Review of BTU, ash and moisture content in popular pellet brands

[John Ackerly]

We tested 4 popular pellet brands for BTU, ash and moisture content, and …. we didn't find nearly the ranges we thought we would. We only tested four brands and original idea was to try to find low, medium and high quality pellets. But that turned out harder than we thought.
Check it out:
http://forgreenheat.blogspot.com/2016/01/review-of-wood-pellets-for-btu-moisture_11.html
Does anyone on this list have test reports from pellet test labs that they can share? We'd love to build up a bigger database of all the most popular brands. We used Twin Ports Testing and it only cost $84 for ash, M/C and BTUs. But it costs quite a bit more to also get fines and chlorides tested, which are pretty important. Would love to hear how useful this data is, and if its worth trying to raise some more money and test lots of other pellets are publish the results.

 

[Lake Girl]

Some pellet makers do their own Twin Ports testing ... I know I've seen them on their websites. Independent testing is always informative for both producers and consumers.

 

[3650]

WOW 10% out of a silo...thats pretty darn good. Can't get anything less then 15% around here. I mix with pellets. If I could 10% id burn straight corn.

 

[Cedarjunki]

I have to ask.. where did you get the currans for the test? When where they produced?

The currans in your picture actually look like a good, decent pellet. Uniform in color anyways. The currans i have and absolutely hate look nothing like what is pictured. They are the mixed as well. They are more blackish than brown and burn just as bad as they look!

 

[NYBurner]

Thanks for conducting the test and sharing the results!

 

[Lake Girl]

Pellet Fuels Institute has a quality control program in place for accreditation of a fuel manufacturer. Unfortunately, they do not supply testing info of members. Energex Lac Megantic is the newest accredited member but no testing info on the website.

Alaska pellet company research on using Hemlock vs. Spruce/Hemlock mixes and summarizes Twin Ports testing:
http://www.jedc.org/forms/MythBusters-HemlockPellets.pdf

Wood Fibers Inc (Wisconsin) posted their results on-line
(broken link removed)
(broken link removed)

Vermont Wood Pellets:
http://www.vermontwoodpellet.com/index.php/testimonials/test-results
(broken link removed to http://www.ecvt.net/assets/files/VT_Wood_Pellets_Lab_Tests.pdf) (past testing)

Maine Wood Pellets:
(broken link removed to http://www.mypelletstore.com/TestReports/MaineSoftTest.pdf)

 

[John Ackerly]

Thanks for all those links to other Twin Ports testing reports. Good to know that those companies post their results. Maybe we should add those to our blog post so folks can see a greater range of pellets.

 

[John Ackerly]

I have to ask.. where did you get the currans for the test? When where they produced?

We bought 2 batches and the Twin Ports results are from the second batch, which we bought in September. The first batch we bought in June and they had really low moisture content (3.7%), ash was a bit higher (.67) and BTUs a bit higher too (8,261). We are reporting BTUS, etc. "as received", not "moisture free." Both looked about the same and burned pretty well. The seal on the bags on the second batch was not so good and a bunch of the bags split open if you weren't careful and held them upright.

 

[Cedarjunki]

We bought 2 batches and the Twin Ports results are from the second batch, which we bought in September. The first batch we bought in June and they had really low moisture content (3.7%), ash was a bit higher (.67) and BTUs a bit higher too (8,261). We are reporting BTUS, etc. "as received", not "moisture free." Both looked about the same and burned pretty well. The seal on the bags on the second batch was not so good and a bunch of the bags split open if you weren't careful and held them upright.

Here is a pic of the currans i have. Bought in sept/oct. They actually look much darker than they seem in the pic.

 

[chken]

The AWF Ultra had the best result, highest output, lowest ash. Seems to compare spec-wise to the doug fir Blazers that many of us burned last winter when there was a surprising supply in the northeast.