here - Sidl Masonry Heating

www.masonryheating.com
(250) 898-3430
[email protected]
A comfortable living environment is one of our most basic demands. In colder climates, adequate
heating is one of the major challenges in obtaining this living environment. Interruption of supply of
energy used for heating, either oil or natural gas, has an impact on millions of people. Statistics show
that the costs for heating are steadily increasing and are highly volatile to the global markets. The
individual person has seldom any choice or alternatives.
According to BC statistics (Environmental Statistics December
2008 , Issue: 2008-3), 50% of British Columbians’ monthly
energy bill is dedicated to home heating. The use of new
technologies such as heat pumps and improved products (e.g.
high efficiency gas furnaces) do not always provide the
expected results. All the technologies require electricity to
function. In regards to environmental concerns, the negative
aspects of gas and oil exploration must be considered.
For thousands of years, wood has been a major source for
heating and cooking. Falsely assumed, wood heating has
become an issue in many cities. Environmental concerns are
the driving force behind the negative statements in regards to
wood heating.
In Europe, especially Austria, Germany and Switzerland, the
concept of wood-fired masonry heaters have been used for
hundreds of years. Based on experience and a calculated
approach, masonry heating is now an established heating
concept with many advantages: proven performance and very low pollution. In regards to the
environmental impact involved in the procurement of gas and oil, wood fired masonry heaters are
superior.
There are different explanations for what a
masonry heater is, as well as various different
concepts of design. We focus on the Austrian
masonry heater called “Kachelofen”. The
English translation for it is “Tiled Stove;” this
is not descriptive enough, and is most often
incorrect. In Austria, a “Kachelofen“ is a
masonry heater in which two thirds of the
surface is covered in special ceramic tiles. If
this is not the case, it is called a “Grundofen”.
Wood is placed on the ground (grund) of the
fire chamber, without any stand or ash
collector. Technical aspects, concepts and
performance are the same for both types.
Because of the custom built design, a masonry
heater can be built to fit any location and be part of the architectural layout, rather than just a functional
device. A masonry heater’s appearance depends on the customer’s aesthetic wants and heat
requirements.
Any heating device will not provide
energy without fuel. A furnace cools
down without gas or oil supply; the same
is true for a conventional wood stove.
Masonry heaters will store the heat from a
single burn process into the stove’s mass
and slowly emit this heat into the home
over a longer period of time. The burn
cycle is normally 1-1.5 hours for a 12
hour period of heat release.
A masonry heater consists of an inner
core and an outer shell. There is no
contact between inner core and outer
shell. This ensures that any thermal
expansion of the core, due to the very
high burn temperatures, is not be
transferred to the outside, as well as more
uniform temperature. If contact were to occur, cracks in the stucco would form. European masonry heaters are
designed and calculated to provide the highest efficiency with the lowest possible emission values. Most
Grundofen are fired only one or two times per day.
The required heat output dictates the
amount of wood required per firing cycle
and the size of the fire chamber This
calculated value reflects the surface area for
the radiant heat, as well as the length and
the size of the heat exchange channels. An
Austrian masonry heater can be built to fit
any requirement.
Channel length and size are built to
optimize the heat transfer onto the
refractory material while providing enough
upwards draft into the chimney.
Radiant heat has been proven to have various health benefits. Due to the relatively low surface temperature of a
masonry heater, the exterior emits what is known as IF-B/IF-C waves which is regarded as comfortable and
beneficial to our well being. Radiant heat will not warm up the air but will be instead be absorbed by solids like
walls, furniture, people, etc. These objects will then in turn radiate heat outwards again. This process will
continue long after the burn cycle is over.
There is also a relationship between temperature of the surrounding walls and the air temperature of the room.
Having a lower wall temperature requires a higher air temperature in order for one to feel comfortable. Higher
air temperature causes more air movement and therefore creates different heat layers as well as dry out the air.
All of this dry circulating air makes for an uncomfortable living environment. Keeping the wall temperature
higher means the air temperature can be lower and a more comfortable humidity level is present. Radiant heat
therefore creates a comfortable living environment.
Masonry heaters use no moving parts to circulate room air. This in turn results in a quite system that does not
create a draft in the home.
There is lots of discussion about the pollution made from burning wood, especially the PM (particle matter)
values produced. In order for a complete combustion to take place there are a few important things that are
required, most important correct air supply and very high burning temperatures .There is a difference between
PM caused by burning fossil fuel (especially diesel fuel) and the PM from the burning of wood. PM from fossil
fuel burning is more harmful than PM from wood.
Europe has much more restrictive emission laws regarding wood burning than the US and Canada.
This is a chart from the Austrian Kachelofen Association describing CO emissions in mg/MJ
To achieve the highest efficiency and keep emission values to a minimum,
wood must be burned at a very high temperature with adequate air supply.
Several factors are important in the efficient combustion of wood, and our
Austrian masonry heaters are designed to meet those
requirements.
Fire chambers are built according to the amount of wood
used in one burn cycle. If the fire chamber is too big or too
small, wood will be inefficiently burned. For wood to be
combusted properly, there must be high temperature,
adequate air turbulence, and sufficient time allowed. The
dimensions of the fire chamber take into account that wood
creates high burning flames, and that the volatile gases
must mix with the air supply. Emission values are highest
during the initial “start-up “ phase, and the goal is to reach
high temperatures very quickly. Unlike a conventional
wood stove or gas or oil furnace, the flame does not
provide the heat; the hot flue gases which heat the masonry
channel’s mass does. The hotter the gases are, the more
heat storage occurs, and the lower the emissions will be.
When entering the first channel, the gases have a
temperature of approximately 800 C and the entry
temperature into the chimney is approximately 180 -200 C,
depending on chimney size and height. The design used in
masonry heaters has therefore developed a method of
capturing and slowly releasing approximately 600 C of energy, with very little
ash remaining.
Surface Temperature Chart
100
s 90
u
is 80
l
e
C 70
in 60
e
r 50
u
ta
re 40
p 30
m
20
e
T
10
0
0
2
4
6
8
10
Time in hours
12
14
16
18
The materials used for Austrian masonry
heaters are specifically manufactured and are
not the same as standard refractory material.
Called “Schamotte,“ these refractory bricks and
plates must follow Austrian standards, and are
tested and certified for use in masonry heaters.
In order to ensure quality and performance, we
import all of our Schamotte from Austria.
In order to maintain the same standards, the
mortar and exterior stucco are also imported.
We use white stucco specifically designed use
on masonry heaters. White is the standard
colour for the stucco we use, however other
pigments or natural clay can also be used.
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The first layer of mortar over the outer shell.
The mortar is rated for a working temperature
of 1200 Celsius (2192 Fahrenheit).
The final coat of white masonry stucco.
The stucco is rated for a working
temperature up to 200 Celsius (392
Fahrenheit)
After the initial fire, the draft is closed, Austrian
masonry heaters become airtight systems. This means
that after the firing cycle is finished, the air supply is
completely shut down.
We provide two options for firing doors:
either solid cast iron or glass. Both come in
various sizes and are imported from Austria.
All doors and cleaning openings are manufactured from high quality
cast iron or stainless steel in Austria. Our masonry heaters are built to
certain requirements and only workmanship paired with exceptional
materials will ensure a superior product.
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The glass doors’ frame provides
The required air supply for the
Burning process. Internal (room)
or external (outdoor) air supply is
supported.
The glass doors are specifically
built to give an unobstructed view
of the fire.
Due to the built in air wash and the
very high burning temperatures no
cleaning is required
In this example, a well-insulated rancher home in a mild climate is to be heated with a centrally located.
Austrian masonry heater positioned in the main living area. The home is in an unshaded yet windy location. The
stove is to be on a 12 hour firing cycle.
Through calculation it can be determined that there is a requirement for a masonry heater with a heat output of
approximately 5 KW. This results in a maximum fuel load of 23.5 KG of wood per firing cycle. Depending on
the internal and exterior temperatures and the forecasted weather, less wood may be used. The minimum fuel
load is 50% of the maximum.
Through further calculation, the dimensions
for the fire chamber, burn out, and channels
are determined. The length of the channels and
the required heating surface are reliant on the
maximum fuel load.
All dimensions and lengths must be
incorporated into a design suiting the client’s
predetermined requests and desired style. In
this case, those requests detailed a
freestanding masonry heater with a relatively
small footprint. A simple yet modern design
was the choice style requested.
This masonry heater has a total of eight
internal channels, two vertical, and six
horizontal. The fire box and first six channels
use 6.5cm thick schamotte and reduces to 4cm
for the last two channels. The heater’s outer
shell is made with 3cm schamotte plates. The
WGS 45/37 double pane glass door with built
in air wash and delivery is chosen for this
heater. External air is drawn from the home’s
crawlspace. The heater in this case is
connected to an 18cm diameter chimney pipe.
Some configuration is needed in order to
balance the technical and aesthetic values
required to produce the optimal wood burning
heating device: an Austrian masonry heater.
Door size, heater shape, colour, wrap around benches, building through a wall or acting as a room divider are
just a few of the customizable options available for a client.
-Individually designed, calculated and built.
-Involves no moving parts producing noise.
-Extreme high efficiency, Upwards of 80%
-Regulates air humidity levels.
-Require little attention, one or two fires a day can heat for up to 24 hours.
-Wood burning is a renewable, CO2(Carbon Dioxide) neutral form of heating.
-Wood heating is the cheapest form of heating.
-Safest wood burning heating system.
-Creates very little pollution when compared to other wood stoves.
-Does not burn and re-circulate dust, good for people affected by asthma.
-Studies show radiant heat from masonry heaters help with arthritis and depression.
-Maintains a natural air ionization level, unlike metal stoves which produce harmful positive
ions.