Säätötuli’s containerised biomass hot air generator is a hot air furnace which is ready to use in a custom-made container. Säätötuli was one of the pioneers in bioheat-container manufacturing with the first unit manufactured in 2003. On delivery, the main fan, the ash screws and the chimney are put in place and the container is connected to the electrical network.
The containerised biomass hot air generator is built with fire-resistant sandwich-panel cladding. The steel frame is built outside of the fire-proof cladding in order to comply with the most restrictive standards of each country. The steel frame is made to be able to support large amounts of snow on the roof of the container.
The container is divided in two parts: a fuel silo of approximatively 15m3 with a hydraulically operated roof, and the boiler room with the hot air generator, biomass feeders, automation controls and an aerosol extinguisher for optimal security. The container can be equipped with a GSM modem to relay alerts by text message to cellular phones.
Easy to transport, the containerised hot air generator can be used for different applications: it can provide hot air for dryers (grain or wood dryers for example), but also for any kind of permanent or temporary building. Like the Biocont Roll-off self-contained heating plant, the containerised hot air generator features a roll-off hook.
On the pictures above, the red containerised hot air generator belongs to a farmer who purchased it as a hot air source for his grain dryer. During the winter time, he rents the equipment for different events like the village of the Nordic Ski World Championship of 2017 in Finland. That way he is able to get an additional revenue with his equipment and reduce the return on investment (ROI) for his biomass furnace.
The fuel silo is equipped with a Säätötuli Hydrobar silo-discharge system with powerful hydraulically-operated rakes. Säätötuli’s special silo auger and the counter-blade insure that even lower quality biomass fuels can be used with the unit.
Maintenance operations on mechanical and hydraulic parts of the silo is easily done underneath the silo. An access door is installed on the side of the unit that fits the accessibility needs of the place where the system is installed.
Installation is easy. Once the self-contained biomass hot air system is in place, only the chimney, ash augers and main fan need to be installed. There is a single electric connection point at the exterior of the container (between the main fan and the door on the picture above).
Fresh air is pushed through the heat-exchanger by the main fan. The air goes through the lamellar heat-exchanger before going around the firebox. The hot combustion gases go the reverse path before exiting the chimney.
Main fan’s speed is controlled by VFD (Variable Frequency Drive). Fan speed can be set directly on the VFD’s controls or sent by the automation control. On dryers for example, the automation control of the dryer can be connected in order to send the temperature and airflow settings.
The heated air outlet is on the side. Its diameter is 80cm / 31.5 inches. Ashes exit the furnace by the ash auger. The direction where the ash auger moves the ashes can be chosen prior to manufacturing.
The control automation modulates the combustion to maintain the temperature setpoint. The setpoint is easy to set with the intuitive touch-screen software control. Only standard electrical components are used to manufacture the automation control box. This way troubleshooting and repairs are easy in case of trouble.
Maintenance ease has been optimized for all operations. Heat-exchanger cleaning is easy with the extra height the rooftop opening provides.
The boiler room is equipped with the necessary vents to provide all the necessary air for the burner’s fans. Negative pressure inside the fire chamber is monitored and the VFD-piloted flue gas extractor ensures that the pressure is always optimal for the combustion.