PELLETS STOVES IN VICARAGES

PELLET STOVES IN VICARAGES

Pellet stoves

Pellet stoves can be a good alternative to oil and gas boilers in vicarages, located outside areas with district heating, and where it is not possible to install a heat pump.There are pellet stove systems that are virtually fully automated but most wood pellet boilers require a certain degree of effort handling the pellets, cleaning and inspection. Most of the work takes place during normal working hours, but assistance at other times might be needed.

Where should the pellet stove be placed?

Before purchasing a wood pellet boiler, it is important to consider both the location of the boiler room and storage of the wood pellets. Handling of the pellets must be easy and the pellets must be stored dry. Unless there is a suitable back entrance or shed close to the building where the boiler can be placed (and approved by the fire authorities), there is a risk that a new suitable boiler room must be built.

Requirements for boiler room and storage

When installing a wood pellet boiler, certain requirements regarding the boiler room and storage must be met (fire codes, etc.). An existing chimney must be checked for suitability before the boiler is installed.

It is recommended that pellet storage is kept close to the boiler room to facilitate easy loading of pellets. Wood pellet boilers are available on the market that automatically suck the pellets from a silo (which can easily be established in an existing building or container). However, a screw conveyor is usually necessary for loading (which requires a slightly higher silo with a conical bottom and a discharge below). Manual refilling from bags is possible as well, if necessary manpower is available.

Constructing a completely new building for the boiler room and storage can be difficult, because it requires a location close to the church, which must be approved.

Joint heating plant?

If the church, vicarage and possibly the parish community centre and cemetery facilities are close to each other, establishing a common central heating station for all the buildings might be worth considering. This can work well if the heating system is built correctly. Installing two wood pellet stoves as a cascade system (typically with a larger and a smaller boiler) is recommended. The advantage of this solution rather than one big boiler is that loss of energy is minimized considerably.

During winter, there will be a very high heat demand, when heating the church. The total output of two wood pellet boilers must be dimensioned accordingly. During summer, heat demand in turn will be very small (for hot utility water and possibly tiled floors with underfloor heating). The little boiler will cover the heat demand in summer and should be dimensioned so that there is a sensible operation also in the summer.

Economy

The price of pellets varies considerably, as does the quality. Heating with wood pellets is generally cheap. The prise is typically 40 to 45 øre per. kWh heat.

Investment costs vary widely. There are big price variations on individual brands, including different functions. Some are almost fully automated, while others require more manual effort. Extra costs for boiler room, chimney and storage room also vary greatly. It is recommended that more than one specified tender is ordered. If major structural changes are required, an architect must usually be involved.

Example

The Feldballe vicarage in Syddjurs Provsti is heated with pellets. A common heating plant for the rectory, church and other heated buildings has been established.

The vicarage is a listed building and the boiler is installed in a previously unused part of the building, which has been converted into boiler room and storage room.

In Saksild near Odder, the church wanted a similar solution. However, there was not a suitable building, which could be used as boiler room. Permission was not granted for the construction of a new building for the boiler room, because it would ruin the view from the church.

Præstegård

Read more (in Danish):

Boiler list: http://www.teknologisk.dk/kedelliste/35412

Order on Particle Air Pollution: https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=175857

Chimney Sweep Guild: http://www.skorstensfejerlauget.dk/vaerd_at_vide.html

Fire safety instructions: http://www.dbi-net.dk/btv-32-biobraendselsfyrede-centralvarmekedler

AT-guidance, Technical equipment – B.4.8

EU requirements in force from 1 January 2020: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DA/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32015R1187&from=EN