Wood-gasifying boilers: interested in learning about the science

Calahonda52

Anyone any thoughts on these, specially the science that makes them better than a normal wood burning boiler.

came across the 31 kw version of this today while doing a BER, along with 2 by 1000 accumulation tanks.

They inherited a small forest of deciduous trees, hence the investment.

All the kit in what was a bedroom :)

http://www.shs-renewables.ie/wood_gasification_boilers_maga.html

ps SHS no longer doing them

the_amazing_raisin

I am by no means an expert but my understanding is that the process is a bit similar to those wood gas powered petrol engines

Basically when the wood burns the exhaust contains a lot of combustible gases which is normally lost. I think the main component is carbon monoxide

In wood gasification there's another air intake which allows more oxygen into the exhaust gases. The exhaust is then ignited by the fire, or I've seen some with a separate burn chamber

So the efficiency is better by ensuring more heat is generated for the amount of wood burnt

The exhaust also contains more carbon dioxide instead of carbon monoxide so is less dangerous

Calahonda52

TAR: that gets a B+ 🤣:)

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119976862#Comment_119976862

Glad it wasn't an F 😁

To be fair, wood gasification has been around for ages, nothing new in the technology. Lots of stoves seem to use them and they seem to give a lot more heat output

Was looking at pellet boilers earlier and they all seemed to incorporate a secondary burn system of some kind, so it must make some sense

I think the idea is the more oxygen you can get into the fire the hotter and cleaner it'll burn