Gasification
Wood Boilers
If you want the ultimate in an efficient
heating system we have it. I’m not talking about
one brand being better than all other brands like some
salesmen brag. I’m talking about the installation
of a system that is popular in Europe with any kind
of wood boiler that is used.
Having said that, it’s imperative
that if you decide to make the investment for a super-high
efficient system, that you do it right. No short cuts
here. Don’t go and buy an outside wood furnace
and expect to get great results – you won’t.
Don’t buy an expensive gasification boiler and
do the install half way and expect great results –
you won’t. Purchase a high quality, gasification
boiler and the related components, then do the install
with care by following the directions and you will have
a wood boiler system that will give you more than a
lifetime of service, with very little wood and almost
totally clear air.
However, you will need a wood boiler that
has a true dual-chamber, gasification, secondary burn
system with low water quantity. There are many systems
that claim gasification but are not truly efficient
or clean by our standards. There are other outdoor systems
like the new Central Boiler, Blue Forge, and Sequoya
that simply won’t work with this concept either.
What I’m talking about is a thermal
water storage system. The best installation of all true
high efficiency boilers is one that includes a thermal
storage tank. Until you burn wood in a boiler that is
installed with a properly sized heat storage system,
you won't know how easy it can be to heat with wood.
By storing boiler heat in an insulated water storage
tank, you gain increased operating flexibility, and
you can easily extend the wood-heating season. When
the boiler is operating, it is producing heat at full
output with the cleanest and most efficient operation;
however, the output is usually greater than the heating
requirements of the house. This "extra" heat
is then transferred to the storage tank for use later.
Because of the buffer the heat storage system provides,
you are free to fire the boiler when it is convenient
for you. On most days in the winter you will be able
to load the boiler once in 24 hours (sometimes as much
as 48 hours). In summer, you will be able to go 7-10
days between firings to heat all of your domestic hot
water. You don't need to rush home or get up early to
load more wood. There are no problems with creosote
or overheating if the boiler is oversized. The insulated
storage tank absorbs the heat produced until the wood
is consumed and the boiler shuts off.
Some boilers, especially outdoor stoves,
advertise large quantities of water. This doesn’t
help. You need your water storage separate from your
boiler and let the controls decide where the heat comes
from. You’re boiler will provide heat for your
home but also provide heat for the thermal storage,
then when the house is satisfied all the boiler heat
will go to the storage system. When the boiler has depleted
the wood supply it will shut down, holding the last
of the coal bed for firing later, and your home will
continue to draw from the thermal storage for many hours
or days.
The first place to start is to get a tank…well,
the second place. The first is to get a good boiler.
Tanks purchased from Cozy Heat are expensive but the
guess work is gone. Many people get very creative from
underground tanks, propane tanks, cement, steel, etc.
You need to follow some guidelines. A great resource
if you’re a do-it-yourselfer is to go to
»
www.hearth.com and
spend some time chatting with others who have had much
success and failure; no point re-inventing the wheel.
We, at Cozy Heat, are here to help you
design and build the ultimate heating system. You can
do this as simple as you like or high-tech if you prefer.
It will cost a few extra dollars but it will be an investment
that will last for many decades using as little fuel
as humanly possible to comfortably heat your home.
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