Home Storage – Wood burning pellets

Bought Storage Unit

Points to consider when buying your storage unit are:

• Built specifically for the storage of wood burning pellets
• Sufficiently vented
• Waterproof Appropriate air outlet (unless made from cloth).
• Appropriate connections for delivery , Balcas recommend the male A-400 camlock fitting – pictured here. However, all lorries will carry an adapter to accommodate a continental fitting.
• The end of the camlock fitting must be within the drivers reach. The actual point where pellets enter the storage unit must be high enough to enable the pellets to fill evenly within the store.
• If there is a bend in the inlet pipe, Balcas Energy recommends that this is a soft bend, not a 90 degree angle which will cause damage to pellets during delivery.
• The delivery pipe on the storage unit must be made from metal and must be earthed. Static can build up on plastic piping and is a fire hazard.
• Balcas Energy recommends that the maximum length of the auger is 3 metres.
• It is recommended that storage unit has a flexible rubber sheet hanging opposite the inlet pipe. This will stop pellet damage during delivery. It is essential that pellets are not blown against a wall or hard floor.
• The inside of the storage unit needs to be free from electrical sockets, electrical switches, lights and electrical fittings. This is to prevent a dust explosion.
• Storage Unit should not be positioned where it would result in a fire risk

Self Built Storage Unit

Points to consider when building your storage unit are:

• Needs to have the appropriate fitting for accommodating a blown wood pellets delivery from Balcas Energy. This is a male 4 inch cam-lock fitting, serial number: A-400
• Is the camlock fitting within driver’s reach? Chest height is recommended.
• Storage unit needs to be waterproof
• Storage Unit needs to be properly sealed to control dust and designed to reduce condensation.
• Storage unit needs to be of sufficient strength to hold 4 tonnes of Balcas Energy Wood Pellets; it is unlikely that a stud wall construction will be strong enough. Balcas minimum delivery 3 tonnes
• It is recommended that storage unit has a sight glass/inspection hatch to monitor volume and to indicate to customer when to re-order.
• Balcas Energy recommends that the intake pipe has no more than 2 soft bends
• The delivery pipe on the storage unit must be made from metal and must be earthed. Static can build up on plastic piping and is a fire hazard.
• Storage unit will need an exit port to allow the release of the delivery air and this port should be fitted with a filter to reduce dust exiting the storage silo.
• It is recommended that your storage unit has a flexible rubber sheet hanging opposite the inlet pipe. This will stop pellet damage during delivery. It is essential that pellets are not blown against a wall or hard floor.
• The floors of the storage unit should have a slope of at least 40° going towards the feed mechanism
• The inside of the storage unit needs to be free from electrical sockets, electrical switches, lights and electrical fittings. This is to prevent a dust explosion.
• Storage should be lined with a suitable material (e.g. wood)

N.B.

• The lorry driver cannot take the delivery pipe through a domestic household for Health and Safety reasons.
• If you use a camlock fitting on your vent pipe please ensure that this is not covered or closed over to enable air to cirulate.
• Balcas Energy can blow wood pellets 20 metres (on a straight blow) into the customer’s store if distance any further than this, Balcas Energy will request the customer to sign a disclaimer.
• Lorry dimensions are as follows 12m (L) x 3.9m (H) x 4m (W)
• Balcas will carry out a site visit to all new commercial customers to ensure compliance with pre-delivery checklist. Delivery cannot take place until this visit has taken place so please let us know well in advance when you require a delivery of pellets. Balcas Energy can advise customers on suitable storage solutions so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.
• DUST EXTRACTION – If you wish to avail of this service you need to have an electric socket near hand, a 4″pipe on your vent and you need to be present for the delivery.
• Balcas Energy recommends that your boiler is turned off during delivery for Health and Safety reasons
• Burning wood pellets undergo oxidation resulting in the production of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. In a confined space such as an unventilated hopper or storage unit, this can lead to a reduction in the oxygen concentration as well as the development of a dangerous concentration of carbon monoxide, which is toxic. If not using a professional service for storage cleaning it would be prudent to become familiar with current HSE advice (link HERE) and to allow sufficient time for proper ventilation; an increase in oxygen levels and a decrease in carbon monoxide levels.