Choosing a pellet mill for a wood pellet business can be tricky. Especially if it is your first time. Don’t worry.

The following tips will help you get a perfect pellet machine.

Consider the Size of your Business

Different types of pellet makers are available in the market. Each comes with distinct features and pellet-producing capacity.

If you want to manufacture wood pellets on a small scale, choose a small-sized machine. For bulk production, you will need an industrial pellet-making mill.

People prefer a flat die machine for making pellets in small quantities. These machines are compact, energy-efficient, and make low noise. You do not need any specialized workspace for them.

On the other hand, if you want to produce pellets on a large scale, invest in a ring-die pellet machine. A vertical-ring-die machine can make up to 1000 kg pellets per hour.

Die Type

The quality of pellets depends on the excellence of the die to some extent. Analyze all the pellet mill die specifications carefully.

Make sure the machine uses premium quality stainless steel die.

Also, check for the compression ratio of the pellet die. It refers to the ratio of the effective working length of the die to the die thickness.

The die with a higher compression ratio makes denser pellets, while low ratio dies produce lighter pellets.

Choose a pellet die that provides adequate compression to produce excellent pellets.

Manufacturers make pellet dies with different ratios. You can choose them based on the nature of your raw material.

For wood shaving, you can choose a die ratio of 1:5, whereas for corn straw, it could be 1:8.

The die with low compression ratio wears off slowly. However, it affects the pellets’ quality.

Consider Your Budget

The complete wood pellet manufacturing process requires a lot of equipment. Along with a pellet mill, you will need a dryer, hammer mill, and cooling machine.

If you are starting a business at a small level, you can buy only a pellet mill. Still, you need a budget for raw materials, electricity, and other expenses.

Explore pellet machines of different brands and choose the supplier offering the desired pellet mill at the best price.

Power Source of Machine

Pellet machines run on different energy sources. Depending on the available energy source, you can buy a pellet mill that runs on electricity, diesel, or other power source.

Type Raw materials

Different pellet machines process distinct raw materials.

Some pellet mills can make biomass pellets from wood waste, while others use only certain materials.

There are pellet mills that are more suitable for making animal feed pellets. So make a choice based on your requirements.

Safety Features

Advanced pellet mills feature a wide range of safety features to safeguard operators.

Make sure the mill you choose has all the necessary safety features.

It must have an emergency stop button, overload protection, and automatic shutdown feature on malfunction.

Maintenance Requirement

Before you finalize a pellet mill, learn how easy it is to clean it. Also, learn about lubricating and other maintenance requirements.

Choose Reputable Manufacturer

Regardless of the type of machine you need, buy it from a renowned, experienced, and trustworthy manufacturer.

Look for reviews and references about the machine and manufacturer.

In addition to this, get to know about customer support and warranty services. Most reliable manufacturers offer a warranty on manufacturing defects.

Some pellet machine making companies also provide demos or trial runs. Get hands-on experience before you actually buy the machine.

Like any machine, a wood pellet mill machine can encounter various technical, operational, and mechanical issues.

If you take a systematic approach to resolving these problems, you can save a lot of time, money, and effort.

Here are a few prevalent pellet machine issues and their respective troubleshooting steps.

The Pellet Machine is Not Getting On

Sometimes, a biomass pellet mill doesn’t start. There could be several possible reasons for this. You can try the following things to fix it.

● Make sure the machine is properly plugged in. There should not be any loose wire or connection in the control panel.

● Check if the power switch and other controls are in the correct position. Sometimes, safety interlocks prevent the mill from starting.

● There are pellet mills that come with overload protection. When you put in excessive load, this feature gets activated.

● Check for motor malfunctions.

Wood Pellet Dust Problems

It is one of the most common issues a pellet mill operator faces. If not taken care of, it might lead to equipment damage and fire hazards.

Follow the below troubleshooting for it.

● Optimize the speed of your machine to minimize dust generation.

● Make sure the workplace is clean and fully ventilated.

● Consider installing dust extraction systems.

● Clean your pellet mill whenever required.

Improper Pellet Density

When you make wood pellets at home for personal use, pellet density does not bother you. However, if you are selling them commercially, it might affect your business.

● If the density of pellets is too low, they will be too light and may break easily. Make sure your pellet mill’s speed is set at the right level. Too slow mill speed can also affect the density of your pellets.

● Also, check the temperature settings of your mill. If it is too high your pellets will be too soft and brittle.

● Set the temperature according to the pellet consistency you are looking for.

Jamming of Pellets Inside the Machine

Sometimes, pellets get jammed inside the machine.  Some common reasons for this include:

● If there is not adequate room in your pellet machine to process raw material, pellets may get jammed inside the machine. Add raw material as per the capacity of the mill.

● Remove irregular pellets or any foreign objects causing the blockage.

● Sometimes pellets block the die holes or get stuck into rollers. Remove them using appropriate tools. Do a deep cleaning of the die and rollers.

● Check the moisture content of raw materials. Excessive moisture can cause sticky pellets. Such pellets can cause jamming.

Vibration and Strange Sound

Vibration and unusual sounds might be indications of underlying issues. Therefore, you shouldn’t ignore them.

Below is the troubleshooting guide to address these problems.

● Stop the machine as soon as you hear any weird sound. It will prevent further damage.

● Check for possible foreign objects. Metals and unwanted objects may enter the mill along with raw materials.

● Check out the alignments of bearings, belts, and chains. If they are loose, they might cause vibration. Lubricate all the movable parts of your wood pellet mill as per the requirements.

● Pouring too much raw material together can block the airflow of the machine. This build-up can cause vibration. Take some material out of your machine’s hopper to fix this issue.

Low Production

There could be several reasons for it, ranging from worn die & rollers to insufficient power supply to improper machine settings.

Also, there could be a problem with the motor.

● Always use high-quality raw materials so that the die and rollers do not wear off quickly. Check if they need replacement.

● Lubricate all the moving parts.

● If the motor is tripping or overeating, check for voltage fluctuations and overloading.

It is advisable to follow your manufacturer’s recommendation for pellet mill repair.