The Ultimate Guide to Briquettes: All You Need to Know ...

The Ultimate Guide to Briquettes: All You Need to Know to Make the Switch (Updated Dec 2023)

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Heating briquettes are a true modern marvel.

Heating briquettes are affordable, efficient, and incredibly eco-friendly, made from densely-packed sawmill sawdust. Unlike traditional firewood logs, they burn with minimal smoke, significantly reducing the emissions of harmful gases like creosote. Additionally, their high energy density makes them easy to store and handle.

So, what exactly are wood briquettes? What are the various types and how do they differ? And importantly, which type is the most suitable for your needs?

Explore Lekto's extensive range of Ready to Burn briquettes. Or, continue reading this comprehensive guide to discover everything you need to know about briquettes.

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What Are Briquettes?

Briquettes are a type of heating fuel made from compressible combustible material. The primary types of briquettes are coal briquettes and biomass briquettes. Coal briquettes are made from coal, while biomass briquettes can be produced from various organic materials such as wood, peat, rice husks, and straw. Traditionally shaped like little bricks, modern briquettes come in diverse shapes and sizes.

What Are Biomass Briquettes?

Biomass briquettes are made from compressed organic material. This material is dried, refined, and inserted into a briquetting machine where it is compressed into the desired shape and density using an industrial pressing rod. Commonly used materials for briquettes stem from sawmill byproducts, although any combustible biomass can be utilized.

Biomass briquettes typically come in log or brick shapes and can outperform traditional wood thanks to technological advancements that enhance their properties.

What Can Briquettes Be Made From?

In theory, any combustible organic material can be used to make briquettes. However, not all materials are ideal. Here are some common and effective options:

• Sawmill byproducts: The most common source, including wood chips, bark, sawdust, and wood shavings.
• Peat: Widely used in Ireland, burns hot and virtually smoke-free.
• Charcoal fines: Commonly used for barbecuing and heating.
• Straw and hay: Often used by large farms as an inexpensive fuel source.
• Agricultural byproducts: Including rice husks and bagasse, increasingly converted into briquettes for ecological and economic benefits.
• Used coffee grounds: Previously used by bio-Bean to make eco-friendly briquettes.

What Are the Main Pros of Using Briquettes?

Briquettes offer numerous advantages over traditional firewood logs:

• High energy density
• Longer burn times
• Greater heat output
• Lower moisture content
• Cleaner and more efficient burn
• Easy storage and handling

Briquettes Are Very Energy Dense

Due to their low moisture content and high density, wood briquettes have more energy compared to regular firewood. For instance, a single Lekto Hardwood Heat Log has a calorific value of 10.3 kWh, which surpasses the full battery capacity of some modern electric vehicles.

Briquettes Are Better for Your Health and the Environment

Briquettes are a healthier and more ecological alternative to coal. Coal burning releases harmful toxins and large amounts of CO2, while briquette production actually reduces waste by utilizing traditionally discarded materials.

Briquettes Burn Longer and Require Less Tending

Briquettes can be customized to burn longer than traditional wood. Special briquettes like Night Briquettes can burn for up to 8 hours without needing attention, providing a convenient and eco-friendly heating option.

Wood Briquettes Are Easy to Store and Handle

Due to their high energy density, briquettes take up less storage space compared to firewood. They are also easy to handle and won't soil your hands or clothes unlike coal.

Cost-Savings of Using Briquettes

Because they are made from sawmill byproducts, wood briquettes are cost-effective. Buying them in bulk can be more economical than purchasing regular firewood, along with the added benefits of lower ecological footprint and efficient storage.

How Are Briquettes Made?

Briquettes are manufactured by compressing or extruding shredded combustible biomass to the desired shape and density. The raw material is first collected, dried, refined, and shredded before being transported to a briquetting facility. A pressing ram then compresses the material into the required densifications.

What Are RUF Briquettes?

The term "RUF briquettes" refers to a brand of briquetting machinery, and has become synonymous with heat logs and briquettes. The name originated from RUF, a popular producer of briquetting machines.

What Types of Briquettes Exist?

Wood Briquettes

Wood briquettes are made from woodchips, sawdust, bark, and other wood materials. Depending on their composition, they can offer a range of properties superior to traditional firewood.

Common Types of Wood Briquettes

• Sawdust Briquettes: Widely used for their moderate heat output, low price, and long burn time.
• Heat Logs: Made from ultra-low-moisture sawdust, they burn hotter, making them ideal for cold winter nights.
• Bark Briquettes: These burn cooler but longer, offering extended heating periods.
• Pini Kay Logs: Designed for user convenience, they don't expand as they burn and have a shape that prevents rolling.

Peat Briquettes

Popular in certain regions like Ireland, peat briquettes are smokeless and have a unique, nostalgic aroma. Peat is a renewable resource, and burning peat briquettes produces fewer emissions compared to other fuel types.

Other Biomass Briquettes

Apart from wood and peat, briquettes can be made from a variety of biomass materials, including agricultural byproducts, hay, straw, rice husks, and even municipal solid waste.

What Briquettes Are Best For What?

Best General Use Briquettes

Sawdust briquettes are versatile and ideal for all-around use. They offer a good balance of heat output, burn time, and cost-effectiveness.

Best Briquettes for Home Heating

Heat Logs and Night Briquettes are excellent for home heating. Heat Logs provide intense heat for cold nights, while Night Briquettes offer long burn times with minimal tending required.

Best Briquettes for Multi-Fuel Stoves

Pini Kay Eco Logs are recommended for multi-fuel stoves due to their non-expanding shape and convenience.

Best Briquettes for Overnight Heating

Night Briquettes are designed for extended burn times, making them perfect for overnight heating. They can burn for up to 8 hours, ensuring you wake up to a warm home.

What Briquettes Burn the Hottest?

Heat Logs are the hottest burning briquettes available. However, new users should exercise caution when using them for the first time due to their high heat output.

Historical Background of Briquettes

Pre-Industrial Times

Compacting flammable biomass into manageable forms has been practiced for millennia. Early methods included balling, drying, and bundling materials.

Industrial Revolution and Beyond

The first documented use of machines for making peat briquettes dates back to 1865. The method involved a roller that compacted shredded and dried material with a binding agent.

Modern Briquetting Techniques

The 20th century saw the rise and fall of briquette popularity in response to fuel prices. The modern piston-based briquetting machine gained traction in the 1930s, offering high-quality, long-burning briquettes.

21st Century Advancements

Today, the demand for eco-friendly fuels is driving innovation in briquette technology. Products like Night Briquettes, made from sustainably sourced materials, offer exceptional performance and long burn times.

Final Words

Briquettes are a highly efficient and eco-friendly alternative to conventional firewood. Whether for general use, home heating, or specialized needs, there is a briquette type that’s right for you. Explore the best options to make a sustainable switch today and enjoy cleaner, longer-lasting, and cost-effective heating solutions.

You can expect efficient and thoughtful service from Tiantai.

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