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| Biomass Heating Systems | HI-02 |
| | Biomass powered hot water supply systems. | Biomass heated water used to supply underfloor heating systems and domestic hot water. Low running costs since systems utilise solar powered circulation pumps.
The water heating systems need to supply hot water to the domestic hot water system and warm water to the under-floor heating system. The domestic hot water system supplies hot water to showers and hot water taps in the kitchen and all bathrooms. The warm water system supplies water for under-floor heating.
Two principal methods of heating water are employed, one based on solar panel heater matrixes and the other based on Biomass boilers. An additional back-up system can be employed using natural mains gas, bottled gas, oil or any other practical and available energy source. This would typically operate when the main heating systems are not working or performing badly due to adverse weather conditions or biomass fuel supply problems.
Solar panel heater matrixes are primarily used to supply heated water to the domestic hot water system, whereas Biomass boilers are used primarily to supply higher volumes of warm water for under-floor heating. |
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System Components
The water heating systems typically consist of solar panel heater matrixes, Biomass boilers and hot water storage tanks.
Domestic Hot Water System - requires solar panels and a hot water storage tank.
Under-floor Heating System - requires a Biomass boiler and a warm water storage tank.
A Typical Integrated Home System - requires solar panels to supply the hot water storage tank, a Biamass boiler to supply the warm water storage tank, and a cross-circulation system between tanks to maximise the heating potential of the system. An optional fossil fuel boiler can be connected as a back-up heating system to the two water storage tanks.
Solar Panel Heater Matrix
Hot water from the solar panels is used as a primary source of heating of the hot water storage tank and a secondary source of heating of the warm water storage tank.
They are manufactured in standard 50cm x 150cm panels and can be configured in series or in parallel. The Solar Panel Heater Matrix (SPHM) is a continuous loop of plastic tubing laid along insets on a flat metal lattice filled with a rear insulating layer and a facing conductive layer which completely immerses the heating pipes.
The solar panels can be located strategically in the south facing walls of the building as an integral part of the exterior wall construction, or on the roof instead of roof tiles.
Biomass Boilers
Hot water from the Biomass boiler is used as a primary source of heating of the warm water storage tank and a secondary source of heating of the hot water storage tank.
We use free-standing water heating wood burning stoves in the main living space of small homes and Biomass boilers in separate boiler rooms for larger homes.
Biomass boilers are the preferred type of heating systems for producing higher quantities of high temperature water. They should ideally operate during the day producing enough hot water to supply the under-floor heating system through the night when the boiler is preferably not operating. This is something that needs further investigation and is very dependent on individual boiler designs and optimal usage patterns.
Biomass boilers should be located in a separate equipment room along with the hot and warm water storage tanks. Wood burning stoves and Biomass boilers that burn wood logs, wood chips and/or wood pellets are the preferred choice, so that they can be automatically kept burning even when left unattended for extended periods during the day and night.
The equipment room will be part of the main house so that any lost heat through radiation or convection will escape into the living spaces. The hot and warm water tanks can be located in separate closed partitions, which will serve as airing cupboards for drying and storing clothes.
Importantly, locating Biomass boilers in separate equipment rooms will minimise the potential health risks associated with smoke particle emissions from wood burning appliances. The closed equipment room must be fitted with an appropriate particle filter when circulating warm air into the living space.
Hot Water Storage Tank
Water in the hot water storage tank is primarily used for the domestic hot water system.
Water from the hot water storage tank needs to supply showers and hot water taps in the kitchen and all bathrooms, at a constant 60-75 degrees centigrade.
The size of the tank should be carefully calculated based on the number of persons using the system.
Excess hot water is circulated from the hot water storage tank to heat water in the warm water storage tank used for under-floor heating.
Warm Water Storage Tank
Water in the warm water storage tank is used primarily for the under-floor heating system.
Water from the warm water storage tank needs to supply the under-floor heating system at a constant 27-31 degrees centigrade.
The size of the tank should be carefully calculated based on the following factors; surface area of heated floor sections, the number of effective heating hours required when the Biomass boiler is turned off. The aim is to have a tank large enough to store water that is hot enough to supply the under-floor heating system all through the night when the boiler is preferably turned off.
Excess hot water is circulated from the warm water storage tank to heat water in the hot water storage tank used for the domestic hot water supply.
Geothermal Ground Heat Pump Systems
Geothermal ground heat pump systems can replace both solar panels and Biomass boilers in nothern climates and in larger homes where this type of system is considered an economically viable alternative.
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