MoistTech IR3000 moisture sensor monitoring wood pellets on a conveyor inside a dryer.

Wood Pellet Production

PELLET MILLS are only as efficient as the consistency of the material being inputted. Many factors impact pellet quality, but moisture is the most critical and most overlooked.

Moisture Variation: A 3-5% moisture variation makes it almost impossible to consistently make a durable pellet. Increased product quality increased customer satisfaction.

Small Changes Make Big Impacts: A 1% change in moisture makes a noticeable difference in pellet quality and sheen.

Decreased Production: A 20% +/-decrease in production rates due to inconsistent inbound moisture. The increased moisture can also plug the pellet mill

IR-3000 Sensor

With MoistTech’s IR3000 moisture sensor, the customer is able to make adjustments to the programming of the dryer system to provide a more consistent biomass moisture rate in real time that directly correlates to a higher production capacity and a better quality pellet.

Better Pellet Quality: Improved durability and sheen with tight moisture control parameters.

Higher Production Capacity: Up to 20% increase in production by maintaining a consistent moisture percentage.

Less Downtime: Lower the risk of plugging the mill and creating production interruptions.

Reduced Energy Usage: A stable motor amperage reduces strain and energy consumption.

Maximized Efficiency: Optimize dryer performance and pellet mill throughput.

Project Details

Industry

Wood Products

Application/Product

Wood Pellets

Location

Missouri, USA

Case Study Infographic

Wood pellet production case study showing MoistTech IR3000 moisture control, process challenges, results, and production benefits.Click to enlarge ↗

The Wood Pellet Production Process
raw biomass

RAW BIOMASS

Wood chips, sawdust or by-products

grinding biomass

GRINDING

Size reduction to specified grind

DRYING

Moisture is reduced to the target range

moisture sensor icon

MOISTURE CONTROL

MoistTech's IR3000 monitors moisture in real time

pellet mill

PELLET MILL

Consistent moisture drives efficiency

biomass storage

COOLING & STORAGE

High-quality pellets ready to ship

Installation Photos
wood pellets process part one
MoistTech IR3000 sensor positioned above wood pellets for continuous, real-time moisture measurement.
wood pellets process part two
IR3000 sensor monitors wood pellet moisture continuously as material travels along the conveyor.
wood pellets process part three
MoistTech sensor installed above the conveyor for continuous moisture monitoring of wood material during production.

In wood pelleting, if the moisture rate trends upwards the amperage of the motor swings upward as well. When the moisture rate drops the amperage falls significantly – this bouncing of the amperage rate can have a detrimental effect on the production capacity of the pellet mill. I highly recommend their system. It is robust, accurate and their customer service has been fantastic.

— Nate Harris
Near-Infrared IR3000 Specs
MoistTech IR-3000 non-contact NIR moisture sensor

Ready to Improve Your Wood Pellet Production?

See how real-time moisture measurement can help increase production capacity, improve pellet quality, reduce energy use, and minimize downtime.

Talk to a MoistTech Specialist