012 018 0513 - Siggy
012 018 0513 - Siggy
012 018 0513 - Siggy
I
nterest in biomass heating systems chamber. The blower also creates jets of
How they can continues to rise, especially in rural areas
of the United States and Canada. Although
hot air that discharge into the same slot.
When this air meets the pyrolytic gases,
plenty of devices are available that burn the resulting combustion resembles a blow
work together wood to heat water, the state-of-the-art torch, as seen in Figure 1.
device is a wood-gasification boiler. This is very efficient combustion
in a wood- The operation of such a boiler starts
out much the same as a wood stove. You
compared to that in a typical wood stove or
fireplace. Combustion zone temperatures
can exceed 2,000ºF, with thermal efficiencies
fired heating make a small “tepee” at the base of the
combustion chamber with newsprint or typically in the mid- to upper-80% range.
a fire starter and some dry kindling, add Gasification boilers with 90% thermal
system. a few more pieces of dry split wood on efficiencies are now being tested and should
top and light it. At this point, a damper be on the market shortly.
in the upper portion of the combustion So, imagine you have this wood-fired
chamber is open and the fire is burning blow torch operating with an output of
in an “updraft” mode. A few minutes later, 150,000 Btu/hr. and its going to stay that
after the fire has grown in intensity, the way for the next two to four hours. What
operator loads the firebox full of firewood, do you do with all that heat? The answer is
closes the upper damper and flips a switch simple: Put it into storage.
that starts the combustion air blower. This Thermal storage tanks with volumes
is when the magic starts. from 250 to 1,000 gal. are commonly used
The blower forces the pyrolytic gases with wood-gasification boilers. Some systems
that are now being driven from the heated use unpressurized tanks with one or more
wood downward through a slot in a ceramic internal coil copper heat exchangers. Other
plate at the bottom of the combustion systems use pressurized tanks. Both types of
Figure 1 tanks have strengths and limitations. From
the standpoint of simplicity and efficiency,
I like pressurized tanks. The ideal geometry
for such a tank would be a vertical cylinder.
However, height limitations in many
residential and small commercial buildings
often limits the choices.
One approach that has been adopted
by many of those using wood-gasification
boilers is the use of a repurposed 500 gal.
propane storage tank for thermal storage.
An example is shown in Figure 2 (page
14). These 500 gal. carbon steel tanks have
diameters of 40 in. and are about 9 ft. long.
As built, they are usually ASME-rated to
Photo credit: Econoburn
Figure 4
The insulated piping between these tanks small buffer. The system is now operating of the system could be connected to an
allows for thermosiphon flow whenever as if it was “detached” from the large tank. array of solar thermal collectors. A closed-
the temperature at the top of the large The 25 gal. of water provides sufficient loop, glycol-based solar subsystem is one
tank is higher than in the small tank. Thus, thermal mass to prevent boiler short- possibility, a drainback system with a
the water temperature in the small tank cycling and eliminates the need to use the separate drainback tank is another. From
is “maintained” by the large tank when large tank as a buffer. the main storage tank out, the system
possible. If the wood-gasification boiler is fired would remain unchanged.
Upon a demand for space heating, back up, the large storage tank temperature This system is an example of how basic
an outdoor reset controller checks the will rise and eventually the outdoor reset hydronic hardware and control concepts
temperature near the top of the large tank. controller will turn off the mod/con boiler can be used to provide an efficient, reliable
If this temperature is high enough to supply and diverter valve. At that point, the large and even “green” solution to space heating
space heating, flow returning from the tank is again supplying the load. and domestic hot water. Use it where it’s
distribution system is routed into the lower Figure 5 shows how the system could be appropriate.
portion of the large tank by the diverter extended to include on-demand domestic
valve. Hot water flows out the top and up water heating using the assembly discussed
to the small tank, which in this mode is in my June 2012 PM column, “Sidearm
essentially just a pass through. The water revamp.” The brazed-plate heat exchanger
continues on to the three-way motorized transfers as much heat as possible to the
mixing valve, where its temperature is cold domestic water. A thermostatically
adjusted as necessary for the heat emitters. controlled electric tankless water heater
If the temperature at the top of the large provides any necessary boost to get the John Siegenthaler, P.E., is principal of
tank is too low to supply space heating, desired setpoint. The ASSE 1017 mixing Appropriate Designs, a consulting engineer-
the diverter valve is energized and water valve provides protection against scalding. ing firm in Holland Patent, N.Y., and the
returning from the distribution system is Because this assembly is sourced from the hydronics editor for Plumbing & Mechanical.
routed to the small buffer tank. The mod/ small tank, it is always working with the Email him at [email protected]. The
con boiler is enabled to operate on its hottest water available in the system. third edition of his text, "Modern Hydronic
own internal reset controller to maintain If you removed the wood-gasification Heating," is now available. For details, visit
the required water temperature within the boiler and its related hardware, the balance www.hydronicpros.com. PM
Figure 5