In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Alternate fuel pellet experiences?

Discussion in 'Pellet Stoves, Pellet Fireplaces, Pellet Furnaces' started by Greenstick, Jun 10, 2016.

  1. Greenstick

    Greenstick

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    I have 0 none nada zilch experience with pellet stoves so please help me out. What fuels have you tried corn wheat barley leaves dried manure and results? I am tempted to try a new fuel source if I can find a pellet or grain stove to try it on and if it works I may get one myself. My mystery fuel prices are around $80 ton. I will tell what fuel idea I have after I get unbiased experience replies so I don't sway opinion by slanting with the potential fuel idea I am pondering. Lets hear it!:sherlock:
     
    Greenstick, Jun 10, 2016
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  2. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

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    I've heard of folks burning dog food.. :)

    I've burned corn, cherry pits, Pellets, some sun flower seed...

    Interested to hear your response :D
     
    DexterDay, Jun 10, 2016
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  3. bogieb

    bogieb

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    FYI - some stoves are better at multi-fuel burning than others, so don't just grab any old stove to experiment with. I could be wrong but I think it has to do with air mixture adjustment for different fuels and some stoves just aren't flexible like that.

    Some here burns olive pits (Australia). I believe someone was experimenting with pelletizing different grasses (saw grass maybe?). Oh, I think that was at the other place, so you might try looking over there.
     
    bogieb, Jun 10, 2016
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  4. Greenstick

    Greenstick

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    Ok it is close enough to a previous post mention. It is pelletized wheat midds. It is used as livestock feed and un pelletized is a dog food ingredient. It is 48 # per bushel in pellet form and like a medium packed pellet.
     
    Greenstick, Jun 10, 2016
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  5. Snowy Rivers

    Snowy Rivers

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    We burn hazelnut shells, and have for many many many years.

    As mentioned, some stoves work better than others with alternative fuels.

    We are running a pair of Whitfields and they do great.
     
    Snowy Rivers, Jun 10, 2016
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  6. slvrblkk

    slvrblkk

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    Can you post a pic of it?
     
    slvrblkk, Jun 10, 2016
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  7. jtakeman

    jtakeman Moderator

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    Timothy grass. Burned pretty decent just lots of silica. About 3.5% ash content IIRC.....

    IIRC wheat midds had an fairly low ash content of 2.4% which is right in the range of corn. But far more than a wood pellet, Which even a bad one is less than 1.0% for a premium grade pellet. I got a sheet somewhere that has many of the alternative fuels ash content. I'll post it if I can find it.

    Like bogieb stated, Look for a stove than can handle a higher ash content. And hopefully you can get these extremely cheap as even with a multifuel stove its gonna fill the ash pan rather quickly. And you'll do a bit more cleaning than what most expect. But if they are cheap it will be worth it. snowy rivers burns nut shells for pennies compared for the dollars we spend on wood pellets. Slightly modified the burnpot and she uses a standard manual lighting Whitfield.

    Bottom feed Harmans are good at burning higher ash fuels. But they don't light them very well. A multifuel stove will have a pressure igniter that acts like a blow torch. My Omega has burned a wheat hull pellet and lit them with ease. I've forgot how many different fuels I've tried. Another list I must dig up. But my beast has so far not only burned um, But lit them and ran off a stat keepingthe house temp cozy even in the warmer months that the stove isn't needed but for a quick morning warm up. My only issue is these fuels are just as much $$ as a cheap wood pellet....... But I know she light/burn even the worst of those and not complain in the least.

    :popcorn: Subscribed! ;)
     
    jtakeman, Jun 10, 2016
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  8. Greenstick

    Greenstick

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    I can get these where I work for $80 per ton. What prices have you found for alternative fuel? 20160610_084456.jpg 20160610_084113.jpg 20160610_084415.jpg
     
    Greenstick, Jun 10, 2016
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  9. jtakeman

    jtakeman Moderator

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    Grass pellets for about $200-225/ton, Corn for around $240. I can get wood pellets for slightly more($250 ish).

    I'd be all over that $80/ton!! Well, After I did some trials to be sure. ;)
     
    jtakeman, Jun 10, 2016
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  10. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

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    Looks like some short and some longer than average Pellets.

    I'm sure Jay, myself, or others would be willing to test a bag for ya? Just to compare the heat output to other Pellets?

    It's warm here, but I can quarantine my pellet furnace heat to the basement. :)
     
    DexterDay, Jun 11, 2016
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  11. Lousyweather

    Lousyweather

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    Im curious about the density of those wheat mid pellets, and wondering what effect that might have on feed rate versus btu output (thinking Harman here)....Ive seen Harmans burn alfalfa pellets, switchgrass pellets, dried peas, Acai pits, corn, etc.
     
    Lousyweather, Jun 11, 2016
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  12. imacman

    imacman

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    Just remember all the ash we had with the grass/wood pellets, and cleaning the stove 2-3 times a week. :whistle:
     
    imacman, Jun 11, 2016
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  13. Chickenman

    Chickenman

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    WE are burning all kinds of weird stuff all the time on account of the wood pellets being so expensive here ($1,000/ton)
    I have a rule of thumb; wood pellets are $100/ton better than any other fuel. Everything else (except macadamia shell, which we are finding to be better than wood pellets) has detractions. Not as much energy
     
    Chickenman, Jun 11, 2016
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  14. Chickenman

    Chickenman

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    Dang club fingers, posted before I finished.
     
    Chickenman, Jun 11, 2016
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  15. Chickenman

    Chickenman

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    Not as much energy, too much ash, hard to get, vermin friendly, etc etc.
    Unless you grow or produce your own fuel or the pellets are too expensive; stick with pellets.
    Grass pellets are crap in a domestic pellet fire.
     
    Chickenman, Jun 11, 2016
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  16. Greenstick

    Greenstick

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    What would be a realistic size to run a test 1#, 5#, 10# ?
     
    Greenstick, Jun 12, 2016
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  17. Snowy Rivers

    Snowy Rivers

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    This is what we burn.

    Slightly more ash than pellets.
    Penny and a half a pound at the nut plant.
     

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    Snowy Rivers, Jun 12, 2016
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  18. jtakeman

    jtakeman Moderator

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    I've run 10# and got a decent feel for them........ But I still like to run a weeks worth if possible. Major issues don't usually show up with tiny burns.
     
    jtakeman, Jun 13, 2016
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  19. imacman

    imacman

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    Agree. 40#+ would be the minimum I'd use to gauge how well it burns and any "issues" to show themselves.
     
    imacman, Jun 13, 2016
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  20. Snowy Rivers

    Snowy Rivers

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    With any alternative fuel it can take a fair run in time to work out the kinks.

    The learning curve can be a bumpy road at times, but when ya get done it can be rewarding.

    Took us a good bit to get all the idiosyncrasies worked out of the shells/Whitfield program.

    There is usually a caveat somewhere even when things are the best they can be, just to what extent is the big issue.

    We have to clean the stove two the three times more often than with pellets, but the cost savings makes it well worth the extra BS involved
     
    Snowy Rivers, Jun 18, 2016
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