Wood chip

Wood-Chip Heating Systems
A Guide For Institutional and Commercial Biomass Installations
By Timothy M. Maker

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

WOOD CHIP HEATING SYSTEMS

Wood-Chip Heating Systems
A Guide For Institutionaland Commercial Biomass Installations
By Timothy M. Maker
Originally prepared for The Coalition of Northeastern Governors Policy Research Center Washington, D.C. 1994

Revised by Biomass Energy Resource Center Montpelier, Vermont With funding from the U.S. Forest Service 2004

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

How to Use This Book . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CHAPTER ONE: First Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Beyond Economics: Other Reasons for Burning Biomass Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Concerns Associated with Biomass Fuels. . . . . . . . 10 CHAPTER TWO: Wood Chips and Other Types of Biomass Fuels . . . . . 13 CHAPTER THREE: The Componentsof a Biomass Energy System . . . . . 18 An Important Relationship: Fuel Source, Delivery Vehicle, and Storage Bin . . . 21 CHAPTER FOUR: Efficiency of Biomass Combustion Systems . . . . . . . .28 CHAPTER FIVE: Air Emissions from Institutional Wood Energy Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 CHAPTER SIX: Types of Biomass Combustion Systems . . . . . . . . . . .37 CHAPTER SEVEN:Economic Analysis of Wood-Chip Systems. . . . . . . . .40 Cost-Effectiveness of Wood-Chip Systems . . . . . . . 41 Defining the Biomass Project and Its Costs . . . . . .45 CHAPTER EIGHT: Information Resources and Assistance for the Building Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 CHAPTER NINE: Finding Capital to Pay for a Wood-Chip Heating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 51

CHAPTER TEN: Putting Together and Implementing a Biomass Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 The Importance of the System Operator. . . . . . . . .57 Commonly Asked Questions About Burning Wood Chips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 System Sophistication and System Cost . . . . . . . . . 61 Sizing the Biomass System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .62 CHAPTER ELEVEN: Operating and Maintaining a Wood-Chip System . . .68 CHAPTER TWELVE: The Future of Biomass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 APPENDIX A: Northeast Regional Biomass Program State Offices and U.S. Government Contact. . . . . .75 APPENDIX B: Northeastern State Energy Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 APPENDIX C: Wood-Fuel Energy Data . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 APPENDIX D: Assumptions Used in Developing Figures 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 APPENDIX E: Sample Life-Cycle Cost Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 APPENDIX F: Biomass System Manufacturer List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

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How to Use This Book

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ifferent readers will use this guide differently; the types of individuals who will find it useful are outlined in the section “Who Should Read This Guide?” at the beginning of Chapter One. The depth to which readers will study the various chapters willdepend on their interest and experience. For example, a school board member whose school is considering a wood-chip heating system may want only a brief overview of automated wood systems and related issues, while a mechanical engineer who has been hired to specify and oversee a system’s installation might want to read the guide cover to cover. The following paragraphs give a brief overview and...