EPCB biomass steam boilers cover 1–20 T/H at 0.7–1.6 MPa on a single-drum chain grate stoker structure, with design efficiency from 78.1% to 83.1% under reference fuel conditions. Compatible fuels include wood chips, pellets, sawdust, rice husks, palm shells, and coconut shells — but the fuel name alone does not determine performance. Moisture content, calorific value, and ash chemistry govern grate compatibility and achievable output, and the combustion system is configured to your specific fuel profile before manufacturing begins.
The fuel name — rice husk, palm shell, wood chips, pellets — does not determine whether the combustion system will reach rated output. The variables that actually govern grate compatibility and achievable efficiency are moisture content, calorific value, ash content, volatile matter, and particle size. A fuel sample data sheet covering all five is required before grate speed, air distribution, and feed system are configured. Different fuel types also carry distinct ash characteristics that are not interchangeable.
Ash is high in silicon dioxide (SiO₂), forming hard, abrasive clinker on the grate at combustion temperature. This accelerates grate wear and requires more frequent cleaning than most biomass fuels. Grate material and cleaning interval must be confirmed specifically for rice husk applications.
Elevated potassium increases the risk of low-melting-point deposits on convective heat transfer surfaces at higher furnace temperatures. Palm shell moisture also varies significantly by storage and processing — provide the seasonal moisture range, not a single average value, during scoping.
Ash behaviour is more forgiving than rice husk or palm, but moisture is the primary performance variable. Freshly processed wood can carry 40–55% moisture; air-dried stock runs 15–25%. The design moisture threshold must be confirmed against your actual supply, not an assumed standard.
Standardised moisture and calorific value make pellets the most predictable fuel for chain grate operation. Particle size consistency still affects feed uniformity — pellet dimensions should be confirmed against the feed system specification at inquiry.
The performance shortfall we see most often. It is not equipment-related — it results from a mismatch between the fuel the boiler was designed for and what arrives once the plant is running. For rice husk this surfaces as accelerated grate wear and more frequent clinker clearing; for palm shell it appears as heat-transfer surface fouling that reduces steam output over time. Both are preventable at the scoping stage with the five parameters below.
| Fuel Sample Parameter | Unit | Why It Governs Grate Configuration and Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture content | % | The single most decisive efficiency variable. Higher moisture absorbs combustion heat for evaporation — provide the seasonal range where supply moisture is variable |
| Calorific value (LHV) | kcal/kg | Sets actual fuel consumption. Lower-value fuel needs proportionally more mass per hour for the same steam output than the reference figures in the spec table |
| Ash content | % | Determines ash handling capacity and grate wear rate; high-ash fuels like rice husk and straw generate more ash per unit of steam |
| Volatile matter | % | Governs combustion air volume and staged air distribution between primary and secondary chambers below the grate |
| Particle size range | mm | Must match the feed system; oversized material bridges in the hopper, fines cause uneven, rapid combustion and feed inconsistency |
| Ash composition (where available) | — | For rice husk include silica content; for palm shell include potassium — these drive grate material selection and fouling risk assessment |
Rice mills, palm oil plants, and wood processors face an extra consideration: waste output fluctuates with production, so a boiler sized to peak waste will be underloaded in low-output periods. Share your production schedule and minimum daily waste volume so we can assess base-load versus peak-load sizing.
Biomass is recognised as a renewable energy source in many markets' carbon reporting and green procurement frameworks — a reason some buyers select it when transitioning from coal. For operations generating their own residue, it also converts a disposal cost into a fuel supply. Both advantages depend on conditions that should be confirmed before equipment selection.
On renewable qualification. The specific conditions under which biomass qualifies as renewable — including fuel traceability and reporting methodology — vary by destination market and framework. The compliance determination rests with the applicable local authority; we provide the technical documentation needed to support that process, but the qualification outcome depends on your market's standard. Confirm the relevant framework before equipment selection if renewable qualification is a project requirement.
Single-drum chain grate stoker biomass steam boiler. Design efficiency and biomass consumption are calculated at a reference calorific value under standard operating conditions — actual site values depend on your fuel's calorific value and moisture content. Pressure and temperature options vary by capacity as shown.
The chain grate feeds biomass from the front and moves it through staged combustion zones — drying, ignition, active combustion, and burnout — while primary and secondary air is controlled through independent chambers below the grate. This staged sequence lets the boiler handle a range of biomass types without a separate gasification stage.
Grate speed is adjustable via the electrical control system to match combustion rate to steam demand, with alarm and interlock protection on critical parameters. Units from 8 T/H upward ship in two sections; on-site reassembly, including structural reconnection and pressure-side joining, must be planned into the commissioning schedule and lifting-equipment plan before the purchase order is issued.
| Rated Capacity (t/h) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rated Steam Pressure (MPa) | 0.7 / 1.25 | 0.7 / 1.25 / 1.6 | 1.25 / 1.6 | ||||||
| Rated Steam Temperature (℃) | 170 / 194 | 170 / 194 / 204 | 194 / 204 | ||||||
| Design Thermal Efficiency (%) [1] | 78.1 | 80.2 | 82.3 | 82.5 | 82.5 | 82.9 | 82.9 | 83.1 | 83.1 |
| Biomass Consumption (kg/h) [2] | 147.1 | 286.5 | 502.6 | 752.0 | 1,002.7 | 1,247.3 | 1,496.8 | 1,866.5 | 2,488.7 |
| Length (mm) | 4,600 | 5,800 | 6,700 | 7,000 | 7,300 | 7,600 | 7,600 | 8,500 | 9,500 |
| Width (mm) | 1,900 | 2,600 | 2,700 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,200 | 3,200 | 3,400 | 3,800 |
| Height (mm) [3] | 2,900 | 3,500 | 3,500 | 3,500 | 3,500 | 3,500 | 3,500 | 3,500 | 7,100 |
| Shipping Weight — Body + Grate (ton) [4] | 18 | 22 | 30.1 | 40 | 21 + 14 | 23 + 17 | 23 + 19 | 21 + 24 | 25 + 24 |
[1] Design efficiency established at a reference calorific value, defined moisture content,
and rated load. Actual site efficiency depends on fuel LHV, moisture at combustion, excess
air coefficient, flue gas exhaust temperature, and whether an economizer or air preheater
is included.
[2] Biomass consumption calculated at the same reference calorific value. Lower-value or
higher-moisture fuel requires proportionally more mass per hour — site-specific consumption
is confirmed once a fuel sample is provided.
[3] The 20 T/H model requires 7,100 mm building clearance height — confirm available
headroom before finalising layout.
[4] From 8 T/H upward the unit ships in two sections (boiler body + chain grate assembly).
On-site reassembly and lifting equipment must be planned into the commissioning schedule.
For demand above 20 T/H or pressure above 1.6 MPa, alternative configurations — often water-tube or higher-capacity designs — require a separate model selection and engineering review. If your demand is near the 20 T/H boundary, share your peak load profile before scoping is finalised.
10 T/H single-drum chain grate biomass steam boiler for a rice mill running on its own rice husk. Rated pressure 1.25 MPa, abrasion-resistant grate selected for high silica ash, bag filter dust collection sized to local particulate limit, integrated economizer, staged primary/secondary air control, and a covered dry storage readiness checklist. Contact our engineering team for a configuration matched to your fuel profile and production schedule.
The efficiency figures in the table are design values under reference fuel conditions. Actual site efficiency differs based on five variables — and understanding them protects you from comparing supplier figures quoted on different bases.
The most decisive variable. Heat is consumed evaporating water before combustion can contribute to steam — high-moisture fuel directly lowers achievable efficiency and steam output. This is why covered dry storage is a hard prerequisite, not an upgrade.
The LHV of your specific fuel supply sets the energy available per kilogram. A figure quoted at high calorific value and low moisture is not comparable to one quoted under typical field conditions — always confirm the reference basis.
Too little air leaves unburned fuel; too much carries heat out the stack. Staged primary and secondary air control below the grate manages this balance across the drying, ignition, combustion, and burnout zones.
Heat leaving in the exhaust is heat not transferred to the water circuit. Lower exhaust temperature means more recovered energy — directly influenced by whether heat recovery equipment is fitted.
Auxiliary heat recovery equipment raises overall efficiency by capturing residual flue gas heat. Whether it is included in the system configuration materially changes the achievable figure for your installation.
Efficiency rises with capacity because larger furnace volume sustains higher combustion temperature and longer flue gas residence time — improving heat transfer to the water circuit, which is why the range climbs from 78.1% to 83.1%.
When comparing supplier efficiency figures, confirm that quoted values use the same reference fuel basis, moisture assumption, and test standard. A figure quoted at low moisture and high calorific value is not comparable to one quoted under typical field conditions — comparisons across different test conditions are not meaningful.
Biomass installations require the same core infrastructure as coal-fired equivalents — fuel storage, conveying, ash handling, and chimney — with one addition specific to biomass: covered dry storage is a mandatory prerequisite, not an optional improvement.
Biomass exposed to rainfall or ground moisture absorbs water rapidly, raising effective moisture above the design threshold and causing the combustion problems above. Storage sizing and cover design are on the installation critical path alongside the boiler body — confirm before the purchase order is issued.
A conveying system from storage to the boiler inlet, plus an ash handling system sized to the fuel's ash content. High-ash fuels such as rice husk generate more ash per unit of steam and require larger ash capacity and shorter cleaning intervals.
Cyclone separators serve as pre-collectors for coarse ash; bag filters or electrostatic precipitators are selected when the site's PM limit requires finer control. Final selection depends on inlet dust loading, ash resistivity, flue gas temperature, and your local particulate threshold.
Storage construction is on the critical path. In biomass conversion projects, the delays that most consistently affect commissioning are not in manufacturing — they occur because covered storage construction and fuel handling installation are treated as tasks to complete after the boiler ships, when they are actually on the critical path. We include a site readiness checklist in the scoping output so the installation timeline is visible before manufacturing begins.
Across the industrial biomass boiler projects we deliver, four engineering characteristics most directly determine fuel flexibility, combustion stability, and long-term cost of ownership — each configured to your specific fuel profile rather than a generic default.
The chain grate moves biomass through drying, ignition, active combustion, and burnout zones with independent primary and secondary air chambers below. This staged sequence handles a range of biomass types without a separate gasification stage — the basis for the boiler's multi-fuel capability when configured for your fuel profile.
Grate speed is regulated through the electrical control system to match combustion rate to real-time steam demand, with alarm and interlock protection on critical parameters. This maintains stable steam pressure across load changes and reduces the operator-dependent variability common in manual stoker systems.
Grate material, cleaning interval, and dust collection are specified to your fuel's ash chemistry — abrasion-resistant configuration for high-silica rice husk, fouling mitigation for high-potassium palm shell. EPCB supplies the chain grate, dust collector, and economizer as an integrated system, not third-party add-ons.
Every unit is hydraulically tested at rated working pressure before dispatch. The documentation package — factory test report, technical drawings, operation manual, applicable certification documents — is assembled before shipment. Some markets require additional import permits for biomass-fired equipment; confirm at inquiry so they can be prepared without delaying dispatch.
Certification coverage depends on the specific model, pressure rating, destination market, and ordered code scope — not uniformly across the full product range. ISO 9001 refers to EPCB's manufacturing quality management system; CE/PED, EAC, and the SGS supplier assessment apply to specific configurations and must be confirmed against your exact model and contract terms.
What each scheme covers. ISO 9001 certifies EPCB's quality management system — not a product compliance certificate. ASME certification, where the boiler type and code scope apply, includes the relevant Manufacturer's Data Report (Form P-2 under ASME Section I for applicable boiler types) — confirm the exact ASME stamp, data report form, and National Board registration requirements before order confirmation. CE/PED conformity applies to units for the European Economic Area subject to the directives for the pressure rating; request the Declaration of Conformity. EAC applies to the Eurasian Economic Union market. The SGS certificate reflects an independent supplier assessment.
Verify your order: request the specific document and confirm the model number and rated pressure match your purchase specification exactly. A product page certificate image that does not reference the specific unit confirms nothing about compliance for your order. For Southeast Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African markets, import registration requirements vary by country — confirm before issuing the purchase order. Third-party inspection by Bureau Veritas, SGS, or TÜV can be arranged before dispatch on request.
Every custom biomass steam boiler from EPCB moves through seven defined stages. Client sign-off on engineering drawings occurs before manufacturing begins — changes after that point affect both lead time and cost.
Establish steam capacity, pressure, fuel sample data (moisture, calorific value, ash, volatile matter, particle size), supply source and consistency, site dimensions, local emissions limits, and any renewable qualification requirement.
Match capacity to peak load and minimum guaranteed daily waste volume for own-waste users. Configure grate speed, staged air distribution, grate material, and emissions equipment to the confirmed fuel profile.
Drawings issued for client review and written approval. Covered storage and fuel handling construction should proceed in parallel once drawings are approved — they are on the installation critical path.
Lead time depends on capacity, customization depth, and order queue at confirmation. Establish actual lead times during the scoping call.
Each unit hydraulically tested at rated working pressure. Factory test report issued and included in the documentation package.
Bureau Veritas, SGS, or TÜV inspection before dispatch on client request or where the market requires it. Include in your initial inquiry so it is scheduled before the shipment date is confirmed.
Technical support for installation, two-section reassembly (8 T/H and above), and commissioning. Reassembly and lifting-equipment time must be factored into the schedule from the outset.
Where schedule delays actually occur. In biomass conversion projects, the delays we encounter most consistently are not in manufacturing — they occur because covered storage construction and fuel handling installation are treated as tasks to complete after the boiler ships, when they are actually on the critical path. A site readiness checklist is part of the scoping output to make the installation timeline visible from the start.
An accurate custom quotation is possible only after the inputs below are confirmed. Without them, any price or lead-time figure remains conditional and may shift once engineering begins.
Based on peak production load. For own-waste fuel users, also confirm the minimum guaranteed waste volume per operating day so sizing accounts for supply variability.
0.7 MPa is available for 1–2 T/H only; 4 T/H and above starts at 1.25 MPa. Confirm your process requirement against this constraint.
Moisture (%), calorific value (kcal/kg), ash (%), volatile matter (%), particle size (mm). Provide seasonal range if variable; for rice husk include ash composition; for palm shell include wet- and dry-season moisture range.
Own production waste or purchased supply, and the consistency of supply volume across the operating schedule — this determines base-load versus peak-load sizing strategy.
Boiler footprint, covered biomass storage area, ash handling location, and chimney position. The 20 T/H model requires 7,100 mm building clearance height.
The applicable particulate matter threshold at your installation site, required to select and size the correct dust collection configuration.
If biomass renewable qualification is needed, confirm the applicable framework and documentation standard before equipment selection — the qualification rests with your local authority.
Hardness, dissolved oxygen, and pH confirmed against the boiler standard for your pressure rating — do not apply one universal value across all pressures. Confirm import registration and certification scope for your destination country.
Yes, provided the fuel meets the moisture, calorific value, ash content, and particle size parameters confirmed during scoping. Rice husk and palm shell are among the most common fuels for this chain grate configuration in Southeast Asian markets. For rice husk, the high silica ash content increases grate wear and cleaning frequency compared to wood-based fuels — grate material and cleaning interval should be confirmed during scoping. For palm shell, provide the seasonal moisture range rather than a single average, as moisture variability affects combustion stability.
The figures in the specification table are design values established at a reference calorific value, defined moisture content, rated load, and specified test conditions. Actual site efficiency depends on your fuel's lower heating value, moisture at the point of combustion, excess air coefficient, flue gas exhaust temperature, and whether heat recovery equipment such as an economizer is included. When comparing figures from different suppliers, confirm the reference conditions are equivalent — a figure quoted at low moisture and high calorific value is not comparable to one quoted under typical field conditions.
The acceptable threshold is fuel-type dependent and confirmed during engineering scoping. Fuel above the design moisture limit causes incomplete combustion, reduced steam output, and pressure instability. If your source regularly exceeds the threshold — common with freshly harvested agricultural residues or palm fiber — a pre-drying stage or extended covered storage with natural air circulation may be required, affecting site footprint and system cost. Identifying this before the purchase order is issued is significantly less disruptive than addressing it after commissioning.
Under design conditions at the reference calorific value, a 10 T/H unit consumes approximately 1,247 kg/h of biomass fuel. Actual consumption at your site will differ based on your fuel's calorific value and moisture content — a fuel with lower calorific value or higher moisture requires proportionally more mass per hour for the same steam output. The site-specific figure is calculated during scoping once fuel sample data is available.
Switching is possible in principle, but requires confirming that the grate configuration, air distribution, and feed system are compatible with both fuels — rice husk and wood chips have different combustion profiles, ash characteristics, and particle handling requirements. If multi-fuel operation is a requirement, it must be specified at the design stage so the combustion system is configured accordingly. Raising this after manufacturing is complete is not practical on standard packaged units.
Standard documentation includes the factory test report, technical drawings, operation and maintenance manual, and applicable certification documents for your order specification. Third-party inspection by Bureau Veritas, SGS, or TÜV is available before dispatch on request. Some markets require additional import permits for biomass-fired equipment separate from fossil fuel installations — confirm local requirements before issuing the purchase order, as additional approval steps affect the delivery schedule.
Whether a biomass steam boiler is the right fit depends on four conditions working together: steam capacity matched to your peak process load, operating pressure matched to your distribution system, biomass fuel quality — moisture, calorific value, and supply consistency — matched to the combustion configuration, and site infrastructure ready for covered storage, ash handling, and emissions compliance.
The performance shortfall seen most consistently in biomass installations is not equipment-related — it is a mismatch between the fuel the boiler was designed for and what arrives once the plant is running. For rice husk this surfaces as accelerated grate wear and clinker clearing; for palm shell, as heat-transfer fouling that reduces output over time. Both are preventable at the scoping stage and far more disruptive to address after commissioning.
Share your steam capacity, operating pressure, fuel type and sample data — including seasonal moisture range and ash composition where available — site dimensions, local emissions limits, and destination country with our engineering team. If sustainability documentation or specific certification coverage is required, include it in your first message so scope can be confirmed before engineering begins.
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