Some main principles of efficient heating
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Manufacturer of biomass boilers of the ZEUS, PYROGAS, PYROSTAR and PYROSTAR Duo series with a 50-year tradition of their development and production in Modra and sales in the European Union.
SOME MAIN GENERALLY APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF EFFICIENT HEATING
- Use wood with a moisture content of no more than 20%. Why? 1 kg of raw, recently cut wood contains 0.5 liters of water, which significantly reduces the quality of combustion. Store wood soaked for no less than 2 years and heating costs will be reduced by more than 40%. The lower the moisture content of the wood, the higher its calorific value.
- Wood, coal and coke are very different fuels in terms of their chemical composition, so when buying a boiler, be guided accordingly. Why? Wood contains up to 80% of flammable volatile gases, which are its main energy component. The design of each boiler should correspond to the fuel for which it is intended. So-called universal boilers, mostly cast iron boilers burning coke, coal, wood, are not an effective solution if you are going to heat it with wood. A boiler designed only for wood has approximately 30% less fuel consumption. This represents a saving of approximately 240 Euros per year. Over 10 years, it is 2,400 Euros.
- In a fireplace where wood is burned, which is usually a grate surface or a ceramic combustion chamber, it is desirable to achieve the highest possible combustion temperature. Why? Flammable gases released from wood during its combustion need a temperature of at least 300ºC for combustion and a temperature of at least 700ºC for perfect ecological combustion. This temperature is achievable if the grate surface is not undesirably cooled, e.g. by a large excess of air. Water-cooled grates are not suitable. A suitable environment is a ceramic and cast iron grate or their combination. For combustion temperatures above 700ºC, a gasification boiler with an electronically controlled combustion process is a suitable solution, which increases the boiler efficiency by 10-15%, i.e. to the level of approx. 90%.
- Install a mixing valve in the heating circuit and, if possible, a buffer or storage tank. Why? Whenever the weather conditions are milder, e.g. only slight frost or plus temperatures, excess heat is generated with a properly sized boiler and proper heating. This heat is only usable for heating if these tanks are built into the heating circuit.
- Heat so that the return water does not drop below 60-65ºC. Why? Operating the boiler below this temperature, due to the properties of wood, causes condensation of vapors, tarring, concentration of poisonous gases and aggressive acids.
By respecting the above principles, you are being considerate of the environment in which you live, saving on heating costs, extending the life of your boiler and increasing your heating comfort.