Wood-Chip Heating Systems - Biomass Energy Resource Center

TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to Use This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
CHAPTER ONE:
First Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Beyond Economics: Other Reasons for
Burning Biomass Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Concerns Associated with Biomass Fuels . . . . . . . . 10
CHAPTER TWO:
Wood Chips and Other Types of Biomass Fuels . . . . . 13
CHAPTER THREE:
The Components of a Biomass Energy System . . . . . 18
An Important Relationship:
Fuel Source, Delivery Vehicle, and Storage Bin . . . 21
CHAPTER FOUR:
Effi ciency of Biomass Combustion Systems . . . . . . . .28
CHAPTER FIVE:
Air Emissions from Institutional
Wood Energy Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
CHAPTER SIX:
Types of Biomass Combustion Systems . . . . . . . . . . .37
CHAPTER SEVEN:
Economic Analysis of Wood-Chip Systems . . . . . . . . .40
Cost-Effectiveness of Wood-Chip Systems . . . . . . . 41
Defi ning the Biomass Project and Its Costs . . . . . .45
CHAPTER EIGHT:
Information Resources and Assistance
for the Building Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
CHAPTER NINE:
Finding Capital to Pay for a
Wood-Chip Heating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
CHAPTER TEN:
Putting Together and Implementing a
Biomass Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
The Importance of the System Operator . . . . . . . . .57
Commonly Asked Questions
About Burning Wood Chips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
System Sophistication and System Cost . . . . . . . . . 61
Sizing the Biomass System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
Operating and Maintaining a Wood-Chip System . . .68
CHAPTER TWELVE:
The Future of Biomass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
APPENDIX A:
Northeast Regional Biomass Program
State Offi ces and U.S. Government Contact . . . . . .75
APPENDIX B:
Northeastern State Energy Offi ces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
APPENDIX C:
Wood-Fuel Energy Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
APPENDIX D:
Assumptions Used in Developing
Figures 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
APPENDIX E:
Sample Life-Cycle Cost Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
APPENDIX F:
Biomass System Manufacturer List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
WOOD CHIP HEATING SYSTEMS
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