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Wood Chips: what they are and how they can be used
Wood chips are a biofuel: a 100% ecological and sustainable material obtained from wood. Considering the easy availability of the raw material, wood chips are also a very economical material that guarantees excellent performance. They can be used in various sectors, from industrial applications to domestic use.
In light of the goals of the 2030 Energy Transition, which aims for a future increasingly focused on renewable energy sources, wood chips are an investment worth considering.
Let us take a closer look at what wood chips are, the advantages they offer and how they can be used.
What are wood chips
Wood chips are one of the many ways in which wood can be processed. Wood chips consist of wood shredded into fragments of various sizes, uniform in shape, through a mechanical process known as “chipping”. The machine that produces wood chips is called a wood chipper.
Just like firewood, sawdust and pellets, wood chips are a 100% ecological fuel due to their characteristics.
How wood chips are classified
According to fuel quality, wood chips are divided into 4 classes:
- A1+
- A1
- A2
- B2
The reference standard is UNI EN ISO 17225-4:2014.
The parameters used to classify wood chips
To define the class of wood chips, a series of characteristics related to the raw wood material are analyzed through laboratory tests carried out on biomass samples.
Below are the parameters evaluated to classify wood chips.
- Type of wood: the higher the quality of the wood, the greater its calorific performance
- Calorific value
- Ash production
- Moisture content: a factor affecting both the economic performance and the energy efficiency of the fuel
- Bulk density: a value used to estimate energy density
- Presence of chlorine, sulfur and other minor elements that may cause technical problems and environmental pollution
Sizes
In addition to quality, wood chips are also classified according to their size. The following distinctions can therefore be made:
- Micro wood chips – 5 mm (G5)
- Small wood chips – 10 mm (G10)
- Wood chips – max 3 cm (G30)
- Large wood chips – max 6 cm (G50)
How wood chips can be used: all possible applications
With a calorific value of 2.5–3.5 kWh/kg, wood chips are an economical biofuel offering high thermal performance. They can be used in a wide range of applications.
Industrial use of wood chips
Larger wood chips are frequently used in industrial applications as fuel for cogeneration systems and biomass power plants. In Central and Northern European countries, where raw material is abundant, wood chips are used to fuel biomass district heating systems that, in addition to generating electricity, also provide heating for large public and private facilities such as hospitals, schools, commercial activities, companies and hotels.
Domestic use of wood chips
Smaller wood chips, on the other hand, are mainly used as fuel for domestic purposes, powering automatic and multi-fuel boilers. The most suitable type for domestic use is dry wood chips with low moisture content. For raw material supply, it is possible to rely on local suppliers (owners of forests or agricultural land) or to self-produce wood chips by purchasing a small wood chipper and using wood waste and branches.
Wood chips used in the agricultural and livestock sectors
In agriculture, wood chips are useful for mulching and fertilizing vegetable gardens, gardens and flowerbeds. In the livestock sector, they are mainly used for their absorbent, draining and insulating properties. For example, they are used as bedding in poultry and cattle farms, kennels and horse stables.
Using wood chips: what are the advantages
As mentioned earlier, wood chips are a renewable energy source and, as such, offer numerous advantages.
- They are a 100% ecological and sustainable product
- They offer excellent performance
- They have a calorific value ranging from 2.5 to 4.5 kWh/kg
- They produce very little waste
- They do not produce atmospheric emissions
- They are highly economical (estimated savings of over 70%)
- The raw material is easily available
- Production costs are low
- They are easy to store
- Modern boilers allow automatic loading
Have you decided to produce wood chips and need a wood chipper? Choose RP Engineering
Whether you own a company or are a private individual, you can clearly see that wood chips offer numerous advantages and therefore represent an energy source worth enhancing.
The European Union itself considers the use of woody biomass to be “one of the most efficient systems for reducing greenhouse gas emissions”.
RP Engineering designs, builds and installs industrial systems for the drying and production of wood chips, pellets and other materials.
With more than 25 years of experience in the industry, RP Engineering stands out for offering customized solutions to its customers.
Therefore, if you would like to install a machine for wood chip production, contact RP Engineering by filling out the dedicated contact form. Our professional technicians will be available to suggest the most suitable type of wood chipper for your needs.
After installation of the customized wood chipper, RP Engineering remains available to its customers with pre-sales and after-sales support services.
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