How much pressure do you need to make sawdust briquettes?

Understanding Fire Briquettes

A fire briquette is a compact block made from highly compressed sawdust, ideal for igniting your wood stove or fireplace. The sawdust, which is a by-product from our workshop's machinery, is collected and compressed using a state-of-the-art RUF Briquetting Press from Germany. This process helps us minimize waste and lessen our environmental footprint.

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Reasons for the Popularity of Our Briquettes

Our fire briquettes serve as an efficient, clean-burning, cost-effective, and eco-friendly heat source for your wood heater. Made purely from recycled hardwood sawdust, they contain no glue or additives.

Their remarkable density and low moisture content allow for a hotter fire with reduced fuel consumption and minimal smoke production.

Furthermore, the fine particles and low moisture content contribute to less ash and creosote accumulation in your flue. Commercially available firewood often has a moisture content ranging from 20% to 30%, whereas our fire briquettes possess a moisture content of 12% or below—meaning you pay for more fuel and less water.

With competitive pricing and timely delivery, Tiantai sincerely hopes to be your supplier and partner.

They are incredibly convenient, delivered right to your carport or garage on a 1-tonne pallet, ready to use. For those curious to try them, you can order a sample box containing 12-14 briquettes, a great way to test them out with less waiting time.

Additionally, our briquettes are rectangular, making them easy to stack and preventing the rolling that often occurs with cylindrical firewood.

boardmaker said:

Spirilis,
I've done substantial research and some prototyping. Here's what I've learned. Creating a briquette with hardwood sawdust requires approximately 24,000 psi. If the pressing end of the briquette measures 3x3 inches, totaling 9 square inches, then you will need 216,000 psi. Utilizing such high pressure ensures that the lignin in the hardwood binds effectively. I haven't worked with softwood, so I can't comment on that. Some presses use heat to assist in binding, which reduces the required pressure but poses a fire risk and results in less dense products. Most log splitters produce under 70,000 psi, so for a practical setup in a garage, you'll need an 8-inch cylinder paired with a pump delivering at least 4300 psi. Typical log splitters max out at around 3000 psi. Essentially, you'd need a robust cylinder and a high-capacity pump, powered by an engine due to the horsepower limitations of single-phase electric systems.

Many of my designs were inspired by the RUF briquette press, which has a patented infeed prepressure cylinder. Understanding patent laws can be challenging, and you wouldn't want to risk legal issues. If I had access to specialized machining tools, I would build one myself. Although I possess basic tools like welders and plasma cutters, intricate machining work is still necessary. The optimal approach would involve integrating the cylinder with the pressure rod, a task that requires precision machining.

Although I've experimented with smaller prototypes using a log splitter, creating a large-scale machine isn't within my current budget. Adjusting design elements, such as infeed size, could be problematic. However, modifications are easier with a programmable logic controller (PLC), enabling instant changes to timing and pressure settings. Despite the obstacles, if you consider building or modifying a briquette press, feel free to reach out. I've done extensive hydraulic calculations for various configurations. Sharing ideas and potential innovations could help refine the process. Although pursuing this venture requires both time and financial investment, the potential market for high-quality briquettes could make it a worthwhile endeavor in the long run.

For those interested in exploring the Sawdust Briquetting Machine, contact us today for expert consultation!