8 tons of saw-dust are processed per hour in the dryer. The wet product input has 14-20% moisture content. The output has 10-11% moisture.
"We now have a very accurate reading of the moisture content from start to finish and we are therefore able to dry the product to a more optimal level," explains Mr. Lars Gunnar Haug, dryer operator at Statoil Trepellets. "To make the best quality wood pellets we need to dry the sawdust to 10-11% moisture."
Over-drying saw-dust equals higher energy consumption. If the product is too wet, then the capacity of the pellet process is slower.
"By reducing moisture fluctuations we are now able to increase pellet production by 25%," says Mr. Haug.
