Hydraulic Biomass Press

[roadhunter]

Anybody have an idea for what to use on the end of the pipe? Holding that force will take some strength but it also needs to be removable after each stroke so it can spit the chunk out. I'm guessing the commercial units have a hydraulic stop that opens and closes for each stroke. But I could be off as I have never taken one of them apart. Any ideas?

 

[parvodog]

If you're going with 4 inch pipe, just use a reducer at the end. This will force everything to compress pretty good, and it might eliminate the need for an end plate.



Tim

 

[BHD]

most pellet or cubing machines use a rotary system with a wheel that press the product in a die, and use a circular type of die,

rollers press the product in to the die. I have toyed with the idea of using some square tubing and welding up a die, (most likely a set of steel donuts on the out side and the center, of tubes and a roller system to press the product in to the die using a heavy gear box to power the center rollers to press in the product,

my thinking was to put vertical with the die setting at the bottom of a hopper so it would be not be a lot of labor in it. also the shaft could extend up to run an atagator to keep the product falling to the die,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=84411374&v=wOOJJEFGuRo&x-yt-ts=1421828030

 

[KennyG]

When I was working on a theoretical design (with a square tube) I was going to weld heavy angle on the end to make a slot I could slide a reinforced plate into. With good welding, some simple calcs indicated it would hold. If the calcs weren't correct and it broke, more welding and more reinforcing.

 

[vwnotrunning]

Why not leave the pipe / tube open and resting on the log splitter base (wedge on cylinder type). Then support on the side above the base to use the ram to push out the brick / log?

 

[Jim Nelson]

I think we ought to sic old BFreaky on it,he would come up with something amazing.

 

[roadhunter]

I wonder if you have a hydraulic shop nearby if they have a scrap cylinder they may give you cheap. Use the piston and cylinder from that. Kinda weird I guess, using a cylinder to compress a cylinder???

That is an interesting idea. I'm going to have to give this some thought. I love repurposing junk parts that require little modification and that would certainly fit the bill.

If you're going with 4 inch pipe, just use a reducer at the end. This will force everything to compress pretty good, and it might eliminate the need for an end plate.

View attachment 408121

Tim

I have considered this am and unclear if that would actually work. I guess if it didn't want to come out I could trim the reducer back a little bit to make less resistance. I love the simplicity of that. Could probably rig up a hydraulic knife to make the pieces a uniform length.

most pellet or cubing machines use a rotary system with a wheel that press the product in a die, and use a circular type of die,

rollers press the product in to the die. I have toyed with the idea of using some square tubing and welding up a die, (most likely a set of steel donuts on the out side and the center, of tubes and a roller system to press the product in to the die using a heavy gear box to power the center rollers to press in the product,

my thinking was to put vertical with the die setting at the bottom of a hopper so it would be not be a lot of labor in it. also the shaft could extend up to run an atagator to keep the product falling to the die,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=84411374&v=wOOJJEFGuRo&x-yt-ts=1421828030

That machine seems to use larger pieces than just sawdust. Very impressive. That is one of the things that scares me about the pellet presses is how many need perfectly clean and dry sawdust. This one seems to be pretty big. I've also read some negative reviews on the samller chineese PTO powered machines. My understanding is they don't' get hot enough to cause the woods natural glue to activate which is important in creating a durable pellet. Also I believe the moisture content is more crucial in pellets along with letting them dry on racks which was a turnoff for me as I don't' want to handle them unless absolutely necessary. With so many moving parts and having to replace dies that type of setup seemed like more than what I was willing to invest. I'm more of a brute force kind of guy and am fascinated with hydraulics so that also played a role. But if you build it I would love to see how it works.

When I was working on a theoretical design (with a square tube) I was going to weld heavy angle on the end to make a slot I could slide a reinforced plate into. With good welding, some simple calcs indicated it would hold. If the calcs weren't correct and it broke, more welding and more reinforcing.

Interesting. The plate would slide in to compact the material then slide out to allow the chunk of biamass to be removed?

Why not leave the pipe / tube open and resting on the log splitter base (wedge on cylinder type). Then support on the side above the base to use the ram to push out the brick / log?

I thought about that but in my mental picture of that I don't' think there would be enough force to compact the material without something on the end. I think it might work as mentioned above with a reducer to restrict the output and force material to compact as it pushes through. But am just an idiot with a welder so I could be completely wrong. I think some testing is in order. Start with an open pipe. See how it works. Then play with some different restrictions or even a reducer as mentioned above. And keep an eye out for a large used/junk hydraulic cylinder.

Thanks for all the great ideas and keep them coming. I am going to give this a try and will post pics.

 

[muddstopper]

:reading::reading::reading:

 

[PILOON]

I saw some examples of making pellets for heating.
They use roller mills that are basically the same as used to make animal feed under pressure.

For logs I would envision a large roller mill turning out 3" pellets cut at every 12" for the fireplace.

I gathered that no binders are used but results are very dependent on the moisture content.

Today there is no waste at a sawmill.
Chips go to making particle board and sawdust to making artificial fireplace logs.
In fact the artificial logs are consistent as to humidity and BTU content all while being easier to handle and store.
When you purchase firewood you are never sure of the aging, quality or BTU content and very often are shortchanged with the actual quantity, and then what kinds of bugs or even mice come with the firewood.

 

[roadhunter]

This is what I am thinking of using as the basis of the project. After i do some simple testing with my existing log splitter. I'm just going to use pipe and see what happens.