Lining Flue
Biomass Boiler – Carbon Neutral Heating is Here
In the last few years it became impossible to get away from the hype about green technologies versus fossil fuel technologies. Solar panels, solar thermal and wind turbines have ruled the headlines with major projects undertaken around the world. However, let us not forget the humble wood burning stove. Although not as flashy as a gleaming white wind turbine rotating at a steady speed over a green hill or a high-tech solar photovoltaic cell generating electricity out of simple sun light, the wood burning stove has some important benefits to bring to the table.
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.
Wood pallets are the most efficient of the wood fuel types. They are made from sawdust which is compressed at high pressure into small pallets (roughly the size of AAA batteries). They are made from by-products of local carpentries, joinery workshops and sawmills. The high pressure compression removes moisture and increases their output to weight ratio, meaning you need less fuel to get the same amount of heat. Another benefit is that they don’t leave as much residue on the burner due to full burning reaction.
Fossil fuels are normally associated with global warming and climate change. When fossil fuels are burned (e.g. natural gas in your domestic boiler), they release CO2 as part of their natural chemical reaction. This gas was captured within the fuel for millions of years in underground deposits. By burning it now, we release this gas into the atmosphere. Biomass boilers are considered to be carbon neutral heating technologies, because they only release CO2 that was captured by the plant during its growth years, thus not bringing new CO2 into the global equation.
Here are some pointers on what to check before installing a biomass boiler:
* 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 – biomass boilers require chimneys. And more specifically, chimneys that are lined for wood burning. However, it is a problem that can be solved by adding a lined flue within the chimney.
* Smoke limitations – if your house is located in a ‘Smoke-Free’ zone you may have to look for a specially labeled product which is ‘exempted’ under the Clean Air Act.
* Other considerations – It is wise to check with your local authority’s planning department regarding fitting a flue in the property. This is very important in cases where the property is a listed building, or within a conservation area.
About the Author
Tal Potishman, member of Heating Central, writes articles about central heating, Sevenoaks plumbers, boilers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating