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Wood fuel equipment and systems

Wood fuel technology has moved on a long way. Boilers range in size from small domestic boilers and stoves to large scale power plants. Wood fuel heating systems are clean and highly efficient and can be automated.

The range of technology available is so wide that only a basic outline is possible here. Before purchasing any equipment, read Managing a successful wood fuel installation and get expert advice.

Housing boiler heating system

Wood fuel boilers and stoves

These can be wood chip and pellet boilers, log boilers and wood burning stoves. Wood chip and pellet boilers can be part of fully automated systems.

Each boiler has a specification for the type of chip or pellets it can use. Boilers with a higher level of output can be more flexible in their wood chip quality requirements than smaller boilers.

Metal chimney with cowel

Flues and chimneys

A flue is a duct, pipe, or chimney for conveying exhaust gases from a wood fuel boiler to the outdoors. All wood fuel heating systems will require a flue.

Auger feeding wood chip

Wood fuel storage and boiler feeds

Options for storage include containerised stores, hook bins, hoppers and silos. Fuel can be fed into the boiler by an auger or ram-stoker.

Emissions abatement technology

Emissions abatement technology

Modern wood fuel heating systems generally have low levels of emissions. In some cases, however, abatement technology may be needed.

Accumulator tanks

Accumulator tanks

An accumulator tank is a large, well insulated hot water tank. They are used to manage heat demand variation by storing hot water.

District heating system with heated units nearby

District heating systems

District heating systems can distribute the heat from a wood fuel boiler or a combined heat and power (CHP) plant.

Large industrial plant

Combined heat and power (CHP) plants

CHP plants generate electricity whilst also capturing the usable heat produced in this process and can be up to 90% efficient.