New GEK owner, Bill Spitz, sends these pictures of a larger densified sawdust "plug" that is made with a plastic binder.  This is an attractive densification route for gasifiers as regular pellets like to decompose in the steam of a closed top type gasifier.  The non-dissolvable binder of these might be interesting.  The downside is the potential for pyrolysis dynamics to be compromised by the reduced gas flow through the plug.  The plastic, however, should melt out at a relatively low temp so that it should not compromise pyrolysis heat transfer more than a regular pellet already does (which continues to be an issue of debate).

Thank you very much for bringing these to our attention Bill.  I very much look forward to trying them out.

here' Bill's description.

"These plugs were made from particle board scrap from a furniture manufacturer with lots of sawdust in the mix. The plastic binder is 10% polypropylene. BTU is approx. 9,800/lb, which can be boosted to 10,000 BTU by adding more plastic. The product is considered a fuel and is approved for use in boilers in Wisconsin. Other raw ingredients will include pine, aspen and oak. Cost is $120-160/ton - .06-.08/lb. Split firewood is about the same price in this area.

The plugs are water/moisture repellent/resistant. The engineer said he has had one under water for 9 months without falling apart.

Thanks,

Bill Spitz