The kind of heating system we select is essential to maintaining a warm and comfortable home. Solid fuel gas-generator boilers have seen an increase in popularity in recent years. These cutting-edge boilers provide an economical, efficient, and environmentally friendly substitute for conventional heating techniques.
Gas-generator boilers that run on solid fuels produce heat by burning solid fuels like biomass, pellets, or wood. By using renewable resources, these boilers provide a more sustainable solution than conventional boilers, which only use gas or oil. This helps create a greener environment by lowering carbon emissions and decreasing our dependency on fossil fuels.
The adaptability of gas-generator boilers is one of their main benefits. They can be applied in a variety of contexts, such as private residences, business buildings, and industrial facilities. These boilers provide a practical heating option whether you wish to lessen your carbon footprint or reside in a rural area with limited access to gas supplies.
Furthermore, solid fuel gas-generator boilers are renowned for their economy and effectiveness. They can efficiently heat your house while controlling energy costs by utilizing the energy found in solid fuels. Furthermore, a lot of models have sophisticated features like temperature control and automatic ignition, which make them simple to use and maintain.
This post will go into greater detail about the operation of solid fuel gas-generator boilers, including installation considerations, advantages, maintenance advice, and more. Knowing what these boilers can do will help you make decisions for a more sustainable and comfortable home, whether you’re looking to upgrade your heating system or investigate eco-friendly alternatives.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Cost-effective heating option | Requires storage space for fuel |
Principle of action
The advent of gas generators and pyrolysis technology demonstrated unequivocally that even low-tech household boilers can be advanced to a high degree of technology. It is safe to say that the enhancements these units have undergone are revolutionary. What do they represent? It turns out there’s a very clever way to burn an ordinary woodpile by splitting the combustion process into two stages.
The first illustrates how wood smolders when there is not enough oxygen in the combustion chamber. Alongside it comes a certain amount of heat release and, most importantly to the inventors, the formation of what is known as wood gas. We refer to this process as gas generation, or pyrolysis. Wood gas is a mixture made up of these ingredients; it does not have a specific chemical formula.
- carbon monoxide (CO3 – about 57%, CO – about 32%);
- hydrogen;
- of methane;
- of carbonic acid vapor;
- unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons.
Approximately 200 grams, or 0.15 cubic meters, of volatile matter are released from one kilogram of firewood (under normal circumstances). The fact that wood gas can be used as fuel on its own is a noteworthy characteristic. Its caloric value can reach up to 4800 cal/cc at different phases of gas generation. м. In a gas-generator boiler, the combustion of this gas is the equivalent of the second stage of fuel combustion.
Pyrolysis boilers are outfitted with a two-chamber furnace because the first stage of the process of forming wood gas and the second stage of its afterburning occur under distinct circumstances, with varying air supply. The fuel is smoldering and producing gas in the first chamber. Wood gas then enters the second chamber, which is supplied with air and is where the gas combustion occurs, through a nozzle. It is possible to arrange the second chamber below or above the first (pyrolysis). Each of the options has benefits and drawbacks.
Working on pyrolysis technology units are a type of so-called long burning boilers. This name is due to the fact that the portion of fuel in such a boiler burns longer than in a conventional boiler, giving the thermal energy embedded in it gradually. The main advantage of long burning boilers is their ability to work for a long time (compared to a conventional boiler) without the user"s participation, i.e. without putting a new portion of fuel. In order to prolong this period, a modern gas-generator boiler can combine pyrolysis with the principle of top fuel combustion. The advantages of the latter can be demonstrated by a visual example with two simultaneously lit matches. If one of them is turned with the head upwards and the second one with the head downwards, the first one will burn a bit longer.
Gas-generator boilers run most efficiently when they are powered by wood, but they can also run on peat or brown and stone coal.
Advantages and disadvantages
The following is a summary of this type of boiler’s primary benefits:
1. As previously mentioned, longer burning times for fuel portions.
2. High level of automation.
Controlling the combustion of gas is far simpler and more convenient than pure solid fuel combustion. As a result, pyrolysis boilers react to coolant temperature changes more quickly than other solid fuel machinery.
Energy-dependent and non-independent gas-generator boilers are classified based on the type of automation that is utilized. In the first scenario, electrical connections are required for the use of electronic sensors and control units. Such a boiler is unusable if the power supply is interrupted by bad weather or other causes. The second option, energy-independent boilers, can operate without electricity because their power is controlled by mechanical regulators.
The Honeywell FR124 regulator is an illustration of one of these devices. A bimetallic element installed in the boiler heat exchanger serves as its primary component. This component is linked to the air damper via a chain, allowing it to adjust its position in response to changes in the heating medium’s temperature. This adjustment affects the amount of air supplied to the combustion chamber. The nozzle, which allows wood gas to enter the combustion chamber from the gas generator, can also be attached to the mechanical regulator. This will result in a regulation of the fuel burned per unit of time.
Although non-independent gas-fired boilers are less efficient than their electronic counterparts, they are still better suited for areas where power supply outages are common.
3. Financial effectiveness.
By using pyrolysis technology, nearly all of the fuel’s calorific potential can be "squeezed" out. Gas-generator boilers can achieve up to 93% efficiency when they are run on wood. This high of heat transfer is still unachievable for other types of solid fuel equipment.
4. Minimal upkeep.
Because of the way the fuel burns in the pyrolysis boiler, very little ash is formed and soot is virtually nonexistent. As a result, the owner hardly ever needs to clean the boiler, and the chimney never needs any maintenance.
5. Environmental tolerance.
Compared to other types of solid fuel heaters, the gas-generator boiler’s fuel combustion products release considerably less carbon monoxide and other harmful substances into the atmosphere.
Based on the idea of gas generation, solid fuel boilers have the following drawbacks:
1. Strict specifications regarding fuel type and quality.
The only fuel that should be used is wood for best results. The efficiency of coal-fired gas-generator boilers will decline. Wood fuel’s humidity shouldn’t be more than 20%; at higher levels, pyrolysis is not possible.
2. Expensive.
3. Due to the potential for condensate formation At the boiler inlet, the coolant temperature ought to be at least 60 degrees Celsius.
We explore the advantages of solid-fuel-fueled gas-generator boilers in our guide to home insulation and heating. These cutting-edge boilers provide an economical and environmentally responsible way to heat your home. They offer an environmentally friendly substitute for conventional gas or oil boilers by using solid fuels like biomass or wood pellets, which lowers energy expenses and carbon emissions. Gas-generator boilers minimize their environmental impact while providing dependable heating thanks to their cutting-edge technology. Read our in-depth post to learn how these systems can improve the sustainability and comfort of your house.
Solid fuel-powered gas-generator boilers present a viable option for meeting residential insulation and heating requirements. These cutting-edge boilers draw energy from solid fuels such as wood pellets, chips, and even agricultural waste by means of a gasification process. The end result is a fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly heating system that can cut emissions and consumption of fuel dramatically.
The adaptability of gas-generator boilers is one of their main benefits. Gas-generator boilers are able to burn a much wider variety of solid fuels efficiently than traditional boilers, which are restricted to burning only certain kinds of fuel. This flexibility aids in sustainability initiatives by giving homeowners additional fuel-sourcing options while also assisting in lowering their reliance on fossil fuels.
Gas-generator boilers are renowned for both their high efficiency and versatility. These boilers are able to extract more energy from solid fuels than traditional combustion methods because they are able to harness the gasification process. Thus, gas-generator boilers are a financially sensible option over time since homeowners can benefit from increased heating efficiency and decreased fuel expenses.
Additionally, by reducing emissions, gas-generator boilers aid in environmental conservation. Cleaner combustion and fewer pollutants released into the atmosphere are the results of the gasification process. This helps to enhance air quality and is advantageous for the environment as well, especially in residential areas where clean air is crucial for health and wellbeing.
All things considered, solid fuel gas-generator boilers are a promising technology for residential heating and insulation needs. For homeowners wishing to cut energy expenses and their carbon footprint, these boilers present an appealing option because of their adaptability, efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Gas-generator boilers are expected to become more crucial in the shift towards greener and more energy-efficient homes as the need for sustainable heating solutions grows.
