Hydronic-Based Biomass Heating Systems

This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.

Topics Include: Instructor introduction, course structure, overview of wood-based fuel options, overview of wood fueled heat sources, Thermal energy in wood, Cost of wood-based fuels relative to other options, environmental benefits of wood-based heating, realistic expectations.

Topics Include: High efficiency attained at high rates of heat production, typical operating cycle, why thermal storage is critical, why boilers require protection from low water temperatures, overheat protection options, how to provide that protection, how to size a wood gasification boiler, boiler maintenance requirements, European hydronic wood stoves, overview of an example system.

Topics Include: Time to initiate heat production, ability to modulate output, why storage is important, why pellet-fired boilers require protection from low water temperatures, how to provide that protection, automatic cleaning systems (pneumatic and mechanical scrapers), bulk pellet storage and conveyance options, maintenance requirements, how to size a pellet-fired boiler, auxiliary boiler integration, multiple boiler systems, overview of an example system.

Topics Include: fuel characteristics and specification, time to initiate heat production, ability to modulate output, when and where should wood chip boilers be considered, wood chip conveyance systems, why wood chip boilers require protection from low water temperatures, how to provide that protection, Automatic cleaning systems (pneumatic and mechanical scrapers), maintenance requirements, how to size a wood-chip boiler, small scale systems, auxiliary boiler integration, multiple boiler systems, overview of an example system.

Topics include: Pressurized versus unpressurized storage, code requirements, space considerations, volume calculations, piping connections to tank, determining storage size for wood gasification boiler systems, determining storage size for pellet-fired boiler systems, stratification & temperature stacking, heat scavenging, standby heat loss, examples of available hardware, maintenance requirements.

Topics include: Low temperature radiant panel options for floor, wall, and ceilings, panel radiators, fan-assisted panel radiators, low temperature fin-tube convectors, homerun distribution systems, parallel distribution systems.

Topics include: High efficiency circulators, distribution efficiency, air & dirt separation, hydraulic separation, auxiliary boiler integration, expansion tanks.

Topics include: Outdoor reset control, staging, mixing options, on-demand domestic water heating sub-assembly.

Topics include: Piping design, control design, descriptions of operation. Examples include: 1) A combisystem using a wood gasification boiler, auxiliary boiler, unpressurized storage, floor heating. 2) A combisystem using pellet-fired boiler, mod/con auxiliary boiler, pressurized storage, radiant ceiling heating. 3) A combisystem using a European hydronic wood stove, pressurized storage, panel radiators

Topics include: Piping design, control design, descriptions of operation, course summary. Examples include: 1) Small-scale wood-chip boiler system, floor heating. 2) Multiple pellet-fired boiler system, low temperature convectors. 3) Pellet-fired boiler, mod/con auxiliary boiler, floor heating.

This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!