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tringle · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject:

Youve got too techno for me, its darling husbands area. But my understanding is that any heat, regardless of how little can be taken from the stream and used, a heat exchanger, is that the right term. We dig a pond beside the stream and put the "thungy that takes the heat" into it. He exlplained it to me as working he opposite of the fridge.

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Rebecca · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 2:52 pm Post subject:

We seriously considered a wood pellet stove and spent a lot of time researching it. One of my concerns was about the ability for the limited number of suppliers to provide enough pellets for the sudden huge grant driven demand.

We decided not to go ahead with a pellet burner. Why? Because we relised that living on our homestead with 3 acres of fields, we had the perfect spot to grow our own willow coppice. This will make us totally self sufficient regarding fuel (we also have solar panels). One of our fields partly floods every winter, so we are planting up the 1/3 of the acre which floods, as we can't grow any food crops there. We installed a multi fuel burning stove, with integral back boiler so it heats rads and water. The system is much cheaper than the pellet option. We also burn offcuts from my husbands work, he makes wooden toys from local windfall timber.

For us, we just suddenly realised that the pellets were over complicating the issue, we didn't need that level of technology for our set up. If we didn't have the land suitable for growing coppiced willow, then the pellets would have probably been a better solution. But this way, we can grow our own fuel, and also have the option of burning other fuels if we have to.
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dolmen · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 25 Location: N.Ireland

Rebecca Have you harvested any of your willow yet? I've looked at figures for willow and found that it is not that good at burning, what with it having a very high moisture content, with a fairly low calorific value, can you comment? How do you use or intend to use the willow, i.e. as logs or as chippings? I'm interested because I'd like my own coppice wood someday! I am thinking about an Ash / Oak mix, but then wonder about all this global warming and would there perhaps be an even better choice of trees as a solution.

I know it gets sooo deep, and sometimes you're better just getting on with it!

Smile

quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

I have found that you need to dry the will for about a year before is is ready for use. The wood pellet burners are a bit tempremental about moisture content.

Ash is great for open or wood burners and it grows quite quickly. We planted in excess of 400 mixed oak and birch and 200 willow, some decorative and the rest destined for fuel.

Perfect time of year to get the willow whips in, before the heavy frosts.

dolmen · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 25 Location: N.Ireland

Here's a few links to pics of my firing for the winter...

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m82/webpics_06/IMG_0226.jpg

Turf and sticks under cover

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m82/webpics_06/IMG_0212.jpg

Logs built outside

These were ready for going indoors back in July, but I missed my slot and it has rained ever since, or so it seems!

Smile

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

This is all good stuff Very Happy

I have thought about growing willow copice and the chips will burn in my pellet stove, providing we can get the moisture below 20%. I am told that it takes two years for the willow to grow to a decent size from mature stools so, it would require three plantations to be able to crop and burn every year. To get the moisture content down to below 20% will need some work to stop the heap becoming a giant compost heap. So I guess it will need some augering up from time to time. I need more land for this so it wont be done in the short turm. So its all eyes on you Rebecca to show us whats what Wink

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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Did I hear somewhere that there is a shortage of wood pellits in Ireland? Confused

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jon · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 26 Location: South of Cork

I hope not as I may well be installing Wood Pellet heaters. The problem that we have is trying to decide which boiler to get. I liked the price of the Woodpecker and it is self igniting, but it will only burn pellets. The Baxi is a multi fuel boiler which means that I could buy local corn if pellets are a problem to get, but it is not a self igniter. Some cost 18K others go for about 6K. I am an avid follower of the maxim " If you want something good for nothing. Then you will get something good for nothing". So which are good? The Irishboards.ie site gives loads of info and everyone says get as good as you can. Meaning as much as you can afford of course, but I dont want to streach my limited budget to one that is all singing and dancing if it is of no real advantage. Any advice people.
Jon.

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

This is a bit of a worry with our local supplier completely run out. A bit of, The cart before the horse me thinks. Wink

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jon · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 26 Location: South of Cork

As the boiler could well be the last thing to get installed. I may well hold off on my decision untill I can find out what the summer prices will be for bulk pellets. The fact that it is more eco friendly to burn pellets than oil may well be enough to buy such a boiler. Cheaper running cost will be the clincher though.
Jon.