Heating private house using pellets: analysis from different sides

Let's consider what benefits are expected if you heat a private house with pellets? Despite the comparable cost of purchasing a home pellet boiler house (150 thousand UAH, 2024) with the implementation of a gas connection project with equipment (about 130 thousand UAH, 2024), pellet boiler FOCUS with wider functionality for controlling room temperature, the operating cost is 50-70% cheaper. 

It must be said that costs can be reduced and you can buy a FOCUS pyrolysis boiler for 70+ thousand UAH; while saving 500% in operation, the convenience will still be less, but comparable to gas heating. At the same time, a gas generator boiler has slightly less microclimate control capabilities, but is comparable to a standard gas boiler. Pellet heating is fully automatic and autonomous, this is very convenient for consumers who want to get a high level of comfort and low cost of heating their home in OFFGRID conditions.

Heating a private house with pellets in different countries

Pellet heating is a fairly popular and common type of heating in many countries, especially in Europe and North America. Some of the most developed countries in this regard include:

• Sweden: Sweden is one of the leaders in the use of pellet heating. Here, a significant part of houses and public buildings are heated using pellet boilers.
• Germany: In Germany, pellet heating is also quite common, especially in private homes and small businesses.
• Austria: Austria is another country where pellet heating is widely used. There is a developed infrastructure for the production and distribution of pellets.
• USA and Canada: In North America, pellet heating is also becoming increasingly popular, especially in regions with cold winters such as the northeastern United States and Canada. Pellet heating is also gaining popularity, especially in rural and remote areas where access to gas may be limited. In recent years, the demand for pellets and pellet boilers has increased significantly in these countries.
• Japan: Japan has also seen an increase in interest in pellet heating, especially after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, when the country began to actively seek alternative energy sources.

By heating your home with pellets, you don’t have to save on heat and heat your rooms in a comfortable manner. At the same time, it is possible to regulate the temperature according to scenarios or save when there is a lack of fuel. By the way, if such situations are possible, you can buy a boiler with a pellet burner with two doors. Such a heating unit can operate on pellets or wood, providing heating for a private home with pellets and available energy resources in their absence.

 

About pellet boiler technology

Pellet boilers are efficient and convenient heating systems that run on pellets, fuel made from wood waste. We list some of the main options and functionality of FOCUS pellet boilers:

• Automatic pellet feeding:
  • Pellet boilers are usually equipped with an automatic mechanism for feeding pellets into the combustion chamber. This simplifies the process of maintaining a constant temperature in the room.
• Power adjustment:
  • Many pellet boilers have the ability to adjust the combustion power depending on the heat demand. This allows you to save energy and ensure an optimal level of comfort, as well as eliminate the need for a buffer tank in the hydraulic piping, without sacrificing climate control.
• Automatic control systems:
  • Modern pellet boilers can be equipped with automatic control systems PLUM Ecomax 860 P, which allow you to program the boiler operation schedule, adjust the temperature and many other parameters.
• High efficiency:
  • Pellet boilers have high combustion efficiency (94%), which reduces heating costs and reduces the negative impact on the environment.
• Low emissions:
  • By using pellets as a fuel, pellet boilers typically have low emissions and less pollution than traditional heating systems.
• Ease of maintenance:
  • Pellet boilers generally do not require frequent cleaning and maintenance, but regular inspection and maintenance is still recommended to maintain optimal performance. At the same time, to resolve these issues, self-cleaning models. They are rarely used for heating a private house with pellets, but with a higher budget, owners of private houses can buy them.

Is a buffer tank needed when heating a private house with pellets?

The FOCUS pellet boiler operates as a fully automatic device. That is, it turns on and off independently, regulates the intensity of combustion and the temperature of the coolant, controls the operation of the boiler, receiving data from many sensors, monitors safety conditions and more. The compensation unit, which balances the thermodynamic characteristics of the boiler, includes a three-way valve that controls the addition of water from the return circuit to supply coolant at a fixed temperature. Which is usually implemented in systems with a TT boiler with a buffer tank.

 

 

Using a buffer tank in a system with a pellet boiler for heating a private house with pellets can be useful, especially in certain situations. Here are some reasons why a buffer tank may be recommended:

• Even heat distribution: The buffer tank allows you to evenly distribute heat in the heating system. It can accumulate the heat produced by the boiler and gradually release it into the heating system when necessary.
• Reducing the frequency of turning the boiler on and off: pellet boilers can have optimal performance when running under constant load. Buffer capacity allows you to reduce the frequency of turning the boiler on and off, which can increase its efficiency and reduce wear.
• Increased comfort: thanks to buffer capacity The heating system can maintain a stable room temperature even during temporary load surges, changes in outside air temperature, or in other situations.
• Heat reserve in case of failures: in the event of boiler malfunctions or problems with the fuel supply, the buffer tank can provide a reserve of heat, which will help maintain comfortable conditions in the house until the problem is resolved.

However, the use of a buffer tank is not necessary in all cases. This depends on the specific operating conditions of the heating system, the size and characteristics of the premises, as well as the requirements for comfort and efficiency.

 

Using a hydraulic arrow in cases where you are installing heating for a private house using pellets

A hydraulic arrow can be used in the hydraulic piping of a pellet boiler, but its use depends on the specific conditions and requirements for the heating system. Here are a few aspects to consider:

• Closed or open system: If the heating system is closed (without access to the atmosphere), then an expansion tank is usually necessary to compensate for changes in the volume of coolant when the temperature changes. In open systems, where it is possible to expand water due to a container in the open air, a hydraulic arrow may be optional.
• System pressure: The hydraulic arrow helps control the pressure in the heating system. It provides additional space for the coolant to expand when heated, which helps prevent pressure build-up in the system and ensure its safe operation.
• Boiler and system characteristics: Some pellet boilers may be equipped with built-in expansion tanks or have features that compensate for pressure changes in the heating system. In such cases, the use of an additional hydraulic arrow may not be necessary.

In general, although the use of a hydraulic arrow in the hydraulic piping of a pellet boiler when installing heating of a private house with pellets can be useful to ensure safe and efficient operation of the heating system, it is not mandatory and is often redundant.

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