How to Solve Common Faults in Wood Chip Fuel Pellet Machine？

Dec 24, 2025

The first step is to check the raw material, as this is the most common cause of poor pellet formation and also the easiest to resolve. The first thing to check is the moisture content of the raw material. The optimal moisture content for wood chip fuel pellets is 12%-15%. If the pellets are loose and crumble easily, the moisture content is likely too low (below 10%), resulting in insufficient adhesiveness. If the pellets have cracks on the surface and are prone to cracking, the moisture content is likely too high (above 18%), causing the moisture inside the raw material to evaporate and crack the pellets during pressing. The solution is simple: for low moisture content, spray some water evenly into the raw material, stir well, and let it stand for 30 minutes before processing; for high moisture content, extend the drying time to reduce the moisture content to the standard range. For example, one user reported a pellet formation rate of only 65%. After inspection, it was found that the wood chip moisture content was 22%. After drying for 2 hours, the moisture content dropped to 14%, and the formation rate increased to 93%.

If the raw material is fine, adjust the parameters of the biofuel sawdust pellet machine. Poor pellet formation may be due to insufficient pressing pressure or unsuitable temperature. Generally, the pressure required for wood chip pressing is 10-15 MPa, and the temperature is 80-90℃. Insufficient pressure will result in incomplete compression of the raw material, leading to loose particles. Too low a temperature will prevent the lignin in the raw material from softening and forming a binder, also affecting the molding process. Adjustments should be made gradually, increasing the pressure by 0.5 MPa and the temperature by 5℃ each time. Observe for 10 minutes after each adjustment to check the particle formation before deciding whether to continue adjusting. For example, hardwood chips are harder, so adjust the pressure to 13-15 MPa and the temperature to around 90℃; softwood chips are more adhesive, so a pressure of 10-12 MPa and a temperature of 80℃ are sufficient.

If the first two are fine, check the core components of the small home use biomass wood pellet mill-the pressure rollers and the die. Severe wear or grooves on the surface of the pressure rollers, or clogged or enlarged die holes, will all result in poor particle formation. First, stop the machine and disconnect the power. Clean any residual material from the mold and use a special tool to unclog any blocked mold holes. Next, check the surface of the pressure roller. If the wear is uneven, sand it smooth. If the wear is too severe (surface wear exceeds 2mm), replace the pressure roller directly. Also, check the gap between the pressure roller and the mold. The normal gap is 0.1-0.3mm. If the gap is too large, the raw material cannot be fully compressed. Adjust the adjusting bolts to the correct gap. Some users experienced a decreasing pellet forming rate due to clogged mold holes that weren't cleaned in time. After cleaning the mold holes, the forming effect immediately returned to normal.

Another easily overlooked point is the particle size of the raw material. If the sawdust particles are too large (over 5mm) or uneven in size, it will also affect the forming. The solution is to crush the raw material again and use a grading sieve to sieve out uniform raw materials of 2-5mm before processing. In summary, the order for solving poor forming problems is: first check the moisture content of the raw material → then adjust the equipment parameters → finally check the pressure roller and mold. Following this order can solve more than 80% of forming problems.