down. House is at 73° right now. Can't run to long.

Jay
 
OK, Got the 1st temp readings.

How about 278° for a 3 temp average! Temps are taken all the same way, So I would say not too bad for the heat output.

I will update the ash- clinker issue's when I run off the 6 bags.

Then to test some corn!!!!! (I'll pick it up on Monday)

jay
 
I just finished the 2nd bag of these pellets this morning. I only have on thing to say.They burn real dirty! My stove is a mess. There is black crap every where.

Clinkers in the burn pot the size of jelly beans. They would be bigger but the agitator is sort of breaking them up. The stove is running fine and they do through nice heat.

But I can't stand it. I'm throwing in the towel on these things. I guess I will have to mix them with other pellets to burn them up or try the multifuel mod. to see if they burn cleaner.

I'll clean up the stove and throw in the furnace grade oak pellets next.

Burn them if you don't mind the mess!

just fyi for those that seemed interested.

jay

P.S. I never did hear back from energex if they had switch grass in them or not! I love it when they ignore the costumer.
 
Jay,

I'm pretty sure you have to burn anything but wood pellets in the Multi-Fuel mode.

I bet that would improve the burn.

FG.

jtakeman said:
I just finished the 2nd bag of these pellets this morning. I only have on thing to say.They burn real dirty! My stove is a mess. There is black crap every where.

Clinkers in the burn pot the size of jelly beans. They would be bigger but the agitator is sort of breaking them up. The stove is running fine and they do through nice heat.

But I can't stand it. I'm throwing in the towel on these things. I guess I will have to mix them with other pellets to burn them up or try the multifuel mod. to see if they burn cleaner.

I'll clean up the stove and throw in the furnace grade oak pellets next.

Burn them if you don't mind the mess!

just fyi for those that seemed interested.

jay

P.S. I never did hear back from energex if they had switch grass in them or not! I love it when they ignore the costumer.
Click to expand...
 
Jay,

In fact, I know the agitator'S RPM's goes up quite a bit in the Multi-Fuel mode vs. the wood pellet mode.

I remember reading that somewhere.

It's good that the stove actually burned them with good heat output. Any regular stove wouldn't even burn them.

FG.


flamegrabber said:
Jay,

I'm pretty sure you have to burn anything but wood pellets in the Multi-Fuel mode.

I bet that would improve the burn.

FG.

jtakeman said:
I just finished the 2nd bag of these pellets this morning. I only have on thing to say.They burn real dirty! My stove is a mess. There is black crap every where.

Clinkers in the burn pot the size of jelly beans. They would be bigger but the agitator is sort of breaking them up. The stove is running fine and they do through nice heat.

But I can't stand it. I'm throwing in the towel on these things. I guess I will have to mix them with other pellets to burn them up or try the multifuel mod. to see if they burn cleaner.

I'll clean up the stove and throw in the furnace grade oak pellets next.

Burn them if you don't mind the mess!

just fyi for those that seemed interested.

jay

P.S. I never did hear back from energex if they had switch grass in them or not! I love it when they ignore the costumer.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
multi fuel mode changes the feed times on lower and or higher in differnt setting than pellet mode
Note sure how much it will help it just helps burn slower because some Future fuel burns slowers and need lower feed rate times
see chart
 

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Rod,

I was burning them on 3 pellet. I did it to compare the heat output(1:1) with the other wood pellets I compared. When I get thru burning the furnace grade Oak pellets(which are burning nicely I must add). I'm going to burn some corn in multifuel mode. I picked 5 50LB. bags this morning. Then I'll throw them back in an see if they burn cleaner in the multi fuel mode.

Thanks for the feed chart. I thought it would feed less fuel in multi mode. Well actually it feeds the same amount. Just has more off time. So less fuel per cycle. That explains it.

Stay tune for next go round.

jay
 
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