Wood Pellet Fuel is a biomass fuel manufactured from ground wood, waste wood, bark, and other combustibles that is pressed through dies at very high pressure.

Wood Pellets can be purchased in bulk or in 20 or 40lb bags. The energy content of pellets is more constant than corn because of lower moisture content (4-8%). As a rough approximation, 17.5 lbs of wood pellets provide the same amount of heat as a gallon of heating oil. With these characteristics, wood pellets burn very efficiency. They are also very easy and safe to transport and store. Wood pellets have an average net Btu rating of 8,200 Btu/lb.

Corn is a fuel that is widely available in many parts of the country and can be used in the Multi-Heat boiler. Corn can be purchased in bulk or by the bushel (56 lb bags).

The energy of content of corn is not constant, but approximately 20 lbs of corn is equal to a gallon of fuel oil. On average, the energy content of corn is between 8,000 to 8,500 Btu/lb of dry matter. To get the net dry Btu rating on corn one needs to factor in the moisture content. Average moisture content for corn is 12-15%. This gives corn an average BTU rating of 6,800 Btu/lb.

Grains - Any grain can be used, but wheat or rye at a maximum of 15% moisture are the most efficient. Both wheat and rye generate about 505,000 BTU's per bushel. At an average weight of 60 pounds per bushel, that equals 8,416 BTU's per pound.

British Thermal Unit "BTU"

In North America, the term "BTU" is used to describe the heat value (energy content) of fuels, and also to describe the power of heating and cooling systems, such as furnaces, stoves, barbecue grills, and air conditioners. One BTU (British Thermal Unit) is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.

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