Article Advise

submitted: Sep 29th 2008 | by: TalPotishman | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 492 | |

The talk about climate change, global warming and green technology is peppered with many buzz words and injected with a lot of hype. When asked about the first thing that springs to mind in relation to clean technology, most people would say solar panels or wind turbines. Although these technologies are robust and credible, most people seem to forget or ignore a much simpler type of energy generation. Heat generation through wood burning is as ancient as it gets. However modern wood burning stoves are sophisticated, reliable and still help you save the environment.

First let's understand how it works. Biomass means that the energy is produced from organic sources (bio-energy). The energy is released when organic sources (wood in this case) are burned, in the same way as mankind was doing for centuries. The fuel used in biomass boilers is either untreated wood or treated wood. Most common fuels are logs, wood chips and wood pallets.

From the types of wood used by biomass boilers the most effective and 'user-friendly' is the wood pallets fuel. Wood pallets are actually sawdust, which is compressed under high pressure into small pallets (roughly 5 cm in length). During the compression, the saw dust loses its moisture, making the pallets very dry and highly potent in terms of output to weight ratio. This ensures full burning performance and low residue on the burners.

Because the boilers burn wood they are considered to be CO2 neutral. When fossil fuels are burned to generate energy and heat, they release CO2 that was trapped under the ground. This gas is widely accepted as one of the main drivers of global warming and climate change. In contrast, when we burn wood, we only release CO2 that the plant has captured during its lifetime, thus not adding more of the harmful gas into the general equilibrium.

Before installing a biomass boiler it important to consider a few aspects of this technology:

* Local supply of wood - do you have a local sawmill or joinery workshop that can provide a steady supply of wood chips, or even wood pallets.

* Space and location - biomass boilers have larger footprint than a typical boiler and require further space to store the wood. It is essential to calculate the amount of space that would be available for wood storage next to the boiler

* Chimney consideration - a biomass boiler requires a chimney, and more specifically a lined chimney that is designed for wood fuel. However, in most cases such lining can be retro-fitted to carry the smoke.

* Smoke implications - some areas are designated 'Smoke Free'. If you live in such are, you need to find a unit that is exempted under the Clean Air Act.

* Other General Considerations - to avoid disappointment later, it is wise to check with the planning department of your local authority about the implications of installing a biomass boiler, especially if you live in a listed building or a conservation area.

About the Author

Tal Potishman, member of Heating Central, writes articles about central heating, Kent plumbers, boilers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save costs by advising on efficient heating

Comments

No comments posted.

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.