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Development of a biomass heating device for low energy and passive houses

Manuel Schwabl (Unit Combustion, BIOENERGY 2020+ GmbH, Wieselburg, Austria)
Markus Schwarz (Unit Combustion, BIOENERGY 2020+ GmbH, Wieselburg, Austria)
Franz Figl (Unit Combustion, BIOENERGY 2020+ GmbH, Wieselburg, Austria)
Lara Carvalho (Unit Combustion, BIOENERGY 2020+ GmbH, Wieselburg, Austria and Division of Energy Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden)
Martin Staudinger (“calimax” Energietechnik GmbH, Altach, Austria)
Wolfgang Kalb (“calimax” Energietechnik GmbH, Altach, Austria)
Christoph Schmidl (Unit Combustion, BIOENERGY 2020+ GmbH, Wieselburg, Austria)
Walter Haslinger (BIOENERGY 2020+ GmbH, Wieselburg, Austria)

Management of Environmental Quality

ISSN: 1477-7835

Article publication date: 2 August 2013

389

Abstract

Purpose

Decreasing energy demand due to improved building standards requires the development of new biomass combustion technologies to be able to provide individual biomass heating solutions. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, the development of a pellet water heating stove with minimal emission at high thermal efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

The single components of a 10 kW water heating pellet stove are analysed and partly redesigned considering the latest scientific findings and experimental know‐how in combustion engineering. The outcome of this development is a 12 kW prototype which is subsequently down‐scaled to a 6 kW prototype. Finally, the results of the development are evaluated by testing of an accredited institute.

Findings

Based on an existing pellet water heating stove, the total excess air ratio was reduced, a strict air staging was implemented and the fuel supply was homogenized. All three measures improved the operating performance regarding emissions and thermal efficiency. The evaluation of the development process showed that the CO emissions are reduced by over 90 per cent during full load and by 30‐60 per cent during minimum load conditions. Emissions of particulate matter are reduced by 70 per cent and the thermal efficiency increased to 95 per cent.

Originality/value

The result represents a new state of technology in this sector for minimal emissions and maximal thermal efficiency, which surpasses the directives of the Eco label “UZ37” in Austria and “Blauer Engel” in Germany, which are amongst the most stringent performance requirements in the European Union. Hence this design possesses a high potential as heating solution for low and passive energy houses.

Keywords

Citation

Schwabl, M., Schwarz, M., Figl, F., Carvalho, L., Staudinger, M., Kalb, W., Schmidl, C. and Haslinger, W. (2013), "Development of a biomass heating device for low energy and passive houses", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 24 No. 5, pp. 652-666. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-10-2010-0046

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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