SUNFLOWER HUSK PELLETS
Sunny prospects for the industry
Origin
Sunflower husk pellets are a natural raw material consisting of 100 percent sunflower husks. These are a by-product of sunflower oil production. The husks are first dried, cleaned and crushed. They are then pressed under high pressure into compact, cylindrical pellets, similar to wood pellets.
Characteristics
Sunflower husk pellets usually have a diameter of six to eight millimetres and a length of 3.15 to 40 millimetres, which makes them easy to measure out precisely. Their average annual water content is less than 15 per cent by weight, making them ideal for efficient combustion. The same applies to the ash content, which averages less than 4 per cent. With a calorific value of 4.0 to 6.0 megawatt hours per tonne, they impress with their energy density – and are CO₂-neutral. Another advantage is their good storability when stored properly and their easy transport thanks to their high bulk density and stable pellet shape.
Use
Sunflower husk pellets offer a wide range of applications in recycling. In energy production, they are mainly used as fuel in biomass cogeneration plants and industrial combustion plants. With their high calorific value, they are an excellent fuel for industrial furnaces. They are also particularly suitable as an effective substitute for fossil fuels in industry. In addition, they can be used as an additional substrate raw material in biogas plants, thus contributing to the sustainable production of biogas.
