A modern person knows that ecology, economy, care for the environment and the health of households are not an empty phrase. In the case of a gas boiler, there are many problems - these are increased CO emissions, and endless red tape with utilities, bribes and contributions. So far, few owners of private houses in Russia have switched to pellets, but the corresponding trend is beginning to gain momentum. Let's see what they are pellet granules, what is their consumption and what are the advantages and disadvantages of this progressive type of heating.
Pellets are
Special pellets made of wood (more often), peat or straw (less often). The expense for the purchase and installation of equipment will be approximately the same as in the case of gas, but you can perform all the operations related to the connection yourself. Daily pellet consumption is approximately 50 kg (an average of two bags) per day. Naturally, it is cheaper to buy pellets wholesale therefore, the owner of the boiler should provide a dry place for their storage.
Benefits of pellet heating
There are many advantages to heating your home with pellets, including:
- no need for special maintenance - you can handle the ash cleaning yourself, and most models come with an auto-cleaning function;
- The efficiency is 70-95%, and these are very high indicators;
- many models are equipped with a hot water circuit;
- the boiler can be installed independently;
- reliable protection against fire and explosions;
- ease of transportation and storage of fuel;
- the ability to work where there are no conditions for gas furnaces.
The main thing is to ensure adequate conditions for storage - there should not be damp in the room, extraneous odors during operation should also be avoided. Coordination for the connection of a pellet stove is not required.
disadvantages
There are very few disadvantages of this type of fuel and equipment, and the main one is the high cost of the boiler. In recent years, it has fallen, but still remains quite high. In addition, the pellets themselves are not cheap, although their consumption is economical, and the purchase and delivery can cause some difficulties, as well as the maintenance of the stove - the fact is that pellets are not yet in such high demand, and you may simply not find a supplier in remote settlements .
findings
Pellet heating is a modern, environmentally friendly solution that is one of the best today. The system requires installation costs, but in general it is economical and, no less important, safe for health.
In order for the house to be as comfortable and livable as possible, it must have high-quality and efficient heating. Here it must be borne in mind that not every building has the ability to connect to the central gas supply, and electric heaters can lead to too much spending. Special pellets are an excellent alternative to heating.
What it is?
Today, pellets are called special wood pellets. Simply put, these products are ordinary woodworking waste. They are pressed into small granules. As a rule, such products are produced from environmentally friendly raw materials, which do not contain hazardous chemical compounds. Pellet heating belongs to the category of modern heating systems.
What are pellets made from?
Many owners of private houses are wondering what pellets are made of. It is worth noting here that often people make such products on their own. To do this, it is enough to stock up on a crusher, a sieve, a dryer designed specifically for sawdust, as well as a granulator. The optimal raw materials for the manufacture of such products are waste from the woodworking industry:
- sawdust;
- trimmings;
- shavings;
- croaker;
- wood flour from deciduous and coniferous species;
- other waste obtained during the processing of wood.
Granules, which are made from wood waste, are light, gray and black.
For example, during the production of gray pellets, wood waste is often combined with bark. Pellets of this type are usually laid out in large bags. They are very often used in European boiler houses, which are distinguished by their impressive power. A similar method is used to produce wood fillers for pet trays. Pellets are also made from agricultural waste. In this case, straw or dried hay can act as components. Today, many farmers create pellets for heating from raw materials such as:
- reeds;
- sunflower husk;
- hay;
- rice husk;
- other agricultural waste.
If we take all the waste, then with the exception of rice husks, there are no difficulties with their processing. To do this, it is enough to use simple equipment equipped with a ring-type matrix. The processing of these components takes a minimum of free time, and large investments are not required.
If the pellets are made from more capricious rice husks, then they use a more reliable and wear-resistant technique made of stainless steel.
Pellets are also made from raw materials such as peat. Such products are characterized by an impressive calorific value and high ash content. The production of such options requires specialized equipment and good resources, because the harvesting of peat raw materials is a seasonal procedure that requires certain costs.
Advantages and disadvantages
Today, pellet heating is chosen by many owners of private houses that cannot be connected to the gas main for a number of reasons. People prefer this method of heating their homes, because it has significant advantages.
- Pellets are made from safe and environmentally friendly materials that do not harm health.
- Pellet heating has good safety characteristics. Granulated fuel from natural raw materials is not explosive, unlike, for example, gas.
- In most cases, pellet heating is distinguished by low ash content (there are exceptions, for example, in the case of peat pellets).
- In the case of using pellets, it is possible to use the ash in the future.
- Heating of a private or suburban building with granular pellets does not require approval for connection (unlike gas-powered options).
- To store pellets, there is no need to separate a separate building - just choose a dry room.
- Pellets are made quite simply, if we are talking about ordinary pellets from wood waste. Moreover, they can be produced at home, with the appropriate equipment.
- Particles from sawdust and agricultural waste can be stored without problems in a place convenient for the homeowner. In addition, they are easily transported.
- Pellet boilers boast a high efficiency.
- In most cases, pellets do not emit pungent odors when burned. In addition, they emit an almost imperceptible smoke that has no color.
- Pellets have a high calorific value. For example, in the process of combustion of 1 ton of wood elements, the amount of energy generated is the same as when burning 1.6 tons of wood or 500 liters of diesel.
- Boilers operating on such biofuel are very convenient to use - a person has to participate in their work no more than once a week, since all processes are carried out automatically.
In the age of high technology, the environmental safety of fuel has become a priority - which is why many homeowners choose pellet heating. However, even this relatively new development has its weaknesses.
- Boilers that run on pellets are quite expensive (the cost is several times higher than the classical gas options). Of course, you can also purchase simple burners that can be installed in an existing solid fuel unit.
- This kind of equipment needs constant maintenance. Every week, the heat exchanger in the pellet boiler must be cleaned using a special brush. This is especially true for older units. More modern boilers often have a special self-cleaning system.
- Pellet fuel itself can cost homeowners more than regular firewood.
- Maintenance of pellet heating units often costs the owners a tidy sum.
- The manufacture of some types of pellet fuels is quite expensive (as is the case with peat types).
- Many models of pellet boilers are not suitable for use in the Russian climate.
Consumption
It must be taken into account that granular pellets are a packaging product that is sold in bags of a specific volume. That is why to calculate what will be the consumption of pellets per 1 kW and 1 sq. m. m. will not be difficult. You don’t have to convert weight into volume, because the manufacturers of such a product always draw up the product in kilograms, and the unit that measures heat is kW.
The correct calculation of the consumption of granules is carried out in several steps. The result will be the monthly fuel consumption of the boiler during the entire heating season, as well as its average cost. Below is a detailed description of how to make all the necessary calculations using the example of an area of 100 square meters. m.
First, it is important to understand how much heat actually penetrates the heating system when burning 1 kg of pellets. This stage must be taken into account, since solid fuel boilers are not ideal in order to direct absolutely all the received heat energy to warm up a private or country house - part of it is still redirected to the chimney pipe. To this end, the heat of combustion of the particles is multiplied by the efficiency of the heat generator divided by 100:
5 kW/kg x 80% / 100 = 4 kW/kg.
To make the calculations easier, you should turn to the reverse action in order to find out how many pellets you need to burn to generate 1 kW of heat under the circumstances:
1 kW / 4 kW/kg = 0.25 kg.
Since during the heating season the weather in the yard usually remains unchanged, and the temperature regime varies from +10 to -30 degrees, the specific heat consumption per season in a house of 100 square meters. m. will not be 10 kW, but half as much, that is, 5 kW. If we take into account that all units of power refer to a time of 1 hour, then the heat consumption per day will be:
5 kWh x 24 hours = 120 kW.
The same, but for a month:
120 W x 30 days = 3600 kW.
3600 kW x 0.25 kg / kW = 900 kg.
If you need to find out the approximate consumption of pellets from wood waste per day, then you should carry out the following calculation:
120 kW x 0.25 kg / kW = 30 kg.
Features of pellet boilers
As mentioned earlier, pellet boilers are highly efficient, but they are quite expensive. Such units have the following components in their design:
- a compartment designed for pellet granules;
- mechanism responsible for feeding pellets;
- auto ignition module;
- burner;
- control module with sensors responsible for the temperature regime.
These heating units can be equipped with burners of different types.
- Torch. Combustion of fuel in a burner of this type is carried out in an air stream that comes from a supercharger, forming a kind of torch consisting of hot coals. The temperature when using such a burner can reach up to 1200 degrees.
- Fireplace. Otherwise, such a detail is called a grate. In this case, the granules themselves are poured into the burner bowl from the compartment with the dispenser. The air in this design comes from the side duct or holes in the bowl itself.
- Volumetric combustion. Such burners are called rotary. They are a bowl made of cast iron or steel, into which the granules enter through the central part of the retort - from below, and combustion occurs over the entire surface.
The bunker for storing fuel in such a unit can be built-in, that is, inseparable from the device itself, and external. In the second case, any design can be used - a plastic barrel, a container with plywood walls and other similar devices.
As for the fuel supply mechanism, it can be:
- auger;
- pneumatic.
Automatic systems in pellet heating units are also different. For example, like this:
- lambda probes;
- local line control systems;
- GSM control systems;
- internet control.
It is in the well-thought-out automation that the main distinguishing characteristic of pellet boilers lies. Thanks to this feature, these units are the most convenient to use, since they do not have to be constantly monitored.
However, we must not forget that today very often there are pellet granules of not the highest quality. Low-grade fuel can adversely affect the operation of the boiler. It is also worth considering that in most cases this technique is dependent on electrical energy. If the house is built in an area where frequent power outages are common, then heating the home may be at risk.
The main disadvantage of such units is the high cost of the pellet type burners themselves. On the modern market, for the most part, there are models made in Germany, Italy and Spain. The cost of some goods from well-known and reputable brands reaches 3000-6000 thousand euros. Of course, in stores you can also find domestic-made burners, which are similar in many respects to foreign options, but are much cheaper.
Using ordinary firewood as fuel is inefficient due to the burning rate and the need for a person to throw it into the stove. An alternative and more modern option are pellets. The heat transfer of granules is comparable to coal, the tree loses in almost all positions. It will not be difficult to buy pellets, but most of the money can be saved if you prepare the fuel yourself. This will be discussed in the article.
What are pellets and what are they made of?
Pellets are granular material compressed into a cylinder. As raw materials in production are used:
wood waste;
chicken manure;
Sunflower husk;
Waste cereal products;
Advantages of using fuel pellets and disadvantages
To evaluate the real characteristics of pellets, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of the material.
The main advantages of pellets for the firebox:
There is no risk of exacerbation of chronic diseases in asthmatics and allergy sufferers;
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Pellets are not subject to self-ignition;
When burning, they give off a large amount of heat;
The high density of the material facilitates transportation;
During the combustion process, no hazardous products are emitted into the atmosphere; only 3% of ash is formed from the used amount of fuel.
Possible spraying of harmful substances when using handicraft pellets, where low-quality raw materials are often used;
The high price of fuel when purchasing a small batch.
Application area
Fuel pellets are quite popular in European countries, where environmentally friendly systems are preferred when choosing the type of heating. In our country, the demand for the product is actively growing, which is associated with the presence of large volumes of raw materials and growing energy costs.
Drown with pellets boilers and fireplaces for heating a private house, are used in boiler houses of housing and communal services. Pellets are also suitable for combined systems that produce heat and electricity. In everyday life, the product is popular among cat breeders, granules do an excellent job of toilet fillers.
The high moisture absorption capacity has opened up the possibility of a new application of pellets - these are emergency situations in which urgent removal of liquid products is required.
Do-it-yourself pellet production
Before you start making pellets at home, you need to understand the essence of the production technology. It consists of several stages:
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Sorting of raw materials, cleaning them from impurities and debris;
Preliminary grinding (fraction 2-4 m);
Drying with the help of a special chamber (raw materials whose moisture content is within 12% are allowed for further processing);
Grinding to a powder state (fraction does not exceed 1-2 mm);
Dry steam treatment;
Granulation with a press;
Cooling;
Packing in a container.
As already noted, it is not economically rational to purchase pellets in small batches, therefore, if there is a raw material base, it is easy to set up the production of pellets for fuel at home.
Home technology is simplified by reducing some processes. For example, if you purchase raw materials from woodworking enterprises, then you do not need to install drying chambers. The norm of humidity at industrial plants is strictly controlled. But there is nothing to replace the granulator, so you will need to mount it from improvised means or purchase a factory assembly. Another option is to purchase used equipment. The prices are more or less acceptable, and there can be no serious breakdowns in it, the design is extremely simple.
Skillful owners can assemble a granulator with their own hands. The installation design includes the following units:
