Pellet boilers: prices and characteristics of models

Pellet boilers: prices and characteristics of models from different manufacturers

A pellet boiler is a steel or cast–iron unit that is used for heating rooms. Wood pellets (pellets) are used as heating raw materials for such equipment. Such furnaces are an alternative to gas-fired heating devices. From the article you will learn the main characteristics that pellet boilers have: prices, capacity, etc.

Pellet boilers have appeared on the market for a long time and have already established themselves as highly efficient heating systems

What is a pellet boiler?

In fact, such a device is a solid fuel furnace that heats the room by processing pellets. What is a pellet? These are cylindrical pellets made from wood waste (shavings, sawdust, bark). In some cases, such fuel is produced from peat or straw. It has high environmental indicators and does not cause an allergic reaction in people.

Pellets are used as fuel, which are pellets consisting of wood waste: pressed wood fragments, chips, shavings

How much does pellet fuel cost? The price of these pellets is determined depending on the quality and environmental indicators. To date, 1 kg of pellets can be purchased at a price of 6.6 to 9.7 rubles. Accordingly, it is not difficult to calculate and determine how much 1 ton of such raw materials will cost.

The main difference between pellet boilers and conventional solid fuel devices is the possibility of full automation of the workflow. Thus, pellet structures are able to function with minimal human intervention.

Useful information! Fuel pellets can easily deteriorate in a room with a high humidity level, so they must be stored exclusively in a dry place.

Advantages and disadvantages of a pellet oven

To date, pellet units are the main competitors of gas heating equipment. Consider the advantages of using boilers operating on solid fuel pellets:

• high efficiency (up to 97%);

Important advantages of pellet boilers are its small size, reliability during operation and ease of maintenance

• the operation of such furnaces is completely safe due to high environmental performance;
• solid-fuel water heaters of other types do not have such a gorenje duration;
• they are unpretentious in maintenance and have a high level of automation;
• they can be equipped with remote sensors that determine the temperature;
• The pellet unit can be controlled remotely, via a GSM module or a mobile application.

Like any other device, the pellet machine has some disadvantages. Consider them:

• the cost of a unit of heat released during the processing of compressed wood pellets is quite high;
• for the autonomous operation of the boiler at a remote site located outside the city, it is necessary to purchase a generator and additional technical equipment.

The cost of pellet raw materials per month is about 1 ton, which makes it easy to calculate the total cost of heating with such a solid fuel boiler. Forums on the Internet contain a lot of additional information about the features of use, as well as the pros and cons of such equipment.

Consumers are attracted by the relatively low cost of pellet boilers, the availability of fuel material and ease of maintenance, due to the automation of the heating process

Varieties of pellet boilers

First of all, today you can find two types of pellet boilers, depending on the fuel used:

• actually pellets;
• combined.

For the operation of the first units, only granular raw materials are used. And combined models can function both on pellets and on other fuels. For example, a very common variant of a boiler that processes sawdust.

Another important point is the design of the gas burner. Depending on the type of this element , the following types of furnaces are distinguished:

• torchlight;
• retort.

Useful information! Retort burners are used in units that function by processing only pellets, and flare burners are used in combined designs.

Depending on the model, pellet boilers can operate in fully automatic, semi-automatic or mechanical mode

And it is also worth noting that the supply of fuel raw materials to the bunker can be different. Depending on this , the following types of boilers are distinguished:

• automatic;
• partially automatic or semi-automatic;
• mechanical.

The operation of pellet boilers with automatic feeding is regulated by programming boilers by specialists. In the second case, the oven requires manual adjustment. And mechanical feeding implies manual delivery of pellets to the hopper of the heating unit.

The choice of pellet boilers with a water circuit or other models depends on the specific case. Before purchasing this device, it is recommended to take into account the peculiarities of the climate in your region. And it is also advisable to go to several specialized forums and read reviews. A pellet boiler can be an excellent option for heating in a non-gasified region, however, its choice should be approached with special care.

The process of automatic feeding of pellets into the hopper of the heating unit

Features of the pellet furnace device

The unit, operating on fuel pellets, includes three main departments:

• furnace;
• convective;
• ashtray.

Furnace department. It is represented by a chamber in which solid fuel pellets are gorenje. It is equipped with a flare or retort gas burner and has two doors (inspection and cleaning).

Convective department. It has a built-in heat exchanger. Depending on the location, there are three types of heat exchangers: vertical, horizontal, and combined. In this department, the coolant (water) is heated with hot air, which is released during the processing of fuel pellets. The design of the heat exchanger can be either tubular or lamellar.

Pellet boilers in most cases are used only for heating purposes and have one circuit. However, there are units on the market with two circuits: heating and water heating.

Standard pellet boiler design

Ashtray. This section of the furnace is necessary for the collection of waste that is formed during the processing of pellets. After that, they are removed through the cleaning door.

The above-mentioned structural elements of a pellet solid fuel boiler

represent the main part of it. But for the operation of the furnace, another important component is needed, namely: the APT prefix (automatic fuel supply).

Let’s consider which devices are part of the APT set-top box:

• bunker;
• auger;
• fan.

A bunker is a metal tank into which fuel is filled for processing. From this tank, the fuel enters the furnace department in parts. Depending on the location, there are two types of bunkers: internal (built-in) and external. The auger is an important element of the APT and is necessary for the batch feeding of pellets. It is driven by a special gear unit.

Diagram of a pellet boiler with a hopper

Pay attention! The fan is needed so that in the absence of natural traction, the fuel does not stop burning.

And also the device of the pellet furnace provides for the presence of a control panel. It is necessary in order to set the parameters of the solid fuel processing process and maintain the required temperature.

Pellet boilers with Kits: technical characteristics

Kiturami company is engaged in the production of furnaces that operate on solid pellets in South Korea. To date, the most popular model of this campaign is Kiturami KRP 20-A Premium.

Among the positive qualities of Premium brand pellet boilers, first of all, it is worth noting the high level of efficiency, which reaches 94%. The burner in such devices is regulated electronically. And they also have a modified version of the bunker.

Kiturami Premium 20-A is characterized by high fire resistance and has special protection against overheating. Such a boiler is controlled remotely (by remote control).

The pellet boiler Kiturami, a South Korean manufacturer’s company, is an excellent alternative to devices operated on gas, outside the reach of the gas pipe

Let’s consider the main technical features of this unit:

• the power of the device is 24 kW;
• weight – 310 kg;
• the hopper has a capacity equal to 160 kg;
• the area that such a boiler is capable of heating is 300 m2;
• the consumption rate of pellets is 5.5 kg/h.

The KRP 20-A Premium model has a two-circuit design and is used for heating and water heating. The South Korean manufacturer provides a 2-year warranty on its products. The approximate price of a boiler on pellets of this type is 210,000 rubles.

Features of OPOP BIOPEL pellet stoves

The units of this brand are manufactured in the Czech Republic and are of high quality. Such boilers are made of steel, which has good heat resistance. The power of the devices from OPOP BIOPEL ranges from 10 to 200 kW (depending on the furnace model). Such a spread allows you to choose a device for both household needs and for heating small industrial premises.

Products from OPOP BIOPEL are equipped with large built-in containers for pellets. Heat exchangers in such devices are located in a vertical plane, which allows to increase the efficiency of a pellet boiler with automatic feeding up to 92%.

Opop Biopel pellet boilers of Czech production with a fully automated process of firing pellets and automatic gorenje control have excellent efficiency indicators and pay off quickly

Useful information! Separately, it should be said that a turbulence system is installed in OPOP BIOPEL products. It allows you to stabilize the thrust and the process of converting solid raw materials into heat.

If necessary, such a furnace can be controlled via the Internet. Consider the additional functions of OPOP BIOPEL heating equipment:

• self-cleaning system of the heat exchanger or burner;
• ash removal system.

Related article:

Country house heating options: boiler selection by capacity and type of fuel

Advantages and disadvantages of water heating from a wood-burning stove. Features of solid fuel, gas, electric units: description and prices.

Boilers that have additional self-cleaning capabilities do not need to be cleaned once a month, like conventional units. Manual cleaning of a device equipped with a self-cleaning system is required no more than 1 time during the entire heating season.

Boilers from Wirbel – versatility and ease of installation

The Wirbel company is located in Austria and is engaged in the production of automatic pellet boilers. The products of this manufacturer are of high quality and easy to install. The Wirbel EKO-CK PELLET-SET furnaces are versatile and include an integrated pellet burner.

Raw materials are fed into the furnace of Wirbel pellet boilers automatically, so it can work continuously as long as there is a need for heating the room.

The housing of such a unit is made of heat-resistant steel, the thickness of which is 5 mm. The fuel pellet tank can be installed on either side of the boiler. The standard equipment of the furnace provides for the following functions: automatic ignition, supply of pellets to the furnace department. However, if necessary, the unit can also operate in manual mode.

The operation of the solid fuel heating device is controlled via a special remote control. Cleaning of Wirbel EKO-CK PELLET-SET models is a necessary event and is carried out at least once a week.

Boilers from the Grandeg company with increased fire safety

The Latvian company Grandeg is engaged in the production of convenient and reliable furnaces operating on solid granules. The main advantage of the pellet heating boiler from the Grandeg company is a high fire resistance index.

The housing of the device is made of durable, heat-resistant steel. The furnace of such a unit has a sluice gate, the function of which is to protect the hopper from flame ingress. The hopper itself can be mounted both on one side and on the other side of the boiler body.

A distinctive feature of Grandeg heating boilers is excellent quality, high efficiency, simplicity and reliability of the design

Not only pellets are used as fuel for such devices, but also firewood, as well as briquettes. The operational life of the Grandeg furnace can reach 20 years (with normal use). The cost of the devices depends on their power and additional technical equipment.

Pellet boilers “Zota” (Zota)

The domestic company “Zota” offers a wide selection of pellet boilers of different capacities. One of the most popular units of this company are pellet boilers “Zota” Pellet-15A. This model has many advantages that are worth paying attention to.

The ignition of pellets in the fuel compartment of such a unit is fully automated. The technical equipment of the boiler includes special temperature sensors that can be installed indoors or outdoors. The heating boiler on pellets of this model is controlled remotely.

Useful information! Zota Pellet-15A is a combined model and can function not only on pellets, but also on other types of fuel.

Let’s consider the main technical characteristics of the Zota Pellet-15A furnace:

• the power indicator is 15 kW;
• weight – 318 kg;

Zota pellet boilers are equipped with a water cooling circuit and are used in buildings equipped with a heating system with forced circulation

• the fuel tank has a fairly high capacity (293 liters);
• the heating area is 150 m2;
• consumption of pellets: 3-4 kg/h.

The Zota Pellet models operate on granular fuel and are highly environmentally friendly. Monitoring of the operation of such equipment can be carried out remotely (via GSM).

Pellet boilers from the Teplodar company

The Teplodar company is located in Russia and produces boiler equipment of various configurations. Pellet boilers “Kupper” have the lowest cost among all domestic models. Despite the fact that the price of these units is the lowest, they are all equipped with equipment for automatic delivery of granular fuel. In addition, in such furnaces there is an automatic ignition.

The main difference between pellet boilers “Teplodar-Kupper” from units produced by other manufacturers is that they have an integrated tubular electric heater (TEN). It can function separately from the burner or simultaneously with it. The high level of automation makes these products attractive to the domestic consumer.

The most popular model today is the device “Teplodar-Kupper” OK-15. Pellets made from wood and household waste are used as fuel for this model. Such units are considered optimal pellet boilers. Reviews of devices of this brand can be found on specialized forums on the Internet.

Having a large capacity of 22 kW, the Teplodar Kupper boiler has retained its compact dimensions, and will fit well into any corner of a residential or technical room

Features of pellet stoves from the company “Svetlobor”

The company “Svetlobor” refers to domestic manufacturers and produces units whose power ranges from 16 to 170 kW. The level of automation of these products is in no way inferior to foreign analogues. Let’s consider the main functions of boilers from the company “Svetlobor”:

• automatic delivery of granular raw materials to the fuel compartment;
• auto-ignition;
• self-cleaning.

The control of the unit from the company “Svetlobor” is carried out on a special controller, which is equipped with a touch screen. And also in the basic configuration, these products have a weather-dependent control system. Pellets are loaded into the fuel compartment by means of a pneumatic feed.

Scheme of the Svetlobor boiler with a system of pneumatic loading of pellets

Obshchemash pellet boilers: prices and characteristics

The manufacturer of boiler equipment “Obshmash” is located in Russia and today produces two main lines of pellet stoves: “Valdai” and “Peresvet”. Both of these lines are characterized by a high level of automation and reasonable cost.

Useful information! Valdai furnaces are produced with different capacities (from 15 to 200 kW). Such units are used for the organization of heating in residential buildings or in small industries.

Let’s consider the main functions that are built into this equipment:

• auto-ignition;
• automatic delivery of granular fuel;
• self-cleaning;
• the controller.

If necessary, the operation of the Valdai furnace can be monitored via GSM. Boiler equipment “Peresvet” has several differences from “Valdai”, among which:

• the ability to manage via the Internet;

Valdai pellet boilers are equipped with a multi-pass heat exchanger, a cast-iron collapsible burner and an auto-ignition

• a larger hopper;
• work not only on pellets, but also on other types of fuel (for example, firewood).

The prices of pellet stoves from the company “Obschemash” start from 150,000 rubles. At the same time, as a rule, Valdai devices cost about 10,000 rubles more expensive than Peresvet.

Where can I buy pellet boilers? Tips for choosing

Furnaces that operate on pellets can be purchased at a specialized store or ordered online. The modern boiler market offers a huge selection of different models of both domestic and foreign production. Before purchasing this unit, experts recommend paying attention to the following parameters:

• power;
• EFFICIENCY;
• type of heat exchanger;
• number of contours;
• hopper volume;
• fuel supply;
• additional functions.

The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing is the power of the pellet boiler, it should exceed the nominal value by 10%

Depending on the capacity of the pellet unit, they are divided into domestic and industrial. Models used for heating residential buildings can have different power (starting from 15 kW). The power calculation is performed as follows: at least 1 kW of electricity is required for heating 1 m2. The efficiency of various models of pellet boilers ranges from 85 to 97%. There is a direct dependence of this indicator on the quality of granular fuel.

Heat exchangers, which are equipped with pellet stoves, can be of two types:

• cast iron;
• steel.

Cast iron has a long shelf life, as well as resistance to overheating. Of the disadvantages of the cast-iron device, it can be distinguished that it has a rather large mass and weak resistance to shocks. In turn, steel models are more durable, however, they have a shorter service life.

To date, only a small number of models from the entire range of boilers are equipped with hot water supply circuits (DHW). To carry out the heating of water, which will be used for household needs, some structures are upgraded with their own hands. Pellet boilers after improvement include additional storage tanks.

The control of the pellet boiler consists in dosing and feeding fuel into the combustion chamber

The volume of the hopper is an individual indicator, which depends on the specifics of using the boiler and the needs of the consumer. Pellets can be delivered to the fuel compartment in two ways:

• using a screw;
• vacuum feeding.

Vacuum feeding is more efficient and differs in that it has a low noise level.

Additional functions are needed to increase the efficiency of using the boiler, as well as for convenience. These include:

• GSM module;
• automatic ignition;
• self-cleaning;
• temperature sensors.

The self-cleaning system is very popular, as it requires minimal human intervention. A boiler with such a system should be checked no more than 1 time per month.

Pay attention! The average cost of pellets is 8,000 rubles per 1 ton. Biofuel costs are determined taking into account the individual operational characteristics of the equipment and the needs of the owners.

For successful operation and maintenance, the pellet boiler requires installation in a fairly spacious room that meets a number of requirements

Before purchasing this unit, experts recommend studying reviews on the Internet. Pellet boilers of the same model can be produced in different configurations, which also needs to be remembered before buying.

Price overview of pellet boilers with automatic fuel supply

Foreign manufacturers of pellet stoves produce high-quality products. The cost of the most budget models of the Austrian company Wirbel is 110,000 rubles. South Korean, Czech and Latvian boiler models are more expensive.

Prices for foreign brands of pellet boilers:

Brand name	Country of origin	Price in rubles
Kiturami	South Korea	210 000–265 000
OPOP BIOPEL	Czech	240 000–1 500 000
Wirbel	Austria	110 000–400 000
Grandeg	Latvia	200 000–1 400 000

 

Products from domestic manufacturers are usually 2 times cheaper. The most expensive foreign models will cost buyers 1,500,000 rubles, while furnaces from Russian companies rarely exceed the price of 750,000 rubles. The cheapest models are produced by the Teplodar brand. The price of automatic pellet boilers “Cooper” in the basic configuration is approximately 80,000 rubles.

Prices for domestic brands of pellet boilers:

Brand name	Price in rubles
“Zota” (Zota)	180 000–725 000
Teplodar-Kupper	80 000–115 000
“Svetlobor”	220 000–650 000
“Obshchemash”	150 000–230 000

 

For people who live in areas without a centralized gas supply system, solid fuel pellet boilers are a good alternative. They are able to meet all the household needs of residents of a private house. A high level of automation, high power and productivity make such furnaces very popular and in demand among consumers.