pelletdiameters

Pellet diameter is the cross‑sectional width of a cylindrical pellet and is a fundamental specification for many pelletized products, including wood fuels, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizers. The diameter affects how pellets flow, pack, and fit into dosing, conveying, burning, and grinding systems, making it a key parameter in quality control and product performance.

Common diameters vary by application. Wood pellets intended for heating are typically about 6 millimeters in diameter, with small tolerances. Animal‑feed pellets usually range from 2 to 6 millimeters, with finer sizes for poultry and aquaculture and larger sizes for some livestock. Some pharmaceutical and fertilizer pellets are produced in smaller diameters around 1 to 3 millimeters or larger diameters up to 8 millimeters or more, depending on equipment and delivery needs. Pellet mills and extruders use dies with fixed hole diameters, such as 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, or 10 millimeters. After production, diameters can shrink slightly during drying and may swell if moisture is absorbed.

Diameter influences several performance properties. It affects bulk density and flow through handling equipment, moisture uptake, grinding energy for reprocessing, and combustion or dosing behavior in end‑use systems. Tight tolerances improve consistency but can raise production costs.

Measurement and quality control involve sampling pellets and measuring diameter with calipers, micrometers, or optical gauges to assess roundness and uniformity. Industry specifications specify target diameters and acceptable tolerances, with exact values varying by product and processing line.