Alternative to gas: an overview of automatic coal-fired boilers. Automatic and classic coal-fired boilers for heating system Automatic coal-fired boilers for home

08.03.2020 Heating

The price of automatic long-burning coal boilers partly depends on the exchange rate, since many goods are imported.

Coal-fired boilers with automatic fuel supply

Looking for an automatic coal fired boiler that can last more than one year? Then you need only original products from manufacturers responsible for their image. Our online store presents models that differ in their modifications and functionality. We are talking about both Russian and foreign boilers with automatic coal supply.

The price of an automatic coal boiler in the online store will delight you with its loyalty. Our company is the official dealer of the presented manufacturers, so you will not find unreasonable markups with us.

The automatic coal boiler has a lot of advantages, namely:

  • dosed supply of coal;
  • extended burning time after one load;
  • automatic shutdown of the device in case of overheating;
  • well-thought-out technologies that improve traction and thermal conductivity.

It is also worth noting that boilers of this category do not require special service. According to the experts, one annual scheduled inspection and cleaning is sufficient to keep the equipment in proper condition.

Automatic boilers on coal

A detailed description, photo and price of a solid fuel automatic coal-fired boiler are available in the catalog of the online store. If you need additional information about the technical features of a particular boiler, operating conditions or delivery times, call the indicated phone numbers and you will receive quick answers to all your questions.

You can also buy a coal-fired automatic boiler in St. Petersburg and Moscow in the company's stores, where you will not only be shown everything clearly, but also consulted on issues of interest.

Among the extensive family of heat generators that burn various types of biomass, a special place is occupied by solid fuel boilers with automatic fuel supply. They are becoming more and more in demand, because, unlike traditional wood-fired units, they fully satisfy one of the main user requirements - ease of maintenance and operation. In this article, we will review existing boilers with automated loading and see what types of solid fuels they can use for their work.

Types of automatic boilers

The main disadvantage of a solid fuel heat generator is the frequent loading of wood or coal. To eliminate it, you need to automate the supply of fuel, but this is not so simple, a device for loading logs has not yet been invented. But if the fuel has a loose structure, then it is much easier to solve the problem, which was done in the corresponding heating units. According to the types of bulk biomass burned, they are divided into the following types:

  • pellet boilers with automatic fuel supply;
  • coal automatic heat generators;
  • aggregates working on wood chips;
  • universal boilers.

Let's consider each of the presented types in more detail.

Pellet boilers

Pellets are a universal biofuel produced in the form of solid cylindrical granules. It is universal because a variety of waste wood and agricultural products are used as raw materials for its production: sawdust, wood chips, sunflower husks, straw, and so on. In turn, a pellet boiler is a perfect fully automated unit that requires human attention no more than 1-2 times a week. In addition to this advantage, the heat generator has others:

  • the highest operating efficiency among all solid fuel boilers - up to 90%;
  • high degree of automation, including ignition;
  • complete absence of inertia and the danger of overheating of the coolant. After the supply of fuel and air to the combustion zone is stopped, the flame dies out almost immediately;
  • environmental friendliness and cleanliness in the furnace room.

Of the shortcomings, only two significant ones should be noted: these are the high cost of equipment and service, as well as the need to store the pellets in a dry room so that they do not become damp and crumble.

All the advantages that a pellet boiler has come from the successful design of the fuel supply system and the burner. The unit itself is nothing special - a steel or cast iron combustion chamber with a two - or three-way heat exchanger, surrounded by a water jacket. Various sensors are built into the body of the boiler, which function in conjunction with the controller and transmit information to it about the presence of draft, temperature, pressure, water level in the boiler block, and so on.

Note. The units of some foreign manufacturers are designed to work with various types of flare burners. It is possible to install a natural gas burner, diesel fuel burner or - to choose from - in the same housing.

Much more interesting is how the automatic fuel supply to the combustion chamber of a pellet boiler is arranged. Here, the main element is the screw conveyor, which moves the pellets to the combustion zone.

Inside the auger, fuel is poured under its own weight from the hopper, and is dosed depending on the temperature of the coolant. It is monitored by the controller using the appropriate sensor and regulates the consumption of pellets, controlling the electric motor of the auger and the fan - air blower, thereby changing the thermal power of the unit. If the loading hopper is close to emptying, then the controller informs the homeowner about this at the signal of the sensor, and then stops the operation.

Many automated pellet feeding systems can be controlled remotely via a GSM connection or a mobile app for a smartphone. It depends on whether the controller has the corresponding function.

Automatic boilers for coal and wood chips

The device and principle of operation of these units is not much different from pellet ones. The screw conveyor in the same way supplies coal to the furnace at the command of the control unit, the air injection and ignition also work. The difference is in the design of the auger itself, for coal it is made more massive, respectively, the power of the electric motor is increased. In addition, a coal-fired solid fuel boiler with automatic fuel supply requires fuel of a certain quality and moisture content. This is due to the design features of the retort burner used in such heat generators.

Heating units that burn wood chips have one additional function in the feeder - wood chipping. After all, the length of the chips can be different and it is impossible to provide an auger for it. To make the size of the chips the same, a rotary chopper knife is built into the supply pipe between the hopper and the auger. Both the conveyor and the knife are driven by a single powerful electric motor. Such products are offered by many European manufacturers, for example, the Austrian automatic solid fuel woodchip boiler FROLING.

A little about universal units. Their convenience is that in case of a lack of any type of bulk fuel, you can switch to ordinary firewood at any time. For this, the design provides an additional combustion chamber for laying wooden logs. Of course, the efficiency in this case is significantly reduced (from 90 to 80%), since the heater operates in the mode of a simple solid fuel boiler. One more circumstance should be noted: each manufacturer of automatic boilers is trying to expand the range of fuels burned by modernizing the supply system. Therefore, some products, in addition to pellets, can use coal dust, eco-peas and even sunflower seed husks. An example of this is the Polish universal boilers DEFRO DUO UNI.

Conclusion

We are already accustomed to the idea that the operation of a solid fuel boiler requires constant supervision, frequent loading and maintenance. But progress does not stand still, every year new models of automatic units appear at exhibitions and the market, relieving us of the duties of a home stoker.

Solid fuel boilers with automatic fuel supply differ in price depending on the following parameters:

  • unit power;
  • manufacturers policy;
  • functional;
  • manufacturing materials and so on.

When choosing a solid fuel boiler with automatic fuel supply, you should initially pay attention to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe heated room, the required equipment configuration and price range. Indeed, today a lot of manufacturers are able to offer progressive heating equipment that can show its best side. Heating equipment with automatic supply is equipped with special control microcontrollers, which regulate the required mode of operation. This is not only about automatic fuel supply, but also about control over the entire functioning system.

Solid fuel boilers with automatic fuel supply

When choosing automatic solid fuel boilers, you should initially pay attention to the following varieties:

  • units with several furnaces or burners, which allows you to simultaneously work in different modes;
  • technology that boasts the highest energy efficiency;
  • , which can easily function without constant supervision for up to one week (7 days).

You can buy an automatic long-burning solid fuel boiler in Moscow and St. Petersburg not only in the online store, but also in our outlets in these cities. Their address and phone numbers are available on the website.

Why is it worth buying automatic solid fuel boilers for heating a country house or cottage? Initially, it is worth remembering the following advantages:

  • the versatility of such units capable of using different types of fuel;
  • the possibility of manual loading of fuel in case of power failures;
  • simple and intuitive control panel;
  • inexpensive service;
  • durability of operation.

According to the reviews of the owners who bought this heating equipment, their heating costs have significantly decreased. This is due not only to the relative cheapness of solid fuels, but also to the economical operation of modern boilers with automatic feeding of sawdust, pellets, wood chips or other fuel options.

Automatic solid fuel boilers for long burning

In our catalog, you can easily sort solid fuel boilers with automatic fuel supply by price, which will help you quickly find the right option that suits your budget. If you have any difficulties related to the choice of a particular model, call the indicated numbers and our managers will provide professional advice. They will be able to answer all your questions, spending a minimum of your time.

Every visitor can order an automatic solid fuel boiler in the online store, regardless of the region of the country. We deliver to any point in Russia.

You can buy an automatic solid fuel boiler in our online store in 1 click, spending just a few seconds. In addition to purchasing the necessary equipment, you can also order installation or design from us.

Content
  1. Automatic boiler "Yamal" long burning
  2. Coal boiler "Barin" with automatic feed
  3. Solid propellant automatic boiler "Carborobot"
Introduction

The problem of organizing the automatic supply of solid fuel has always worried the developers of solid fuel boilers. If in the case of firewood it is quite problematic to organize it, then when using coal and pellets, the situation looks more real. Today in our review we will look at the most popular automatic coal-fired boilers, and how they implement the mechanism for delivering fuel to the combustion zone.

Automatic feeding of pellets is most often done using a soft or hard auger. It is possible to deliver coal to the furnace with a screw conveyor only if its fractions are sufficiently small and homogeneous, and most often this is not the case. Today we will consider several coal-fired boilers, in which the mechanism for automatically supplying fuel from the bunker to the combustion chamber is implemented in different ways.

Everyone who has heated their home with coal knows about the main problem of this fuel, which prevents it from being automatically fed into a solid fuel boiler. Usually, its fractions differ in size, hence the automation of feeding in the form in which it is implemented, for example, in pellet boilers, becomes impossible. The developers of the Yamal automatic coal boiler solved this problem by applying a completely new feeding method that can work effectively even with fractions of different sizes.

Photo 1: Household coal boiler "Yamal" with automatic feed

The essence of this method, like all ingenious, is extremely simple. A conveyor is installed inside the hopper with inclined walls, picking up pieces of coal and lifting them higher and higher. At the highest point there is a toothed crusher, which passes fractions of suitable size, and those that are larger either split on its teeth or fall back into the bunker. As you can see, the mechanism does not contain complex structures, and even if it fails, anyone can set it up with their own hands.


Photo 2: Automatic loading of coal into the furnace of the Yamal boiler

The operation of the Yamal boiler is fully automated. Fuel supply, ignition, slag discharge, power adjustment - all these processes occur automatically under the supervision of an electronic control unit. When the fuel bunker is completely filled and the diesel burner is filled, the coal-fired boiler is able to independently heat the room for 20 days.

The manufacturer produces three Yamal models of different capacities. Below are their main technical data:

Taking into account the fact that pellets have not yet become widespread in our country, a robotic coal heater is perhaps the only affordable way to organize an autonomous solid fuel heating system in our country. We talked in more detail about the Yamal automatic long-burning coal boiler in one of our previous reviews.

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In the solid fuel boiler "Barin" automatic feed is organized in a slightly different way. Here the bunker is located above the boiler, and the coal under the influence of gravity descends into the combustion chamber. Its caking on the walls of the fuel tank is prevented by a system of collapsers.

Having passed the shaft connecting the furnace and the bunker, surrounded by a water jacket, the coal enters the water-filled grate, where it is burned. The design of the shaft makes it possible to pre-dry the fuel, for its more efficient combustion in the furnace of the boiler "Barin". Hollow grates are filled with coolant both to increase the heat removal area and to prevent coal from burning to their surface. Directly below them is the first compartment of the ash pan, which accumulates mainly fine ash.


Photo 3: Automatic solid fuel boiler "Barin"

Burnt-out coal collides into the second compartment of the ash pan with the help of a screw mechanism. In the path of flue gases, still containing unburned fuel particles, there is a secondary afterburner chamber lined with fireclay bricks. Here, high-temperature afterburning of gases takes place, after which they, having passed through the system of a tubular heat exchanger, are discharged into the environment through a chimney.

Management and control of the boiler is carried out by an automatic control system. It maintains the combustion process at the required level, controls temperature and pressure, and also performs many other functions. The task of the owner is to set the necessary operating parameters once, and then only add coal to the bunker and periodically clean the ash pans.

The table below shows some of the technical characteristics of the automatic boiler "Barin":

You can learn more about the device, operation, advantages and disadvantages of an automatic heating boiler at the Barin coal from a special review on our website kotlydlyadoma.ru dedicated to this model.

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Coal boilers "Carborobot" are produced in two modifications: Classic and Classic Bio. The first one is intended for combustion exclusively of brown coal, and in the second it is also possible to use various biomass, such as wood chips, pellets, husks.

Structurally, this unit consists of a main body with a furnace and a heat exchanger, on top of which a fuel bunker is fixed. Inside, the steel case is divided into two parts by a partition, in which there is an opening through which hot gases from the front end into the back.


Photo 4: Long-burning coal boiler "Carborobot"

The first compartment of the Carbobot boiler is located directly under the bunker and is a combustion chamber and a large ash pan. The process of fuel combustion takes place on a rotating cast-iron drum, and the resulting ash falls into the ash box.

In the second compartment, located behind the first, there is a tubular heat exchanger. Passing through it, flue gases give up their energy to the coolant and then are discharged into the atmosphere.

The entire process of the boiler is controlled by electronics through several motors. At her command, the stepper motor turns the grate drum, dumping burnt fuel into the ash pan and supplying a new portion from the bunker. The smoke exhauster motor creates forced draft, directing hot gases into the chimney through a heat exchanger.

In one of the recent reviews on our website, we considered the Russian Prometheus coal-fired boiler with automatic feed, which, like two drops of water, is similar to the Carbobot both internally and externally.

The table below shows the technical characteristics of household boilers "Carbobot" Classic:

In addition to the above, watch a short video about the Carbobot coal boiler:

Back to the table of contents Conclusion

After analyzing several models of automatic boilers, we can draw some conclusions. Most models are demanding on the size of coal fractions and are able to work autonomously for a long time only when loaded with fuel of the required quality. Therefore, if you have a reliable supplier of fine coal, you can safely buy a coal machine for heating your home.

kotlydlyadoma.ru

Types and features of automatic solid fuel boilers

The absence of a gas pipe in a suburban village is the reason that the house heating system will be based on other types of fuel: electricity, solid fuel or liquid. Traditionally, consumers choose solid fuel boilers, considering them more reliable, and the fuel used in them is available and cheap. True, such boilers have two drawbacks: you have to constantly monitor the loading of the furnace and turn off the unit if the house is left for several days. Both problems are quite serious, but they can be solved by using automatic solid fuel boilers.

The one who invented the design of this unit, himself, for sure, suffered for a long time, using a solid fuel boiler in his own house. The novelty caught on the market immediately. First, the economic side of the matter was fully respected. Secondly, this type of boilers works very efficiently. Thirdly, the issue of manual labor has finally been resolved.

A variety of automatic solid fuel boilers

  • Traditional type. These are conventional solid fuel boilers, the automation of which is manually adjusted. The air supply to the combustion chamber is regulated by a gate valve, the same can be said for the fuel supply, the temperature regime is set manually. These boilers have a big plus - they can work on any type of solid fuel.
  • Combined option. In this design, various devices are installed that support the combustion mode of a particular type of fuel. In some models, each type of fuel has its own combustion chamber; in others, you will have to modify the furnace. For example, installing a burner.
  • Pyrolysis heaters are a unique design that uses the technology of extracting thermal energy not only from fuel combustion, but also from the exhaust gas during combustion. In fact, these are automatic solid fuel boilers of long burning, where solid fuel does not burn, but smolders. These are by far the most expensive, but very popular heating devices. They have a fairly high efficiency - 90%. The only thing that sometimes repels consumers is the volatility of the boiler. But its functionality is at the highest level, all processes are performed automatically. We can say that pyrolysis boilers are a modern approach to solving problems related to heating a private house by automating the control and regulation of combustion processes.

Monoboiler with built-in bunker

Attention! The functioning of the pyrolysis boiler in the established mode can vary from one day to a whole month. But in this case, the setting of a certain mode does not depend on the design of the boiler itself and not on its functions, but on the volume of the bunker where solid fuel is poured.

Currently, in specialized stores, consumers can choose units that are different in power. This figure varies between 10-250 kW. The same can be said about diversity and fuel. Here are pellets, and coal granulate of various sizes, and sawdust, and a splinter, and so on.

The principle of operation of the boiler

An automatic solid fuel boiler is still the same ordinary boiler with a small addition in the form of a bunker, which is a kind of warehouse from where fuel is automatically supplied to the furnace of the heating unit. Therefore, specialists pay special attention to the installation process of all parts. Full and exact compliance is required, due to the instructions. If the installation process is carried out at the highest level, then we can talk about high-quality long-term operation of an automatic solid fuel boiler. Principle of operation

It is clear and without words that only granular types of solid fuel can be fed into the combustion chamber through the bunker. It will obviously be impossible to use firewood here. But that's not a problem either. Wood pellets are inexpensive, you can find them today in almost all stores. Although many models of automatic solid fuel boilers can use small wood waste in the form of wood chips or sawdust. But be careful, the product passport indicates whether they can be used or not. Because manufacturers put forward their own special requirements for each model.

Why are the requirements different? The thing is that the size of the supplied fuel particles, as well as their technical characteristics (humidity, density), play a special role. Some automatic models can easily accept even the smallest pieces of wood, in some medium sizes can be used. This is an important component of the efficient and long-term operation of boilers.

Fuel is supplied to the combustion chamber by means of an auger, which is rotated by a small electric motor. The bunker can be located as a stand-alone unit, or be integrated in the same building with the boiler. The most common unit at present is a solid fuel pellet boiler.

What are pellets

These are fuel pellets that are made from waste wood, peat, agricultural products (straw, corn cobs, chicken manure, etc.). These are the crushed materials described above, which are pressed into cylindrical granules of a certain size. The size of the pellets determines the possibility of their passage through the auger hole into the boiler furnace.

Pellets

By the way, for information: to make one ton of granular pellets, it is necessary to process from 2.3 to 2.6 m³ of wood. Plus, the production process itself requires thermal energy, which is released by burning another cubic meter of sawdust. Pellets are packaged in paper bags, the volume of bags can vary from 2 to 20 kg.

How are pellets different from regular firewood? Their humidity is 8-12%, for firewood it is at least 15%. The density is one and a half times higher. All this ensures high heat transfer of the fuel, even if it does not burn, but smolders.

Solid fuel boiler device

Automation

In automatic solid fuel boilers, the automation system performs several very important functions:

  • The temperature is set and controlled regardless of the weather conditions outside.
  • Ignition in most models is also carried out automatically.
  • Supply of pellets depending on the set operating mode of the boiler.

But the cleaning and cleaning of the combustion chamber will have to be done manually. It is not difficult, especially since the process itself is carried out once a week.

pyrolysis boiler

Currently, manufacturers of automatic solid fuel boilers offer different types of automatic systems that can:

  • Manage all processes remotely.
  • Set the temperature regime for several days, weekly, hourly, and so on. The smaller the mode setting step, the more modern the automation is used in the boiler, the more expensive the unit itself.

Requirements for the organization of the operation of solid fuel boilers

  • A separate room for the boiler room, which meets all fire safety requirements.
  • Well-functioning ventilation system.
  • The boiler is installed on a solid foundation (foundation or pedestal).
  • The surrounding structures of the solid fuel boiler must be built from non-combustible materials or be sheathed with them.
  • Correctly install the chimney under certain standards that require the model of the unit.

Correct installation

By the way, the chimney must be given special attention. It is his competently carried out installation that guarantees that the automatic solid fuel boiler will work efficiently, correctly and for a long time. That's why:

  1. The chimney pipe must be made of a heat-resistant material that could withstand metal corrosion processes.
  2. Optimal dimensions: diameter - 180 mm, length 4.0 m.
  3. The chimney must be insulated.
  4. Mandatory device of revision holes. The thing is that when solid fuels are burned on the chimney, soot is deposited in large quantities, which reduces the cross section of the pipe. And this is the reason for the decrease in traction. So you have to manually clean the chimney periodically. This process is unpleasant, but very necessary.

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otepleivode.ru

Types and features of automation for solid fuel boilers

It is impossible to imagine any heating equipment related to the heating of residential premises without automation. The equipment of heating devices with certain mechanisms, devices and devices not only increases the efficiency of the boiler equipment, but also ensures the safety of the operation of boiler equipment. A solid fuel heating boiler, although it is a high-tech device today, like other types of heating devices, needs to be equipped with automation.

Compared to classic solid fuel boilers, heating units manufactured today are the most automated devices. Automatic solid fuel boilers cope with their tasks without human intervention. During the periods between fuel fillings, the entire system is completely autonomous and independent, giving the output the optimal temperature regime in the house and hot water supply. Let us consider in more detail what automation is for heating solid fuel units.

The main functions that are assigned to automation

Before installing a solid fuel boiler, you should carefully study the principle of its operation and control mechanisms. The study of the processes of the working cycle of the heating device will allow you to understand how the devices and mechanisms that control the heating system work. What is automation for solid fuel boilers today, and what are its main functions.

The following functional tasks are assigned to automation:

  • ensuring optimal temperature conditions in the heating circuit;
  • performance of a controlling function for the operation of the pump and the three-way valve in the mixing circuit;
  • ensuring control over the operation of the circulation pump on the main heating circuit;
  • temperature control of water heating in the DHW system;
  • provide switching on/off of the three-way valve;
  • automation of boiler equipment is a set of equipment together with a room thermostat.

The diagram shows the usual piping of an autonomous heating system with installed automation.

Automation of many processes during the operation of solid fuel heaters makes it possible to achieve significant savings in the fuel resource and free the inhabitants of the house from the function of a stoker. Today, automation is a set of complex and energy-intensive devices, each of which solves a certain range of tasks and issues.

An automatic boiler is a unit that is able to work completely and completely offline, starting with fuel loading and ending with adjusting the heating temperature.

For reference: All processes, starting with fuel filling, ignition and control over turning on and off, are done automatically. without your participation. The presence of sensors and controllers allows the system itself to respond to a changing situation. Based on the parameters you set, the boiler operates in the established modes.

What are the types of automation

The possibilities of modern electronic devices included in the set of equipment for controlling the operation of the heater are quite wide, allowing you to configure the devices in accordance with your own priorities and desires. In most cases, the set of modern complex heating devices includes:

  • a computer that provides control of the heating device;
  • fan or air turbine.

Today it is possible to equip conventional semi-automatic solid fuel units of almost any kind with an automatic control unit of the Comfort Eco type. A semi-automatic solid fuel boiler equipped with such a kit can already perform most of the processes on its own. Sensors regulate the heating temperature of the coolant, the state of traction. All information is displayed on the screen. An ordinary pyrolysis boiler or a long-burning unit with automatic equipment becomes an order of magnitude more convenient to use and safer.

If everything is more or less clear with electronics, then the mechanical part should be dealt with in more detail. There is a classification of automation in terms of autonomy. In this case, it is customary to distinguish:

  • automation, volatile - powered by electricity;
  • automation, non-volatile, which does not require connection to the mains.

In the first case, the operability of the main devices is feasible only when the devices are connected to the power supply. To improve the safety of such devices, the autonomous heating system is equipped with a UPS. The first option looks preferable, since network-operated automation has more functionality.

The second case is focused on greater autonomy. Such options are very convenient in situations where power outages are frequent, and the heater is configured to work independently without unnecessary electronics.

Important! If your boiler is configured properly and works autonomously, without additional means of monitoring and recording the temperature, you need to visit the boiler room more often.

Advantages of boiler equipment on which automation is installed

The first thing that draws the attention of any owner of heating equipment is the ability of the heating device to independently regulate the heating temperature of the main heating circuit. Previously, everything was done by hand. He pushed the damper, the temperature began to fall and vice versa, he opened the blower, the boiler began to work more intensively, the temperature rises.

Modern automatic solid fuel boilers of long burning are able to work without human intervention for a long time (up to 48 hours), independently regulating all processes. It is only important for you to set the required temperature regime inside the dwelling. Thermal sensors respond to changes in room temperature by sending a signal to the central control panel. Already from there, a command is sent to turn on special pressurization fans that provide the combustion process with air.

The next important advantage that automation gives to solid fuel boilers is the independence of the heater in operation. Now there is no need to turn off the boiler when leaving and wait for it to cool down completely, while the heating system must be drained so that it does not defrost.

Today the situation has changed radically. With the help of automation, you can adjust the operation of the heating unit in the minimum (support) mode. In other words: You set your boiler to a specific temperature. While you are not at home, the boiler works in order to maintain minimum temperature indicators in the system. In order for the heater to start at maximum speed, it is enough to set the timer. You arrive, and your house is warm.

In the case of arson of solid fuel, the situation is generally simplified. A person is absolutely not needed for this. At the set time, the electric ignition will work and the boiler will start working.

The main emphasis in the latest models is on achieving the safest operating mode. Solid fuel units equipped with automatic control devices are able to regularly carry out self-diagnostics, detecting malfunctions in the operation of one or another element. For a solid fuel boiler, fast response remains important. The faster the devices and the system react to an emergency, an increase in pressure in the system, a sharp jump in temperature, the faster the system will stop automatically.

Solid fuel boilers with automatic feed

It is especially worth dwelling on the category of solid fuel heating devices that are equipped with devices and mechanisms that facilitate the work of the stoker. We are talking about such a type of boiler equipment as a solid fuel boiler equipped with an automatic fuel supply mechanism. A number of current heating units are equipped with special devices, with the help of which fuel is constantly loaded into the combustion chamber. Such devices are called pellet, because pellets go into the furnace - small, easily combustible granules made on the basis of wood waste.

Boilers with automatic fuel supply are considered one of the most efficient. The efficiency in such a device reaches 80-85%, due to the most complete combustion of fuel and automation of the process itself. Such equipment provides during operation the necessary comfort, cleanliness and coziness in the house. Solid fuel is carefully poured into the hopper and from there it is fed by a screw mechanism into the combustion chamber.

Note: in pellet aggregates, automation regulates not only the intensity of air supply to the burner, but also the amount of pellets entering the furnace. There are pellets on the burner, the unit is running, there are no pellets, the heater is turned off.

Solid fuel heating boilers, in addition to automatic fuel supply, are also equipped with a device that allows you to clean the ash pan without human hands.

Installation of automation

If you can install the boiler and lay the pipeline of the autonomous heating system yourself, then when equipping the heating device with control and automation devices, you will need the services of a specialist. Automation for solid fuel boilers requires careful and precise tuning. The process of installing and directly configuring the equipment is complex and painstaking. Therefore, saving in this case is not worth it.

The first thing specialists pay attention to when starting the installation of equipment is the installation of a ventilation system, which is based on a fan. The equipment is installed at the bottom of the heating device, in the place where the conventional damper is located. The fan is fastened firmly enough that it would not be torn off during operation. The next step is to install the controller. For a wood-fired boiler, such a device will be a real find. Typically, the controller is a heating unit control unit, which automatically contains various operation algorithms. The main thing here is to correctly place the sensors and make adjustments. After setting the system is connected to the power supply, the first test run of the heater is made.

In custody

Recently, more and more, the market for solid fuel boiler equipment has been replenished with advanced devices and control systems. Not only foreign models of boilers, but also most of the domestic manufacturers today rely on equipping heating devices with automation.

The control unit, which has a liquid crystal display, does an excellent job with the tasks assigned to it. Now heating devices are not only easy to control, they practically do not need to be controlled. Fine tuning of all elements of the control system will allow the heating equipment to respond with high accuracy to the slightest changes in temperature. Now your unit is not afraid of overheating or defrosting.

znatoktepla.ru

Coal-fired boilers Defro long burning: overview of characteristics

Each owner of a solid fuel heater is always looking for an opportunity to save on fuel and automate its loading. Solid fuel boilers are usually very demanding on the quality and size of raw materials, and you have to load it manually several times a day. Taking into account all these shortcomings, designers from Poland designed a model of a heating boiler that runs on coal of the lowest grade, which is also automatically fed into the furnace. In this article, we will look at Defro automatic boilers, their advantages, characteristics and design features.

Defro has been manufacturing solid fuel heating boilers for almost 50 years. Today it is the leader in the production of heating equipment in Poland, occupying 70% of the market. In its lineup there are both classic boilers without automation, and fully automatic complexes that can function autonomously for a long time. In our review, we will not touch on traditional devices, but will consider only models with automatic feed.

The main problem with heating with wood or coal is that it is necessary to constantly throw new portions of fuel into the boiler as it burns out. It is not possible to organize an automatic supply of firewood due to their different caliber and large sizes. With coal, the situation seems simpler, but the same heterogeneity of coal fractions prevents the organization of autonomous work.


Photo 1: Defro AKM coal-fired boiler with automatic feed

The only possible option is the use of fine-grained coal "peas" or low-quality coal fines. It was this type of fuel that Defro focused on in the production of coal-fired boilers.

To supply coal from the bunker to the furnace, a special piston mechanism was developed that pushes it through the connecting channel. After passing through the supply system, a portion of the fuel falls on a heat-resistant steel plate, over the entire area of ​​​​which there are holes for air supply. The air mixture is forced under the plate by a fan located at the rear of the boiler.


Photo 2: Polish solid fuel boiler "Defro AKM Duo"

In the upper part of the combustion chamber there is a ceramic plate that provides afterburning of gases. After that, having passed a complex labyrinth of a steel heat exchanger and giving maximum energy to the coolant, the exhaust gases are discharged into the chimney through the chimney pipe.

Defro hot water boilers can operate in the following modes:

    All processes occurring in the boiler are controlled by the controller. It regulates power, fuel supply, water temperature and pressure in the heating circuit, as well as many other parameters.

    In this case, the controller assumes only the task of monitoring the intensity of combustion and the state of the heating system. Fuel supply is carried out manually. In this case, it is possible to use different-sized coal or firewood.

    The controller is completely disabled. The air supply is manually controlled by a mechanical damper. The owner must also control other parameters of the heating system. Typically, this mode is used only during a short-term power failure.

Technical characteristics of automatic heating boilers Defro AKM:

Size 15 22 30 40 50 75
power, kWt 15 22 30 40 50 75
Heated area (up to), m² 130 180 260 360 450 720
Hopper capacity, kg 89 117 130 200 262 282
Efficiency, % 87 - 88
Chimney section, mm 160 165 190 215 230 290
Price, rub 207 920 240 925 261 110 315 845 369 220 467 850

As you can see, the Defro hot water boiler is not just a solid fuel heater, but an intelligent system that can function almost autonomously. It already bears little resemblance to a traditional heating device, such as, for example, a Dakon coal-fired domestic heating boiler.

In addition to the flagship Defro AKM line, several varieties are also available:

    It consists of two combustion chambers located one above the other and separated by water-filled grates. The upper chamber is used for burning coal or firewood in manual mode, and the lower chamber is equipped with a burner for automatic operation.

    A series of low-power automatic coal-fired boilers. Available in 5 sizes, with power from 11 to 27 kW. Structurally, they consist of two chambers: for automatic and manual work.

    Universal model with a new burner. In addition to coal, it is also able to work effectively on pellets, husks and other woodworking and agricultural waste.


Photo 3: Universal solid fuel boiler "Defro AKM Uni"

When designing the Defro AKM hot water boiler, many innovative solutions were applied. Let's look at their advantages over classic direct combustion boilers:

  • A heat exchanger of complex shape made of high-quality heat-resistant steel provides maximum heat removal;
  • The use of high-tech devices at the stage of combustion and heat removal makes it possible to achieve an efficiency of up to 87%;
  • Efficient emergency extinguishing system that does not require power supply;
  • The large combustion chamber is equipped with cast-iron grates for manual operation, for example, when the power is turned off;
  • A modern control system can control and manage the operation of not only the boiler itself, but also the underfloor heating, hot water supply, radiators;
  • A reliable fuel supply system performs its task stably and silently;

In one of our previous reviews, we considered an automatic hot water boiler at the Prometheus coal. However, the Polish "Defro" is a more advanced system with a wide range of options and adjustments.

We talked about the design, capabilities and advantages of Defro long-burning boilers. Now let's find out what the owners think about them, who have already managed to evaluate the capabilities of these devices in real conditions:

When planning a heating system for my country cottage, I considered several models of automatic heating boilers and eventually settled on Defro AKM DUO. At the moment I use crushed fine-grained coal in it, the burner burns it normally, there are no cakes. The only point is that the coal needs to be dry. If used wet, the heat transfer is significantly reduced. I tried to burn firewood in manual mode: a full firebox of birch firewood burns out in 3 hours, although there is a high inertia.

Ivan Sergeevich, Omsk
Photo 4: Small, low-capacity coal-fired boiler with Defro AKM Mini bunker

I bought Defro AKM for my private house quite recently, so far I just installed it and tied it up, started small fires. As for the boiler, I want to say the following, it is made very high quality, it looks attractive. A lot of settings and modes, it’s hard to figure it out right away. As a fuel, I use grade D coal with fractions of 0-30 mm. According to the first impressions, it burns very well, the burning interval between servings picked up the optimal equal to 3 minutes, set the blowing to 40%. The temperature in the heating system rises quickly. The main feature of the Defro burner is that it does not sinter cakes - the output is just ash.

Oleg Viktorovich, St. Petersburg
Photo 5: Installation and connection of the automatic boiler "Defro" in the boiler room

For a long time choosing between coal and pellets, I came across a boiler with a Defro AKM Uni universal burner. I tried to heat with coal, but having stopped the floor of the bunker, I did not find the optimal settings so that there were no cakes. I tried to mix coal with pellets 50 to 50, there are no cakes - normal ash. In short, I will understand, adjust. Easy to clean, everything is available. It is better to do this with a special vacuum cleaner, the procedure is much faster.

Valery Pavlovich, Moscow

For more information about Defro brand boilers, see the following video:

Defro boilers with automatic coal supply are a new generation of solid fuel heating devices. In our country, they are not yet very popular, mainly because of their high cost. Prices for some models exceed half a million rubles. Agree, not everyone can buy such a device. And in most cases, for many country country houses, so common in our country, a simple and inexpensive model is suitable, such as a steel heating boiler with a Siberia Hephaestus hob.

Coal boilers are classified as solid fuel. With their help, you can heat the house with coal or wood. At the same time, modern models of devices can work in automatic mode. The automatic coal-fired boiler independently controls the operation process and ensures the efficiency of fuel combustion. A conventional coal-fired boiler works without automation and gives less efficiency. How are coal-fired boilers arranged, and what additional devices help them to work in automatic mode?

A coal stove or boiler is designed to produce heat by burning solid fuel. This heat is spent on heating the coolant (water or other liquid antifreeze), which then enters the heating pipes. Charcoal heating has the highest heat capacity among other solid energy carriers (wood, pellets). It is used for seasonal heating of private houses, as well as for the operation of boiler houses that heat several rooms. Modern for heating a residential area more often uses natural gas. Coal heating is popular in small boiler houses that heat several houses, garages, workshops or other premises.

Capable of working on coal

Note: When coal is burned, carbon monoxide gases are formed, the temperature of which varies around 1300ºC. The efficiency (COP) of a classic coal-fired boiler is only 70%. A significant part of the thermal energy is lost due to incomplete combustion of gases. In improved models of boilers for heating with coal, the efficiency of work is higher - 80 and 90%. They burn fuel more efficiently with less smoke and soot. Such boilers are called pyrolysis.

Pyrolysis boilers

The pyrolysis unit has two combustion chambers. In the first, coal burns and carbon monoxide gases are formed, and in the second, the gases themselves burn out (they “burn out”, that is, the unburned particles contained in them are oxidized and emit heat). In this case, no smoke is generated at the outlet of the device. Thus, the efficiency of heating with coal increases, the completeness of its combustion is ensured and its consumption decreases (and hence the cost of heating). In pyrolysis boilers, the efficiency of energy consumption is 90-92%. At the same time, they are demanding on the moisture content of the fuel (up to 30%).


, operating principle

Long burning boilers

In addition to pyrolysis devices, coal is used for heating. Their work efficiency is less than pyrolysis (80-85%), but better than classic coal-fired boilers. In long-burning boilers, air is supplied exactly to the flame zone by a special blower. The intensity of fuel combustion and the temperature of the coolant depend on the amount of air, its temperature and feed rate.


Long-burning devices are demanding on the quality of the fuel (coal must be dry). Otherwise, soot accumulates on the pipes, which reduces efficiency and disables automation.

Conventional boilers for heating a house with coal have a minimum of automatic controllers. For their work, a separate room is needed - a coal boiler room. Pyrolysis units and devices for long burning are equipped with automation. It provides control of work and the absence of carbon monoxide, which allows them to be installed inside domestic premises. What ensures the uninterrupted operation of heating units?

About solid fuel boilers for long burning

Automatic boilers: device and advantages

Note: An automatic coal boiler differs from the usual one by the presence of additional appliances. Automatic controllers free a person from the need to control, as well as increase efficiency and reduce coal consumption and the amount of ash generated.


What does automation do?

  • Control and supply of coal to the furnace. The design of the unit has a filling hopper with an auger (or drum) for automatic fuel supply. At the same time, it is enough for a person to replenish the supply of coal in the bunker every few days (from 3 to 10).
  • Control and supply of air to the combustion zone. Controlled supply and preheating of the air mixture also ensures the uniformity of fuel combustion and the efficiency of the device. The efficiency of fuel combustion in an automatic unit is 90% (for comparison, a stationary coal stove has an efficiency of 60%, a classic boiler - 70%).
  • Automatic dumping of ash by movable grates.

Autonomous mode of operation of the unit is determined by the specified parameters. The owner of the house sets the temperature value for heating the liquid and the temperature inside the room. In accordance with them, automation activates combustion or maintains a smoldering mode (up to 5 days). Continuity of combustion allows ignition to be done once per heating season.


Powerful Automatic Coal Boiler

How does automation work? Based on the analysis of the temperature inside the boiler and in the coolant tank, the pressure values, commands are sent to the air supply controller. An increase in the rate of its supply or its decrease leads to an increase in combustion or its weakening. Which in turn regulates the heating temperature of the liquid inside the heat exchanger.

Automatic controllers run on electrical energy. Therefore, boilers with automation are called volatile. They require a source of electricity (socket, battery).

Model range of automatic coal boilers Defro

Devices for heating with coal are more expensive than wood-burning ones by 20-40% of their cost. But the use of automation can reduce heating costs. Customer reviews confirm that coal consumption savings in some automatic boilers reach 50%. This makes coal heating profitable for individual houses, workshops, workshops and other isolated premises.


Boiler device

Boilers for heating with coal have the following device:

  • Coal furnace. At the bottom of the firebox is a grate. In automatic boilers, the rotation of the grate helps to dump the ash into the ash box (located below the combustion chamber). The size of the furnace depends on the availability of the bunker and automatic fuel supply. If there is such a supply, the size of the furnace may be small. If there is no supply, then the firebox should be large in order to accommodate as much coal as possible and increase its burning time.
  • A heat exchanger is a container in which water circulates. Depending on the design of the heat exchange tank, there are boilers with a water jacket and tubular. In the "water jacket" design, the water washes the combustion chamber. This is how most of the long-burning boilers are arranged. At the same time, the shirt itself is located along the entire firebox and descends to the ash compartment. In a tubular design, water tanks have the form of pipes that pass through the top of the firebox in a horizontal, vertical or inclined position.


  • Block of automation and security.

Coal and wood boiler: what is the difference?

The technical passport of solid fuel boilers indicates that they can run on any type of solid fuel (wood, coal, pellets, briquettes). However, there are some differences between wood and charcoal devices. Let's specify them:

  • The size of the heat exchanger capacity is determined by the value of 5-25% of the capacity of the entire heating system. That is, if you have about 500 liters circulating in the heating pipes (this is about 30 batteries, each of which contains 15 liters), then the capacity of the heating boiler should be from 23 to 120 liters. With a more accurate choice of the size of the tank, the type of fuel on which the unit will operate is taken into account. The greater the heat capacity of the energy carrier, the greater should be the volume of liquid that is heated inside the boiler. When heating with coal, the volume of the water tank is larger than when heating with wood. It approaches higher values ​​(in the case of the given example, to 120 liters). The small capacity of the boiler is suitable for wood heating.

  • The combustion of coal is often accompanied by the formation of a large amount of carbon monoxide, the ejection of unburned particles into the pipe, their deposition on the walls and pipes in the form of soot. Unlike coal, wood produces cleaner gases and produces less soot. Therefore, for safe and efficient heating with coal, it is better to use pyrolysis coal stoves or long-term upper combustion boilers.

Automatic coal-fired boilers can reduce the cost of winter heating at home and provide autonomous heating. At the same time, automatic boilers give out a stable temperature, do not require daily monitoring and waste of time.

About heating using a Buderus boiler