Renewable energy
for efficiency are regularly in excess of 90%, but this is reliant upon quality design and installation, as well as regular servicing and maintenance. In addition, many facilities are unaware that, in order to qualify for the RHI scheme, biomass systems must be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations – if they are not, the RHI will not pay out. This makes servicing all the more important, and while recommendations will vary from supplier to supplier, there are a few simple servicing facts that apply to all biomass heating systems that healthcare facility operators should know. Firstly, every biomass system requires annual and six-monthly interim services as a minimum – for heavy-duty applications (typically systems with over 3,000 run hours per annum), a third annual service visit is recommended. These visits will vastly reduce the risk of breakdowns, and ensure smooth day-to-day running of the systems.
Extended downtimes
When it comes to larger biomass systems, these visits will become even more critical, since, in addition to the inconvenience, spare parts on these machines can be costly and take considerably longer to fit, which can lead to extended downtimes. The level of service contract in these instances can be very important to healthcare facilities, as some service- providers will offer significant discounts on the more comprehensive servicing options. The timing of these larger services will need careful consideration from healthcare facility operators too. Due to the level of inspection and servicing carried out in the main annual visit, the biomass system will need to be turned off while it takes place. Typically, a
Advanced controls mean that biomass boilers are easily programmable to fit into ‘master and slave’ applications, and can provide heat to multiple outlets.
While initial capital outlay for the equipment and installation might be higher than with more traditional systems, the lifetime costing of biomass is extremely competitive, and often a significant saving can be made
manufacturer’s full service comprises a complete check of the biomass installation, including fuel store and flue – the Herz service, for example, includes over 45 different safety and component checks, and will take a full day. To keep disturbance to a minimum then, the scheduling of this visit is crucial – facility operators should plan the main annual visit when demand is at its lowest, typically in the summer months. In addition to major service visits, biomass operators must carry out a number of checks on a monthly and weekly basis, such as emptying the ash bins, and sweeping out the boiler. For this reason, it is crucial to have an operative on site that has been given adequate training.
Around-the-clock
This Herz BioFire 600 kW biomass boiler is fed by a 157 m3
52 Health Estate Journal September 2016 underground fuel store.
phone support Reassuringly, on-site care of biomass systems can be made much easier by service-providers who offer around- the-clock technical telephone support. Offering operators peace of mind in case of emergencies, by having an expert available on the phone, can also be extremely helpful if facilities have systems with remote monitoring capabilities, and are faced with fault codes that they do not understand. Such a facility can also reduce costs in the long run, as engineers can often prevent, diagnose, and even fix, potential faults without having to visit site at significant expense.
To ensure the highest efficiency levels, and the smoothest running of a biomass system, fuel choice is also key. Poor quality fuels tend to have higher levels of moisture content. While this might not sound like a major issue to the untrained individual, a damper fuel needs more energy to burn, and creates more ash, decreasing efficiency, and increasing servicing requirements. Different boilers work with different types and quality of fuel, so it is best to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations. As well as meeting cost, efficiency, and sustainability targets, biomass has to deliver in terms of practicality. Many estates managers write off biomass due to simple logistics, believing they do not have the room to house the necessary plant. While biomass equipment can be large, the technology has come a long way in terms of size reduction. Indeed, Herz produces the most compact 499 kW wood chip boiler in the world, which has a footprint of just 1.7 m wide, 3.02 m long, and 2.18 m high.
The fuel store
Of course there is still the fuel store and fuel feed to consider, but, with the option of having a fuel store in a separate building altogether – thanks to auger and vacuum fuel delivery systems, or even sunk into the ground – even the most restricted sites can find a solution. For the best results, it is advisable to incorporate the heating solution into the design stage
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