Sustainable heat must also be low in emissions

There are a large number of heating systems on the market for a wide variety of energy sources (oil, gas, electricity, biomass, etc.). Due to the trend towards renewable heat sources, biomass heating systems are in high demand. However, every energy source has its own special features, including biomass.

Compared to other energy sources, biomass does not burn completely residue-free and the biomass systems therefore require very special technical attention and maintenance discipline in order to function economically, reliably, for a long time and in an environmentally friendly manner.

What types of biomass fuels are there?

Mostly logs, wood chips, briquettes and pellets are used.

The volumetric calorific value varies depending on the type of wood and wood moisture content and ranges from 1,300 kWh/ cubic meter for willow to 1,950 kWh for hardwoods such as ash, oak or beech. The gravimetric calorific value of wood is between 3.7 – 4.2 kWh/kg (e.g. beech or spruce at 20% moisture).

The gravimetric calorific value of pellets and briquettes is around 4.9 kWh/kg, compared to 11.8 kWh/kg for heating oil and around 10 kWh/kg for natural gas.

These values only apply to dry wood. As the moisture content of the fuel increases, the calorific value decreases (e.g. calorific value of beech at 50% moisture = 2.16 kWh/kg, at 20% moisture = 4.02 kWh/kg). For this reason, particular attention must be paid to low moisture levels during storage.

What quality standards and certificates are there for pellets?

A standard and 2 certificates have been established on the market to standardize and classify the quality of wood pellets. It is important to distinguish between generally applicable standards and specially issued certificates. The different quality levels must also be taken into account when comparing prices.

Standard DIN EN ISO 17225-2:

In the course of international harmonization, the country-specific standards (DIN, ÖNORM and SN) and the purely European standard were replaced by the internationally valid DIN EN ISO 17225-2 in September 2014 and last updated in September 2021.

Among other things, it regulates the minimum requirements for the size, quality, calorific value and combustion behavior of the pellets and is divided into classes A1, A2 and B. The classes differ in the raw materials that may be used for production. For example, in the highest quality class A1, only logs and chemically untreated wood residues are used in production.

There are further differences between the classes, for example in terms of ash content or ash melting behavior. To ensure optimum combustion behavior and a long service life of the pellet heating system, class A1 pellets are used almost exclusively in private households.

The wood pellets are available for blowing in, as bagged goods and sing in BigBags.

There are also 2 certificates – DINplus and ENplus A1. The requirements of the certificates exceed the standard in terms of the fines content and mechanical strength of the pellets. In addition, DINplus-certified wood pellets have a lower ash content than specified in the standard.

However, the main advantages of certified pellets cannot be measured in terms of measured values. The benefits for you lie in professional delivery by trained personnel, support in the event of complaints and transparency through traceability from delivery to the production site.

What types of biomass heating systems are there?

Wood gasification boiler:

Wood gasification boilers burn whole logs or wood chips and generate heat by gasifying the fuel. These boilers are highly efficient and are ideal for larger heating outputs.

Pellet boiler:

Pellet boilers use wood pellets as fuel. These are fed in automatically, ignited and burned in a controlled manner. This means that the heating output can be varied from approx. 30 – 100% as required. They are available from small to large and are therefore well suited for use in residential and multi-party houses as well as for small businesses.

Lump wood boiler:

Log boilers are similar to wood gasification boilers. They burn logs or wood chips directly and without gasification. These boilers are versatile and can be installed with different outputs.

Wood chip heating systems:

Wood chip heating systems use wood chips as fuel, are often combined with a buffer storage tank and are in turn suitable for larger buildings or industrial applications.

Briquette heating systems:

Briquette heating systems usually use round or square pressed wood briquettes (similar to pellets, only larger) as fuel. Like pellets, these briquettes are made of pressed wood material. They are a practical alternative to logs and are a real option for home use due to their ease of use.

Remember that choosing the right type of heating depends on your individual requirements, the size of the building and other factors. It is advisable to consult a professional to find the right solution for your needs.

What are the properties of biomass heating systems?

Biomass heating systems are an environmentally friendly and efficient way of generating heat. Here are some features of biomass heating systems:

Cost-effective heating:

• Operating a biomass heating system is significantly cheaper than fossil fuels (oil and gas)
• Wood, the main raw material for biomass heating systems, is available regionally and is usually inexpensive
• Modern biomass boilers are reliable, highly efficient and utilize the heating material in a very environmentally friendly way

Renewable raw material:

• More wood grows in Austria than is harvested
• A large proportion of the fuel for biomass heating systems is obtained from wood waste (as for pellets and wood chips)

Climate-neutral thermal energy:

• When heating with wood, no more CO₂ is released than the tree has stored during its growth
• The CO₂ balance of wood as a fuel is balanced

Regional value creation:

• Biomass heating systems strengthen the domestic forestry industry and create jobs
• Short transportation routes are an advantage of regional biomass production

Convenient operation:

• Modern biomass boilers automatically provide cozy warmth
• Storage systems adapt to the spatial conditions

What needs to be considered when operating biomass heating systems?

The correct operation of biomass heating systems is crucial to ensure their efficiency, environmental friendliness and reliability. Here are some important points to bear in mind when operating the systems:

Regular inspection & maintenance:

• Regularly check the boiler, the combustion air supply, the charging device (e.g. for pellets and wood chips) and the flues
• Have your biomass heating system serviced by a specialist at least once a year
• Early problem detection helps to avoid expensive repairs

Check the pellet supply:

• Monitor the pellet stock in the store, especially during the heating season, to ensure operation
• Ensure timely replenishment
• Buy the fuel after the heating season to achieve favorable purchase prices

Ash disposal:

• The ash produced during incineration can be used as fertilizer or must be disposed of properly

Efficient operation:

• Make sure that the system is always optimally adjusted by a specialist and that the fuel is sufficiently dry
• Have the exhaust gas values checked regularly
• Regular maintenance ensures efficient and reliable operation

If you have a biomass heating system, we recommend inspecting it regularly and having it serviced by a professional at least once a year (ideally in summer). This will keep it running efficiently and reliably. The MyBuilding24 app provides you with reliable and simple reminders so that you don’t overlook these tasks.

If you want to keep your properties, systems, machines and devices in top condition and have your inspection and maintenance obligations under control, then use our
My Building24 APP or follow this link and register today – https://mybuilding24.com/de/ – to keep your building running efficiently and reliably for a long time to come.