From Wood Waste to Renewable Energy
After decades of operating a family-owned sawmill producing construction timber, 'Equidomus' in Czech Republic was recently facing a declining market for traditional sawmill operations. This owner envisioned a future in sustainability by transforming residual timber and woodchip into renewable energy.
Recognising the low value of wet woodchip, Czech-based 'Equidomus' developed a plan to dry wood fuel for on-site electricity and heat production, with any surplus energy supplied to the local community and the national grid.
Installing FlowDrya woodchip drying equipment enabled efficient biomass drying, creating the foundation for a successful renewable energy project that supports both sustainability and long-term business growth for future generations.
Workers operating a large industrial sawmill machine
Woodchip Drying & Gasification Produces Biochar & Clean Energy
During early discussions with Equidomus, Stronga understood that their goal was to power on-site equipment using renewable, low-cost, and sustainable energy. By leveraging locally available biomass, the sawmill improved energy efficiency, gained full control over production and consumption, and became eligible for carbon credits and other sustainability-focused financial incentives.
With the FlowDrya woodchip dryer, Equidomus can now feed consistently dry woodchip into the gasifier. This process produces two valuable outputs:
- Solid biochar – a carbon-rich product that can enhance soil health or sequester atmospheric carbon.
- Wood gas – a clean fuel for generating heat and electricity.
Woody by-products left to decompose as a waste product actually release greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in technology to produce biochar, combats emissions whilst also capturing atmospheric carbon.
Adequate woodchip drying is critical for gasification as it enhances the calorific value of both wood gas and biochar. This process is an essential part of creating a sustainable, circular energy system.
Sawmill drying process using FlowDrya to dry woodchip before it is input into the pyrolysis reactor
The Benefits of On-Site Energy Production
Gasification provides a reliable supply of heat and electricity, powering sawmill equipment and reducing reliance on energy imports. Excess energy is sold to the local community, creating a new revenue stream. The sawmill required a professional woodchip dryer to convert wet biomass into a consistent, energy-dense fuel. Stronga supplied a customised FlowDrya system capable of drying sawdust to 12% and woodchips to 10%.
Why Should Wet Woodchip Be Dried Before Gasification?
| Reason | Explanation | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Improved Calorific Value | Moisture in woodchip absorbs energy during gasification. Drying removes excess water, increasing the energy content of the wood gas produced. | Higher efficiency and more heat and electricity output. |
| Stable Gasifier Operation | Wet feedstock can cause inconsistent combustion and gas flow, leading to operational issues. | Ensures reliable, continuous gasification and protects equipment. |
| Cleaner Gas Production | Wet wood produces more tar, smoke, and condensates during gasification. | Cleaner wood gas, reducing maintenance and filtration needs. |
| Optimal Biochar Quality | Excess moisture can reduce the yield and quality of solid biochar. | Produces uniform, high-quality biochar suitable for soil or carbon sequestration. |
| Energy Efficiency | Gasifiers must burn extra fuel to evaporate water in wet woodchip. | Reduces unnecessary energy consumption, lowering operating costs. |
| Equipment Longevity | Excess moisture can cause corrosion, wear, or clogging in the gasifier. | Extends the lifespan of gasification equipment and reduces maintenance. |
Effective Woodchip Drying Solutions from Stronga
Using a suitably-scaled, professional drying solution is key for optimum outcomes in wood gasification and energy production. If woodchip input is too wet, issues can occur, such as:
- Operational faults in the gasification chamber
- Increased volatile organic compounds
- The release of other harmful emissions
FlowDrya systems are built to suit the specific feedstock type, throughput and residual energy available on each site. Optional moisture sensors allow continuous monitoring, while the DryStation™ HMI enables operators to fine-tune settings for precise output moisture levels. FlowDrya ensures a uniform, low-moisture woodchip feedstock essential for efficient gasification.
Equidomus take pride in their business. They approached Stronga seeking robust, reliable and long-life woodchip drying equipment tailored to their specific operational needs. During the sales and design process, Stronga's team worked closely with the client to fully understand their requirements. The resulting solution was a continuous-flow woodchip dryer featuring:
- 30m² drying floor for high throughput and adequate moisture removal.
- Extension hopper for reduced intervals been reloading the biomass dryer.
- Rear discharge auger for automated onward processing – minimising labour costs.
Premium Woodchip Drying Solutions
Circular Renewable Energy & On-Site Productivity
FlowDrya and Heatex systems are engineered to utilise residual heat from GenSets, biomass boilers, or kilns — equipment commonly found at sawmills. By repurposing waste heat for woodchip drying, operators achieve exceptional energy efficiency. Equidomus supplied data on their available waste heat, enabling Stronga to design a perfectly matched Heatex and FlowDrya system.
FlowDrya is insulated all-around to minimise energy losses during the woodchip drying process. Airflow injection from the Heatex together with the FlowDrya's PulseWave™ agitation system ensure the woodchip output is thoroughly and uniformly dried to the required moisture profile for gasification.
FlowDrya and Heatex system installed at Equidomus
Discover the Key Features of FlowDrya & Heatex
- Stronga's woodchip dryer is designed according to the properties of biomass material to be dried, residual energy available, local climate and more. Our team collaborate with the customer to ensure the dryer is optimised for the desired outcomes.
- The DryStation™ HMI control screen allows the operator to modify parameters to achieve the desired output moisture content. The live data logging function records key parameters.
- The optional extension hopper allows the client to load huge quantities of woodchip into the dryer, reducing frequency of loading cycles while minimising labour costs.
- Our experienced team install and commission the modular drying system before taking the designated operator(s) through comprehensive training.
Industrial lumber-drying facility
Wood-Chip Drying; Enhanced
- FlowDrya's stop-start system means that, whilst the dryer can operate for up to 8,000 hours a year, it is actually only "live" for a fraction of the time, reducing energy consumption while minimising maintenance costs.
- The independent Heatex unit, which features energy-efficient plug fans in modular housing, is an essential part of the woodchip drying solution, allowing residual energy from gasification to be re-purposed for drying woodchips.
- FlowDrya was developed with longevity in mind to reduce operational and maintenance costs for our customers. There are no belts, chains or sprockets which are common in other drying systems. The simple but effective design of FlowDrya extends operational longevity while reducing downtime.
Investing in FlowDrya and Heatex equipment allowed this Czech sawmill to gain significant value and utility from their spare wood, drying woodchips that would otherwise be wasted, now producing 'green' energy.
FlowDrya installation process in Czech Republic
Discuss Your Woodchip Drying Project
Frequently Asked Questions
Drying woodchip before gasification improves calorific value, ensures stable gasifier operation, produces cleaner gas with fewer tars, achieves optimal biochar quality, increases overall energy efficiency, and extends equipment longevity by reducing thermal shock and corrosion.
The FlowDrya installation at Equidomus features a 30m squared drying floor, an extension hopper for increased material capacity, and a rear discharge auger for efficient transfer to the gasification system. The system also includes the DryStation HMI for intuitive process control.
Equidomus utilises residual heat from their GenSets to power the FlowDrya drying system. Dried woodchips fuel the gasifier, which produces wood gas to power the GenSets, generating electricity and heat. The excess heat returns to the drying process, creating a highly efficient closed-loop system.
Subject to customer availability, we can arrange site visits to this and other FlowDrya installations. Contact our team to discuss reference site visits appropriate for your application and requirements.