Wood pellet storage risks.

[CHJ]

Talking to my Son who lives in Bavaria this morning he mentioned a local high level emergency with several people admitted to hospital with Monoxide poisoning while handling wood pellets, apparently becoming a more prevalent problem as wood pellet is the designated eco heating on new builds in the area and wood boilers are usually mounted in underground basements.

Checking I see that HSE has a reference here

I guess taking delivery of bulk fresh supplies, especially with current daily heat levels needs particular caution regarding ventilation.

 

[duke]

When we had a wood pellet stove, maybe for three years, other than four or five bags stored inside the bulk was stored in our well ventilated garage.

 

[Cabinetman]

Reading the link it seems that even a relatively small quantity of the pellets can cause the gas to be present, it seems that freshly cut Wood particularly pine that contains fatty acids that when abraided in a hot atmosphere can produce the gas, (makes you wonder how us woodworkers have survived.)
The chips from a spindle moulder collected up in an extractor bag could give off the gas, who knows we might have been affected but by only small quantities which could still reduce the amount of oxygen in our blood temporarily.
Interesting but I don’t think we need to be worried.
Ian

 

[AJB Temple]

We looked at using a wood pellet system (with grant) but it is very expensive. In the UK you really need a room or outbuilidng for bulk chip storage, plus a room for the boiler and an automated feeder system ideally. The main issue for us was that it seems quite difficult to get a reliable supply of pellets and price volatility seemed excessive.

Hence we are replacing the oil boiler this september, and will install a ground source heat pump in the next couple of years. possibly only serving the restaurant and studio. This is possible because I need to dig some foundations anyway.

 

[RogerS]

Adrian I’m sure you’re across it all but a neighbour two house moves ago, worked at Qinetic, brain the size of a planet but zero commonsense….as in paying the builder everything up front.. . I digress. He had the most complex spreadsheet looking at all forms of low cost energy including ground source heat pumps. Once he realised just how big the area was that he needed for a horizontal source, ended up going vertical.

 

[Accipiter]

Related... not related to this thread... ...

Visited out local Dobbies garden centre just over a week ago before going on hols... they'd some different size outdoor heaters available... long glass tube and gubbins for feeding it. Out of brief curiosity went to check them over. Turns out they're fed small wood pellets... heck of a price.

For the past 3 maybe 4 years - could be more - we've been using wood pellets in the cat trays rather than cat 'litter'... Sold as wood pellets FOR cat litter trays. Easier to dispose of without too much waste input through a garden sieve to remove the loose and softened pellets. Then these loose particles are recycled with the garden waste at the recycling centre.

Did wonder a few months ago why one store we used was no longer stocking wood pellets cat litter... now I think I know...

 

[AJB Temple]

Adrian I’m sure you’re across it all but a neighbour two house moves ago, worked at Qinetic, brain the size of a planet but zero commonsense….as in paying the builder everything up front.. . I digress. He had the most complex spreadsheet looking at all forms of low cost energy including ground source heat pumps. Once he realised just how big the area was that he needed for a horizontal source, ended up going vertical.

Thanks Roger. Not really across it, but will be when the time comes. We are thinking of building an open barn in a dry area of the garden, basically replicating one at the Himalayan gardens near Sevenoaks. I'll do a post when I've thought it through. My wife wants a pond (think small moat) surround. Building about 15 by 8 yards ish. Plus the water bit. If I excavate this lot for foundations etc then it might make sense to pipe it. That is as far as I have got so far. Climate change is a factor as this is one of three lawns and is the most exposed to summer extreme heat. Of course, we don't need heating in summer though. It is usually waterlogged in winter. A

 

[Blackswanwood]

The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from wood pellets isn’t new. We’ve had a Hargassner wood pellet boiler for 12 years and it was discussed when that went in. It’s managed by air vents just above floor level. I believe on the continent it has been the practice to put the pellet store and plant in a basement which probably heightens the risk.

The risk is heightened when pellets are new. Pellets used for fuel in the UK should be Enplus certified which governs what they are made of and the manufacturing process. Pellets used for animal bedding are not certified. I doubt pellets for pizza ovens and small garden heaters present much of a risk as they are going to be bought and stored in relatively small quantities.

In my experience the price of pellets tend to fluctuate with the wholesale price of gas. They burn very efficiently and our system (which was costed against oil, air source and ground source) has delivered well.

For Ground Source Heat pumps as a rule of thumb the start point is a coil area of 2.5 times the area to be heated on a new build. Much depends on the standard of the insulation for older properties and the geology of the site also is a factor in determining how much area is needed.