Briquettes for heating

Fuel such as firewood and coal is increasingly replacing heating briquettes, which are made using food, light and wood processing waste. Both economically and environmentally, pressed briquettes are much more profitable, because at a very affordable price, they have very high energy efficiency and release a minimum of carbon dioxide. Depending on the type of waste, briquettes are wood, coal, peat and pressed from the husks of sunflower.

Comparative characteristics

Fuel type	Calorific value, MJ / kg
Anthracite	26,8-31,4
Brown coal	10,5-15,7
Hard coal	20,9-30,1
Gas	27
Peat( humidity 20%)	15,1
Diesel fuel	42,7
Wood( humidity 40%)	6-11
Briquettes( from sawdust)	16-29,5

Each kind of briquetteshas its own features and advantages. And although they are all great for heating in a domestic environment, it is worthwhile to learn more about their characteristics in order to choose the best option.

Wood briquettes

This kind of briquettes is produced as a result of pressing of various wood waste - dead wood, sawdust, shavings, substandard wood. Before pressing, the waste is heated to a certain temperature, so that the adhesive is released from the cells - lignin. Thanks to lignin, briquettes acquire high strength and retain their shape during transportation and storage.

Advantages of briquettes in front of solid wood are obvious:

• the density of briquettes is constant and is 1240 kg / m3, the density of wood depends on the rock and varies between 150 and 1280 kg / m³;
• maximum humidity of briquettes 10%, wood - from 20 to 60%;
• , when the briquette is burned, the volume of ash is equal to 1% of the total mass, wood - 5%;
• during the combustion, the briquette releases 4400 kcal / kg, wood - 2930 kcal / kg.
  

  Wood briquettes

In addition, wood briquettes have other advantages:

• , pressed wood does not spark during combustion and produces very little smoke;
• in the boiler maintained a constant temperature;
• briquette burning time 4 hours;
• remaining after combustion coals are excellent for cooking on an open fire;
• the correct form of briquettes makes it easy to transport and store them.

Selling such fuel is not in cubic meters, like wood, but in kilograms, which is much more profitable.

Coal briquettes

This type of briquettes is obtained from the screening of coal. First, the screening is ground, mixed with a binder, and then compressed under high pressure.

The main properties of this fuel:

• coal briquettes do not smoke;
• does not emit carbon monoxide;
• burning time in conventional boilers from 5 to 7 hours, with adjustable air supply - 10 hours;
• are suitable for household use;
• have a compact form;
• during firing secrete 5200k / cal and maintain a constant temperature;
• maximum ash volume - 28%;
• have a long shelf life.

Coal briquettes are the most optimal fuel in severe winters, when low pressure in domestic gas systems causes low pressure. Briquettes burn at any temperature, the main thing is to have a constant flow of air.

Peat briquettes

For the production of briquettes, peat is dried, heated and pressed under high pressure. As a result, neat light bricks of dark color are obtained. With adjustable air supply, peat briquettes keep the temperature for 10 hours, which is very convenient for heating the house at night.

Main properties:

• is suitable for all types of furnaces;
• heat dissipation is equal to 5500-5700 kcal / kg;
• volume of ash 1% of the total volume of the briquette;
• reasonable price;
• minimum amount of impurities in the composition.
  

  Peat briquettes

The ash that remains after the combustion of the fuel can be used as an effective calcareous and phosphoric fertilizer. For many owners of private farms this factor is decisive when choosing heating briquettes. Since peat is a flammable substance, it should be stored at a safe distance from open flames and heaters. Even the dust that has woken from the package can catch fire and provoke a fire, therefore it is necessary to handle the briquettes correctly.

Briquettes from husks

Sunflower husks, buckwheat husks and rice, waste from rye, oats and even straw are widely used for making fuel briquettes. The most common are sunflower husk briquettes, since a large percentage of waste remains in the production of oil. The maximum humidity of the husk for pressing is 8%, which increases the heat output and shortens the combustion time.

Specification:

• density of briquettes is equal to 1.2 t / m³;
• heat transfer - 5200 kcal / kg;
• volume of ash from 2.7 to 4.5%.

Additional advantages:

• no harmful impurities;
• reasonable price;
• long burning time;
• convenience of storage and transportation.

Which briquettes are better

? Comparison of the characteristics of heating briquettes and traditional fuels shows that pressed materials are still more effective. If you choose between the briquettes themselves, you should take into account their features and properties.

To reduce the burden of fuel, coal or peat briquettes should be purchased;if ash is required for fertilization, wood briquettes and husk will be the best choice. They are the most affordable. And to determine more correctly, it is recommended to buy a small package of each kind. This will help to accurately assess the strength of briquettes, the duration of combustion, the amount of heat released and make the best choice.

Type of fuel	Average weight of fuel for production of 16,000 MJ of energy	Comparative price of energy production for the consumer in Russia,
Fuel briquettes	1000 kg	2000
Wood	1600 kg	2200
Gas	478 cu.m.	3500
Diesel fuel	500 l	8000
Fuel oil	685 l	5500
Coal stone	1000 kg	2800

How to make briquettes by hand. Photo + instruction

Video - Briquettes for heating