End of Year Survey Results with a Map

[Tennman]

This map is pretty cool Mid Mich. The missing piece is that you need to be a Google member, which I was not. After becoming a member you THEN see the "Edit" button. All else works great.

Two weeks ago I sure didn't have EXCESS heat. But we're getting that squared away in my big ole inefficient home. Unlike you guys up north I'm overcoming my inefficiencies with brute force.

 

[WoodNotOil]

With Mid Mich. permission I have now embedded this map into a page at WoodNotOil and provided an external link to it. That way even if this thread fades away, you all will be able to find it and enter data as desired. Hopefully that will keep the work alive... Thanks Mid Mich...

 

[Hunderliggur]

Maybe I can tap in for some hot water you don't need. Or better yet, you need to figure out how to use the hot water to make cooling in the summer. Kind of like those refrigerators in campers. They use either electricity or propane to cool. Built a large ammonia heat exchanger and you can burn year round. One of those to do dream jobs on the back burner for me.
Good Luck

I am actually seriously considering an absorption chiller (that is what they are called) as an adjunct to my system. I will use solar thermal AND the gassifier to heat storage up to 200F. This is then used as the "energy" for the cooling cycle (just like an RV refrigerator). I actually designed a system like this in 1977 using an Arkla Absorption Chiller derated to 180F and Daystar solar collectors that would produce 240F water (pressurized of course). This was in Palm Springs California. The concept never really took off, too expensive, but a great way to dual use the Solar and Wood systems. I have found two absorption chiller suppliers that sell residential size units. Absorption chillers are common in industrial applications.

 

[heaterman]

Maybe I can tap in for some hot water you don't need. Or better yet, you need to figure out how to use the hot water to make cooling in the summer. Kind of like those refrigerators in campers. They use either electricity or propane to cool. Built a large ammonia heat exchanger and you can burn year round. One of those to do dream jobs on the back burner for me.
Good Luck

I am actually seriously considering an absorption chiller (that is what they are called) as an adjunct to my system. I will use solar thermal AND the gassifier to heat storage up to 200F. This is then used as the "energy" for the cooling cycle (just like an RV refrigerator). I actually designed a system like this in 1977 using an Arkla Absorption Chiller derated to 180F and Daystar solar collectors that would produce 240F water (pressurized of course). This was in Palm Springs California. The concept never really took off, too expensive, but a great way to dual use the Solar and Wood systems. I have found two absorption chiller suppliers that sell residential size units. Absorption chillers are common in industrial applications.

Nice! Wood fired A/C. Kinda costly compared to standard A/C, but still nice!!

 

[Mid Michigan]

Maybe I can tap in for some hot water you don't need. Or better yet, you need to figure out how to use the hot water to make cooling in the summer. Kind of like those refrigerators in campers. They use either electricity or propane to cool. Built a large ammonia heat exchanger and you can burn year round. One of those to do dream jobs on the back burner for me.
Good Luck

I am actually seriously considering an absorption chiller (that is what they are called) as an adjunct to my system. I will use solar thermal AND the gassifier to heat storage up to 200F. This is then used as the "energy" for the cooling cycle (just like an RV refrigerator). I actually designed a system like this in 1977 using an Arkla Absorption Chiller derated to 180F and Daystar solar collectors that would produce 240F water (pressurized of course). This was in Palm Springs California. The concept never really took off, too expensive, but a great way to dual use the Solar and Wood systems. I have found two absorption chiller suppliers that sell residential size units. Absorption chillers are common in industrial applications.

Nice! Wood fired A/C. Kinda costly compared to standard A/C, but still nice!!

I image making steam is another thing entirely as compared to hot water. I am finding in my line of work that most absorption chillers are being removed and replaced with centrifugal chillers. If commercial complexes find it cheaper to run and maintain a centrifugal chiller than a absorption it going to be hard to make profitable. Its hard to believe electricity is cheaper than steam but I think in works out that way, at least for those burning fossil fuels in their boilers. I know of one college that has a few absorption chillers but they burn wood chips year round making steam for heat, generators, and absorption chillers. I also noticed the upkeep seems to be more costly with the absorption chiller. It seems the waters PH and such has to be held to a tighter standard in order to keep the tubes clean. An error there can get costly.

 

[gorbull]

This map illustrates just how concentrated the use of these boilers is. Can anyone explain why there has been no inroads in the NorthWest? I believe there are trees to burn by the gazillions and plenty of folks burning wood as well. Perhaps it's a reflection of this forum not yet being discovered in that region or worse yet maybe it has something to do with politics....