Wood Chip Boiler Manufacturer For Plywood Industry

A Complete Guide On Wood Chip Boilers

Are you searching for a detailed guide on wood chip boilers? If yes, then congratulations, you are on the right page. Well, a wood chip boiler is not quite a new technology that is gaining traction nowadays. But industries are utilizing it for years due to their multitasking abilities.

That’s not all, though. There’s more to learn about wood chip boilers, such as what they are, how they work, and how many types they have. So to find answers to all these questions, keep reading until the end of this article. As we’ll go through wood chip boilers in great detail.

1.    What is a Wood Chip Boiler? How Much Does it Cost?

A wood chip boiler or Wood chip biomass boiler is a boiler that runs on wood chips. This type of system is also known as a multi-fuel system. The reason is that they can also operate on pellets, according to the type of fuel feed mechanism. Because the process utilizes many forms of energy, it is safe to use.

Wood chip boilers, like industrial pellet boilers, feature a fuel tank. This tank helps them to automate. It also eliminates the daily interaction needed by log boilers. So it does not require constant filling by the operator. Furthermore, wood chip boilers are best suited for medium and large-scale projects.

Wood Chip Boiler Costs

Wood chip boiler prices depend upon the following factors.

• Automated work percentage
• Type of fuel
• Total storage capacity
• Boiler output and design
• Installation cost
• Maintenance cost

• Automated Work Percentage

Biomass boilers are available in both manual and automatic versions. The boiler’s level of mechanization determines the price range. Manual boilers are often less expensive than automated boilers. Because it’s easier to feed them in batches every one or two days.

• Type of Fuel

The cost of fuel varies depending on the type of energy used. Biomass boilers have greater startup expenses as compared to other kinds of fuel. In response to rising oil prices, the demand for energy sources is growing. Wood remains the cost-effective option for your industries, even if the price varies.

Furthermore, chips are less expensive than pellets, costing around $130 per ton. Logs are among the most cost-effective types of fuel. This is because they are available at any location.

• Total Storage Capacity

Biomass will always need more storage space to store fuel. Because the boiler gets its fuel from the fuel storage chamber. As a result, it is placed close to the boiler. Furthermore, if you buy extra fuel per shipment, the price of fuel drops.

• Boiler Output and Design

The expense of a wood chip boiler is also determined by its output and construction. Yet, the greater your boiler’s production, the more costly it will be. The performance of residential biomass boilers ranges from 15 to 56 horsepower (hp). Due to the heavy auger, wood chip boilers are larger than pellet boilers.

• Installation Costs

The installation cost of a wood chip boiler varies depending on different locations. If you only examine the plant area, a wood chip biomass boiler will account for roughly 55% of the project cost. Moreover, a small setup with a 20hp installation will cost approximately $16314. Commercial units cost around $35348 for a 50hp installation and $46225 for a 100hp system.

• Maintenance costs

Pellet boilers, like other boilers in the industry, need annual maintenance. This costs around $163 per year. Any extra expenditures will most likely rise or fall. It depends on how you maintain your boiler daily.

2.    How Would you Classify the Various Types of Wood Chip Boilers?

The classification of wood chip boiler is based on the following parameters

• Working pressure and temperature
• Manual / Automated System

Classification Based on Working Pressure and Temperature

• Low-temperature hot water (LTHW),
• High-temperature hot water (HTHW)
• Steam boilers

• Low-Temperature Hot Water (LTHW)

The majority of boilers are LTHW designed to operate at temperatures of no more than 90°C or even lower. Biomass boilers are the most prevalent alternative to fossil fuel boilers. Because they’re produced from renewable resources and are reusable, they’re used in residential settings, commercial buildings, and restaurants.

• High-Temperature Hot Water (HTHW)

HTHW biomass boilers perform their function at a higher temperature than LTHW systems. The temperature is usually between 120 and 280 degrees C . These boilers are ideal for

chemical processing since it requires continuous steam heat.

• Steam Boilers

The steam boiler converts chemical energy into thermal energy. Steam boilers work under different working pressure settings. The working pressure is the pressure of steam and water in the shell. So they are further classified as follows:

• High-Pressure Steam boiler:  Here, the boiler’s working pressure exceeds 25 bar.
• Low-Pressure steam boiler:  Steam boiler with a working pressure ranging from 3.5 to 10 bar.
• Medium pressure boiler:  Steam boiler with a working pressure of 10 to 25 bar

Classification Based on Automated / Manual System

• Automated boilers
• Semi-automated industrial boilers
• Semi-automatic residential boilers
• Log biomass boilers
• Wood pellet biomass boilers
• Wood pellet biomass stove boilers
• Wood chip gasification boilers

• Automated Biomass Boiler

This is the most efficient type of biomass boiler. Biomass boilers use wood, usually in the form of pellets or wood chips. This boiler uses an auger screw system to feed wood from a large storage tank into the combustion chamber.

• Semi-Automated Industrial Biomass Boilers

These boilers are more affordable than automated boilers. But these boilers need more input from the controller. Semi-automated installations are ideal for larger areas. These units have big storage capacity tanks that can contain a large amount of fuel

• Semi-Automatic Domestic biomass boilers

This small wood chip boiler is ideal for domestic use too. They look pretty good and may fit in small spaces. Because they resemble a traditional log burner more than the larger units.

Electronic controls allow this domestic wood chip boiler to work in various modes.

• Log-Fed Biomass Boilers

In general, they are less expensive than automatic boilers. These are appropriate for people who have easy access to firewood. They’re great as a supplement to more typical gas and oil boilers. It provides a secondary source of heat.

Because these are manual-fed, they take quite some time to give final results. Furthermore, log biomass boilers consist of suitable hot water storage reservoir tanks. So these boilers are a cost-effective alternative for those who have larger areas.

• Wood Pellet Boilers

This wood pellet boiler is best for utility areas. It comes with various add-on functions to make the process more automatic. It is a comprehensive, freestanding boiler system with little input. It can include big add-on fuel storage to self-cleaning variants.

• Wood Pellet Stove Boilers

The simplest basic biomass technology is a wood stove. Wood stoves are quite handy nowadays. The wood chip heater meets the steam needs of an entire industry with an 80 percent accuracy. They also come with built boilers, allowing for hot water production.

• Wood Chip Gasification Boiler

The gasification boiler best fits an application that uses wood products as fuel. This boiler uses logwood or biomass, and the process needs oil or gas in the same unit as a backup. This wood chip gasification boiler is appropriate for residential or commercial installations. A gasification wood fuel boiler can serve as a stand-alone heating system in these areas.

3.    What are the Main Components Used in the Construction of Wood Chip Boilers?

The following components are usually found in a wood chip boiler. But the components vary depending on the boiler’s operation. Commercial boilers have more supply lines than domestic boilers.

• Biomass storage silo
• Fuel conveying system
• Boiler and Burner
• Automated control system
• Heat exchanger
• Flue gas extractor
• Ash conveyor
• Thermal storage

Biomass Storage Silo

The silo stores the fuel for the burner. This is where the fuel transports to the thermal plant. Choose a silo from the different types for an effective biomass heating system. You must strike the ideal balance between your expenditure and the silo’s dimensions. The larger the silo, the less often you’ll need to refill it. There are four different types of biomass silos in a wood chip boiler:

• Pellet silo
• Rotary silo discharger
• Silo discharger with rakes.
• Hydraulic Scraper Station

Fuel conveying system

A fuel conveyance system transports biomass fuel from the silo to the furnace. In general, industries use chain conveyors for larger boilers. In comparison, small and medium-sized boilers use extractors. Furthermore, having augers in a conveyance system offers an extra layer of safety. The automated showers installed in the fuel carrying system provide safety.

Boiler and Burner

The boiler and burner are the heart of any heating system. Biomass fuel will ignite a flame in the burner. This flame will grow within the boiler’s fire cylinder. The moving grate will mix the fuel. Then it allows the ashes to escape so that they do not pile up on the burner.

Automated Control System

The biomass heating engines and compressors are all controlled by the control automation. Compared to traditional boilers, this degree of automation provides extra productivity. Check the status of the boiler on a frequent basis to ensure its output accuracy.

Heat Exchanger

The heat exchanger delivers the proper quantity of thermal energy in a system. In the wood chip boiler, the heat exchanger’s function is to transfer heat. It transfers heat from the source to the water without direct contact. Moreover, the heat transfer rate is crucial in deciding which heat exchanger to use.

Flue Gas Extractor

Flues (chimneys) are stiff frameworks designed to remove combustion products. When releasing flue gasses, boilers use alloy steel flues to prevent corrosion.

Ash-Conveyor

Ash conveyors transport ash from one location to another. They transfer ash from the back-end particulate collecting devices to the components. The ash conveyor handles granular ash grains, unburned wood, and other solid elements.

Thermal Storage

A thermal store is usually included as part of the biomass system. This is a big, well-insulated water container that holds hot water. This, like a traditional boiler, links to the downstream heating system. The thermal store serves as a heat storage device, with hot water ready to flow when required.

4.    How does a Biomass Boiler Work?

Wood chip biomass boilers operate the same as traditional fossil fuel boilers. The biomass fuel burns in the wood chip burner boiler, which produces energy for producing steam. They can perform the same thermal tasks as traditional fossil fuel systems. Most industrial boilers have a fuel supply storage area where they supply fuel.

Moreover, a fuel feed supply system connects the wood chip boiler to the fuel tank when it needs fuel. After which, the fuel immediately goes to the boiler for combustion. Within the combustor, the boiler undergoes a process known as gasification. At 600 degrees Celsius, the fuel is set to burn, releasing gasses.

Secondary combustion occurs when air enters the container. It combines with the gasses, which are then burned away. This results in temperatures of 1,200 degrees Celsius. The wood chip boiler has a heat exchanger. The heated air travels through this heat exchanger and boils the water inside. As a result, the water converts to steam.

●      Summary of Boiler’s Working

Conclusion

There are a variety of biomass boilers available, ranging from different models, sizes, and heating capacities to cover a variety of applications. So, it is best you choose a perfect one keeping in view your industrial needs. We hope after reading our article, all your queries have been resolved regarding wood chip boilers.

Furthermore, installing a wood chip boiler is such a big investment that everyone thinks twice. But we can help you make the procedure as simple as possible. So do contact us for any further queries. We will be glad to assist you.