Direct combustion is the simplest and most common method of generating energy from biomass. Biomass heating systems provide hot water and space heating. The biomass is burned in a furnace, where it heats either air or water. Hot water can be used as part of a domestic hot water system and for central heating and underfloor heating. In water systems, a heat exchange system can be used to heat water tanks.
For small-scale applications, the fuel usually takes the form of wood pellets, chips and logs. Wood pellets are a compact form of wood, with low moisture content & high energy density. For larger applications with higher energy demands (e.g. hotels, nursing homes, etc) woodchip is an attractive option where there is sufficient storage potential.
How do Wood Pellet Boilers Work -
Solar water heatingSolar water heating is a very good way of capturing free heat energy given off by the sun. There are two types of energy collectors (‘solar panels’); flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors that can be offered to suit customer needs. Solar panels can work extremely efficiently in conjunction with a biomass system where biomass can provide energy during the colder months and solar during the summer months. A Buffer tank should be used to store heating storage backup for instant heat upon demand. Wind powerWind has been used for centuries to turn sails and work grain mills and water pumps, but since the 1940s wind turbines, have been developed for generating electricity. Wind turbines have rigid blades, and can generate between a few kilowatts to several megawatts. The blades of a wind turbine are connected to a rotor shaft, which leads to a generator, where the kinetic energy of the wind is turned into electrical power. |  |