Pyrolysis combustion boilers. Pyrolysis boiler. Popov's boilers are used in
The pyrolysis boiler has its drawbacks and features that consumers should know before making a choice in favor of one or another heat generating technique. Authoritative experts willingly list exactly the shortcomings in the first place ...
Who and how produces pyrolysis boilers
An interesting fact is that eminent manufacturers of heating equipment, pyrolysis boilers, either do not produce at all, or have one line of samples, rather experimental, as a tribute to fashion.
In catalogs, at exhibitions, reputable companies do not show barrel-shaped products with a large load of firewood at all, explaining this by the fact that they do not find advantages in this idea.
The so-called pyrolysis boilers (large metal-intensive devices for burning gases, equipped with a fan and a large chamber for smoldering firewood) are made by those who are chasing the momentary mood of consumers - small firms, up to garage industries.
Let's figure it out - why is this situation?
What is meant by pyrolysis
Pyrolysis - the generation of combustible gas and its subsequent combustion - occurs in all solid fuel boilers, to a greater or lesser extent. The same process goes on in a conventional stove - when burning wood or coal, in some place there is not enough oxygen, carbon monoxide CO appears, then it finds the missing oxygen and burns out, releasing heat, turning from poison into ordinary carbon dioxide - CO2 .
As an experiment, back in the 1950s, a scheme of boiler equipment was developed, where at first the fuel smoldered with a lack of oxygen, then the resulting CO was burned in the secondary chamber. But the ideas were not implemented, as they did not give any advantages with significant disadvantages and were expensive.
Scheme, features of work
Secondarily, in the 2000s, when the average manufacturer had sufficient production capabilities and materials, household production began. The consumer was interested in false advertising - sales and profits appeared.
The scheme of the pyrolysis boiler is usual - in a large chamber, the laying of firewood first flares up, then the automation shuts off the air and, if there is a shortage of it, the firewood smolders for a long time.
The emitted carbon monoxide and a large amount of ash particles - pure carbon C is mixed with heated air in the secondary chamber, where they burn out.
In this burner, there is always a reddish flame - a direct sign of a reaction involving carbon.
Design feature
The design feature of the "pyrolysis boiler" is the presence of a fan with a power of 50 - 100 W, forced air supply. Moreover, there is a movement of air in the primary chamber between the firewood, due to swirling (creating a vacuum) at the location of the supply nozzle.
The presence of sensors and control automation, which provides operating modes.
Large size, additional metal parts, cameras.
The main structural difference is a large load of firewood and the presence around them of all the "body kits" of automation, nozzles, combustion chambers.
Pyrolysis boiler price
But for the consumer, the pyrolysis boiler is primarily distinguished by a high price.
It is necessary to compare products of the same power and performance class. It turns out that the price of a pyrolysis boiler will be 2-3 times higher than that of a product of a classical design.
For “non-garage” manufacturers, a product called “pyrolysis”, of ordinary home power, will cost 150 thousand rubles. And the "classic boiler" - 50 thousand rubles.
For less famous ones, the difference in price is 2 times - approximately 75 thousand rubles. and 35 thousand rubles.
Why do you need to pay more by 50 - 100 thousand rubles? What is the benefit? How much time and how will this amount pay off ...
Real Specifications
More or less serious manufacturers try not to give the true technical characteristics of pyrolysis boilers. Otherwise, everyone will see that there is nothing special there. They are replaced by advertising exclamations, slogans, or the presentation of false characteristics through secondary sources, without responsibility.
If you find the passport data of a pyrolysis boiler of a famous manufacturer, for example Buderus, then it suddenly turns out that the efficiency is only 87%
And for a conventional boiler - 80%
Where is the fabulous "golden mountains" of saved firewood?
How economical is the pyrolysis boiler
Let's calculate for the usual power of an average house, savings with a pyrolysis boiler. For example, let's burn in a conventional device for a season 7 months of firewood for 20 thousand rubles. At the same time, we will save about 1800 rubles on pyrolysis, - firewood consumption by 18200 thousand rubles.
But a fan with a power of 80 W., Having worked for 7 months at a price of about 5 rubles per 1 kW of electricity, eats more than 1,500 rubles. In total, the savings are no more than 200 rubles per year. Those. spent 50 thousand rubles will never pay off.
Even if somehow the savings will be 1000 rubles (a miracle efficiency of more than 92%), 50 years is still not a serious payback period. The biggest maximum - the additional cost of boiler equipment should pay off in 10 years. Otherwise, it is not beneficial. There are no such indicators and close.
What attracts the consumer's pyrolysis boiler at such a price is a large load!
Disadvantages of a pyrolysis boiler
It is possible to set fire to a lot of firewood, after which they burn gradually for 12 hours or more. The unit should be approached once or twice a day. This is what the consumer likes the most.
But in return, the user in a private house gets big disadvantages:
- You can not heat with raw wood, the boiler simply does not work on them. The heat transfer of raw firewood is 2 times lower - the energy is spent on the evaporation of water, as a result, they do not smolder.
- It is highly undesirable to use wood that gives resin - pine, spruce, birch - with deposits they greatly pollute the barrel, chambers, nozzles, then it is all problematic to clean. And what to heat?
- Not infrequently, there is an overrun of firewood in the off-season, when you need to lightly heat it on a cold night ... This actually completely levels out the increased efficiency.
- Ash, which necessarily remains from firewood, is carried out by a jet into the chimney. The chimney becomes dirty, the ash settles randomly, "downwind" polluting everything around.
- Breakdown, incorrect operation, unconfigured automation threatens with a massive emission of CO, a large waste of firewood - carbon monoxide and wood particles do not burn out completely.
- Big price, unreasonable waste of money.
What to choose - what is the benefit of a classic boiler
A conventional natural draft boiler is distinguished by the fact that it can immediately work with maximum oxygen supply without breakdowns, always, with any firewood. Such reliability cannot but attract. At the same time, the ash remains where it should be - in the ash pan, and does not fall on people's heads - ash content is a physical characteristic of wood that cannot completely burn out.
But it can also perform the functions of a pyrolysis - a chain from a tuned thermostat controls the air damper in modern models, the boiler switches to smoldering, with secondary air supplied.
At the same time, the price among heating equipment is the most democratic.
To reduce the number of approaches to a classic boiler for its maintenance to 1 - 2 per day, there are several methods to increase the accumulation of generated heat. The most effective is the introduction of a heat accumulator, or the construction of heat-intensive massive structures. At the same time, the unit itself is desirable to use a slightly more powerful one, with a greater return on accumulation for one furnace.
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TO solid fuel otlya is an alternative to gas and electric heating devices. Long-burning gas-generating or pyrolysis boilers with a water circuit are devices that allow you to burn not only solid fuels, but also the fuel gases that are released. This principle of using energy is good for the environment and saves fuel. There are also disadvantages - harsh operating conditions and high price. How to determine the golden mean and get the maximum benefit - in the material below.
gas boiler
Long-burning gas-fired or pyrolysis boilers with a water circuit are boilers that themselves generate combustible gases from the fuel that is placed in them. The water circuit is both part of the heating system and the boiler safety system.
Pyrolysis as a physical and chemical process
Combustion is a complex process that produces a lot of soot and gases. 30% of the total emitted substances is carbon dioxide, the rest is carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, methyl alcohol, furan, acetic acid, benzene, acetone and a huge number of other volatile substances. Everything except CO 2 can be further oxidized, that is, burned again, while receiving some more thermal energy.
Pyrolysis is a two-stage process in which fuel gases are first stimulated and then burned. To do this, solid fuel is set on fire and allowed to take up, then oxygen access is reduced, stimulating smoldering. Smoldering firewood proceeds at a temperature of 200 - 800 degrees, coal and hydrocarbon materials smolder at temperatures up to 1300 - 1500 degrees. In this case, gases are actively released, which under atmospheric conditions are little active or inert.
Related article:
Advantages and disadvantages
The principle of pyrolysis, which is partially implemented in household gas-generating boilers, is used in industry for the disposal of various wastes. Incineration and repeated oxidation of decay products is a way to reduce the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere. After the fuel and gases burn out in a gas generating plant or in a domestic boiler, only carbon dioxide and water vapor are released into the atmosphere.
The environmental benefits of such boilers are obvious, but in terms of efficiency and convenience, they are seriously inferior, for example, to long-burning boilers. It is not easy to disperse the boiler to such parameters at which pyrolysis is possible. This requires a high temperature and some time. Long-burning pyrolysis boilers with a water circuit stop under the following conditions:
- drop in return water temperature;
- power outage;
- poor quality fuel.
The pyrolysis process must be stopped immediately as soon as the circulation pump in the heating system has stopped. Without cooling, the boiler will simply explode. To stop the process, it is necessary to open the gate, providing natural draft and removal of combustible gases. The blower should be open to the minimum. After the temperature has dropped, the boiler should be extinguished. If the volume of the heating system is not large and natural circulation is possible, the boiler can continue to operate at 50% load with the gate open.
terms of Use
Pyrolysis boilers are able to operate in a strictly defined temperature range. The system of this device is closed, so it must be fine-tuned. Obviously, it is not possible to constantly monitor the quality of the fuel, its moisture content, and measure the mass of firewood at the time of loading. There is always a danger of overheating or vice versa, insufficient temperature.
The first problem can be fixed with a water circuit. The boiler body acts as a heat exchanger: its walls are double, water circulates between them. Sometimes an additional coil is added to one of the boiler walls, which serves as an emergency cooling system and at the same time as a DHW circuit.
If the temperature is below the operating temperature, the pyrolysis process stops or does not start at all. At the same time, the boiler operates in the mode of a conventional solid fuel device. For this reason, the return temperature must not be lower than 60 degrees Celsius, and at a temperature of 40 degrees pyrolysis stops in all types of boilers. For this reason, an additional jumper is mounted in the heating system - a bypass, which serves as a small circuit and allows the boiler to enter the pyrolysis mode.
If you choose solid fuel boilers for your home, we recommend that you pay attention to long-burning pyrolysis boilers. Pyrolysis boilers are the same solid fuel boilers, but their difference lies in a much longer operating time and heat release. Engineers were able to create a design in which pyrolysis boilers produce more heat with the same amount of fuel. Such a process was called "gas generation", and the boiler, respectively - "gas generator".
The device of the units
- Pyrolysis boilers on wood have 2 combustion chambers. The upper chamber serves to load firewood into it. After laying, they are set on fire and begin to burn. All pyrolysis boilers are equipped with a special controller that fully controls the combustion process. The controller also controls the built-in fans and circulation pump. All this electronic-mechanical filling creates all the conditions for smoldering firewood, after they have begun the process of active combustion.
- When the firewood smolders, both smoke and wood gas begin to be produced. By turning on the fans, this gas is directed to the lower combustion chamber through special openings. Through the controller, you can set any operating mode you need and the desired temperature in your heating system. When switching to the pyrolysis mode, the controller turns on the pump, which increases the efficiency of these long-burning solid fuel boilers.
- The design of pyrolysis boilers for long burning carries quality, simplicity, reliability and durability. They use high quality boiler steel. Such steel has sufficient thickness and the necessary mechanical characteristics, which will allow the boiler to maintain its original appearance for a long time. This is very important under the condition of constant thermal loads, as well as regular heating and cooling to different temperatures at different time intervals.
Pyrolysis solid fuel boilers of long burning are becoming more and more popular and they are increasingly used for heating private houses of various sizes, cottages and country houses, cottages, service stations, car washes, various warehouses and industrial facilities of various sizes, as well as all kinds of educational institutions . The units have already received many positive reviews from enthusiastic owners.
Heating with a pyrolysis boiler: where is it useful?
Pyrolysis boilers are perfect for heating any object due to the very wide range of available capacities, which can vary from 15 to 100 kW and more. Boilers of high power are proposed to be equipped with a bunker, which will automatically supply fuel in the required volume. This makes these boilers even more pleasant to use and saves maintenance time.
Keep up with the times - purchase modern heating systems and enjoy new technologies of warmth and comfort. In our online store you can buy any heating equipment on favorable terms. Even the most demanding user will be pleased with both the price and the possibility of delivery to any corner of Russia.
Heating systems equipped with pyrolysis boilers are modern, productive devices that create comfortable conditions in the building. At the same time, a large amount of heat is released at minimal cost.
Boilers operating on the basis of the pyrolysis process are in some cases the main sources of heat in residential and industrial premises. Inexpensive fuel and a high level of efficiency, a system of reliable control over the optimal combustion process are the advantages that influence the choice of this heating equipment.
In these units, pyrolysis gas is produced, obtained by burning firewood. A temperature of no more than 8000 is created in the furnace and a low oxygen content is provided. The pyrolysis gas mixes with air and burns completely in the afterburner.
The principle of operation and types of pyrolysis boilers
The industry produces 2 types of equipment:
- mine boilers with top fuel loading;
In this case, the combustion of fuel passes from the top to the bottom. There are grates in the firebox, which divide it into several compartments. Solid wood or other type of fuel is loaded here. When ignited, pyrolysis gas is formed in the upper part, which descends into the lower chamber. Here, mixing with secondary air and afterburning takes place.
As the gas descends, the lower part of the wood warms up, so damp wood can be used. In order for the gas to go down and to stabilize the thrust, the design provides for the installation of a fan. It is mounted at the top of the boiler. Air is supplied from top to bottom, so this is a "top blast" installation.
To improve the process of afterburning gas, some models provide for the installation of an additional supercharger. In this case, the air flow passes directly into the lower chamber. This design increases the productivity of the equipment. The removal of smoke and steam is carried out through the smoke pipe into the ventilation system.
Bottom loading units
Gas generating chambers in this type are located in the lower part. The gas passes to the upper part and here it is afterburned. For normal operation of the equipment, the height of the chimney must be at least 5 m. This type of boiler does not use blowers, so they do not depend on the supply of electricity. But the performance of this type is lower.
Regardless of the type of equipment, pyrolysis boilers with a water circuit operate according to the following algorithm:
- fuel is loaded into the chamber;
- using the regulator, a certain type of boiler operation is set;
- after heating the combustion chamber, air access is blocked. Fuel smolders, there is an increased release of carbon monoxide;
- pyrolysis gas passes into the afterburner compartment, mixing with oxygen, and completely burned.
This is interesting! According to experts, the equipment operates at full capacity when burning dry hardwood. The length of firewood should not exceed 600 mm, and the humidity should not exceed 20%. Such fuel will extend the performance of the equipment and achieve its maximum performance.
Advantages and disadvantages of pyrolysis boilers
This type of heating equipment is far superior to direct combustion stoves in several ways. These include:
- impossibility of soot formation. This is due to the complete combustion of solid fuel. In addition to the economic component, this feature makes pyrolysis boilers more environmentally friendly. In this case, the waste products are carbon dioxide and water;
- any solid fuel can be used. This is due to its complete combustion. Any substance capable of burning can be used. It can be installed in leather production, agricultural enterprises, sewing shops for waste processing and space heating. At the same time, production waste is completely recycled;
- the pyrolysis process, when burning hard wood, can last more than 10 hours. A direct combustion stove gives heat for 4 hours;
- the operation of the unit can be regulated. In this case, the process of fuel combustion and heating of water in the circuit is regulated. Ease of adjustment is due to the combustion of gas and the ease of regulation of its flow. This feature allows you to set automatic adjustment and secure the operation of the boilers.
The disadvantages of this equipment include:
- high cost, but the cost of the purchase will quickly pay off. This is due to the advantages of the pyrolysis boiler and the complete combustion of the fuel;
- a prerequisite for the use of dry fuel. At humidity more than 20%, the equipment may work intermittently;
- for the normal operation of mine boilers, an electrical supply is required to force air into the afterburner. Such equipment cannot be used in places remote from power lines.
Important! According to the owners of pyrolysis equipment, work may be disrupted due to the low temperature of the water coming from the return pipeline. To prevent inconvenience, it will be necessary to install a three-way valve when installing a water heating system to divert hot water into the return line. Thus, by heating the cold water of the return pipe, you will avoid trouble and shutdown of the boiler.
Basic rules and conditions for normal operation
For normal operation of the equipment, it is necessary to observe a certain range of fuel combustion temperature. This range is from 2000 to 8000 C. It is necessary to accurately configure the device. To prevent the occurrence of emergency situations at high temperatures, the water circuit of the unit is used. The body plays the role of a heat exchanger, water passes between its walls. This feature and the built-in coil in one of the walls prevents the creation of extreme temperatures.
If the water temperature is insufficient, the formation of pyrolysis gas stops, air is supplied to the combustion chamber and the boiler works like a conventional solid fuel furnace. It is not allowed to cool water below a temperature below 600 C. In this case, the combustion process without oxygen stops in any type of pyrolysis boilers.
To ensure a small water circuit and the transition of the equipment to working condition, an additional jumper (bypass) is installed in the water circuit. The bypass is manually adjusted, and temperature sensors are installed to control the temperature.
This type of equipment can work on all types of firewood, briquettes, pallets. In reality, such a type of fuel as coal can be used. Processing of combustible household and industrial waste is provided. But this can backfire due to their high polymer and rubber content.
Pyrolysis boilers are produced only single-circuit and cannot be used for heating water. But, in the absence of natural gas, to create comfortable conditions in the building, this type of equipment is the best solution to the problem.
What is a pyrolysis boiler. Advantages and disadvantages. Types of boilers. Specifications. Operating principle. fuel requirements.
Before buying a pyrolysis boiler for high-quality heating, you need to know in advance its features. This article describes in detail the principle of its operation. Advantages and disadvantages. Fuel used. Boiler design feature. Specifications.
How to choose the right boiler Equipment with a lower afterburner chamber and devices with an upper chamber. Basic principles of operation of the pyrolysis boiler. What is the essence of pyrolysis. Boiler types.
Features of pyrolysis boilers
Heating houses with solid fuel boilers is quite a common occurrence in small settlements where there is still no gas. In most cases, the most common firewood or fuel briquettes are used as fuel.
The disadvantage of such boilers is that they are forced to make many approaches to throw up more and more new portions of fuel. Long-burning pyrolysis boilers are deprived not only of this drawback, but also of some others - we will talk about this as part of our review.
Traditional wood-fired boilers are annoying because they require constant supervision. That is, every 2-3 hours they need to put more and more portions of fuel in them, otherwise the pipes in the house will become cold. It is especially difficult at night, when instead of a restful sleep, households get a headache in the form of a cooling heating. On the one hand, sleeping in a cool place is good for health. On the other hand, meeting the morning, desperately chattering your teeth, is not very pleasant.
Expert opinion
Filimonov Evgeny
Ask an expertClassic boilers for home heating have another important drawback - low efficiency. The fuel in them burns very quickly, most of the heat simply escapes into the atmosphere.
Together with it, combustion products containing combustible gases fly into the air. They can be used to obtain additional portions of heat - this is what happens in pyrolysis boilers for long-term combustion.
As you already understood, solid fuel pyrolysis heating boilers are devoid of both of the above disadvantages. They are endowed with capacious fireboxes, burning solid fuel according to a slightly different principle.
Here are their main features:
- Large volume of the furnace - up to several tens of liters. Due to this, the frequency of approaches for laying fuel is reduced several times;
- The pyrolysis principle of combustion - allows you to get much more thermal energy from the same amount of firewood;
- Quite large - in fact, there are two fireboxes. In one, firewood slowly burns out, and in the second, the products of combustion released from the wood are burned;
- Low combustion temperature - reduces the thermal load on the metal.
Long-burning pyrolysis boilers are somewhat more complex than their traditional counterparts, but they provide significant fuel savings.
Operating principle
How does a long-burning pyrolysis boiler work and how does it work. The principle of operation is very simple and complex at the same time. Pyrolysis is described in the school physics course - being heated in a confined space, wood emits combustible gases that can be ignited and heat generated. In fact, there is no direct combustion of wood in such an experiment.
In long-burning pyrolysis boilers, firewood still burns, but with limited air supply. We can say that this is a slow smoldering. Having flared up, the tree begins to emit combustible gases that burn in the afterburner. In total, we get two sources of heat - these are burning wood and burning wood gas. The effect of such staged combustion is felt in the form of fuel savings of up to 40%.
Wood gas in pyrolysis boilers for long-term combustion is formed as a result of slow smoldering of fuel. At the same time, the equipment heats the air, which, together with wood gas, is fed into the afterburner. There, the mixture ignites and burns with the formation of a large amount of heat. At the same time, the amount of harmful emissions, in comparison with traditional boilers, is extremely small.
Thus, a pyrolysis boiler is a direct fuel saving, since more heat can be released from the same portion of firewood. Instead of 10 cubic meters of firewood for one winter period, only 6-7 cubic meters can be used. At the same time, users will not need to put all new portions of firewood into the insatiable firebox every 2-3 hours.
Long-burning pyrolysis boilers are available in several modifications:
- Non-volatile - they operate on natural traction and are mechanically controlled;
- Volatile - here the pyrolysis proceeds using forced draft. This increases the efficiency of combustion;
- With a different arrangement of the afterburning chamber - it can be located above the combustion chamber or below it. Also on sale there are modifications with a sequential arrangement of cameras.
There are many modifications, but in general, the device and the principle of operation are almost the same
Long-burning volatile pyrolysis boilers are good because they often have automation that can control the power of the equipment and the intensity of combustion, focusing on the temperature of the coolant or the temperature in the rooms.
Long-term combustion in pyrolysis boilers is ensured by two factors at once. The first factor is the low burning/smoldering rate of wood. The second factor is the large volume of the combustion chamber. For example, pyrolysis boilers with a furnace volume of 50 liters and even more are on sale. It is not surprising that the frequency of approaches for loading fuel is reduced to 1-2 times a day.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pyrolysis boilers have a number of advantages over their traditional counterparts.
But they also have some drawbacks.
Let's discuss all their pros and cons:
- Profitability - it varies from 10 to 40%, depending on the model, intensity of combustion and air temperature outside the window;
- Long burning - you can lay fuel only 1-2 times a day. For example, morning and evening. At any time of the day, the house will be warm;
- Ecological cleanliness - firewood burns almost completely, with minimal emission of combustion products;
- Almost complete heat transfer to the heating system - the temperature of the exhaust gases here is lower than in traditional boilers;
- In long-burning pyrolysis boilers, various power control mechanisms are often implemented - they work by adjusting the intensity of fuel smoldering and gas supply to the afterburner.
There are also disadvantages:
- High cost - user reviews say that long-burning pyrolysis boilers are very convenient, economical and practical. But the initial costs for their purchase are extremely high (most true for powerful volatile models);
- Energy dependence - such units are more efficient, but require connection to the mains (the total electricity consumption is small, but in its absence, work will be difficult or even impossible);
- Large dimensions - long-burning pyrolysis boilers are noticeably larger than any other solid fuel units.
The disadvantages are not the most serious, some of them can be neglected. But you have to put up with the high cost.
Owner reviews of long-burning pyrolysis boilers in most cases are positive. People only complain about the tedious initial warm-up procedure, but here it's all about experience and habit.
Fuel used
We have already said that long-burning pyrolysis boilers run on wood. This is a fairly common and inexpensive type of fuel. In some cases, firewood can be obtained completely free of charge. But these boilers can operate on many other types of solid fuels. For example, in some stores we can buy a pellet pyrolysis boiler. It works on fuel pellets on the same principle as the above units.
Expert opinion
Filimonov Evgeny
Professional builder. 20 years of experience
Ask an expertThe main advantages of pellet models are automated fuel supply (implemented in some units), low ash content of fuel.
You can also purchase a pyrolysis boiler on coal. It will please you with long burning and high efficiency. Coal-fired boilers work on the same principle of operation, generating combustible gas from coal. Due to the powerful calorific value, the frequency of approaches for laying fuel is lower than when using long-burning wood-burning pyrolysis boilers.
Popov's boiler
Popov's pyrolysis boiler is a simple non-volatile unit made of steel. The design turned out to be so successful that many craftsmen copy it, assembling heating equipment with their own hands. The presented boiler is omnivorous, it can burn almost any solid fuel. And an impressive furnace of gigantic volume allows you to count on almost 24 hours of continuous burning. At the same time, the fuel burns almost completely, forming a minimum of components harmful to nature.
One of the advantages of this pyrolysis boiler is the ability to lay logs of non-standard size (up to 75 cm in low-power models, up to 240 cm in the most productive units), which ensures long-term burning. The maximum power of the equipment is 1000 kW, the minimum is only 25 kW. Depending on the selected operating mode, the efficiency of the device varies from 75 to 95%.
