Burning with wet wood
Burning with wet wood
The frequently practiced smoking with wet wood causes a significant loss of energy not only from the need to evaporate the moisture in the furnace and discharge the steam to the chimney, but also as a result of reduced efficiency of the boiler or fireplace.
Steam condensation in the chimney shortens the life of the ceramic chimney pipes. Popular theory, that wet wood is laid overnight after that, to keep you on fire is only true then, when the boiler or fireplace is unsealed and it is impossible to limit the amount of air supplied for combustion. In this case, repair of the fireplace is needed.
Energy properties of wood compared to other fuels:
| Natural gas [m³] |
Coal [kg] |
Straw, 15% willow. [kg] |
Wood, 15% willow. [kg] |
Heating oil [l] |
kWh | MJ | |
| Natural gas [m³] |
1,35 | 2,46 | 2,22 | 0,98 | 9,72 | 35,0 | |
| Coal [kg] |
0,74 | 1,82 | 1,65 | 0,73 | 7,22 | 26,0 | |
| Straw, 15% willow. [kg] |
0,41 | 0,55 | 0,90 | 0,40 | 3,96 | 12,5 | |
| Wood, 15% willow. [kg] |
0,45 | 0,61 | 1,11 | 0,44 | 4,39 | 15,8 | |
| Heating oil [l] |
1,02 | 1,37 | 2,50 | 2,25 | 9,89 | 35,6 | |
| kWh | 0,103 | 0,138 | 0,253 | 0,228 | 0,101 | 3,60 | |
| MJ | 0,0286 | 0,0385 | 0,0702 | 0,0633 | 0,0281 | 0,278 |
Environmental aspect
Pellets are renewable, thus an environmentally friendly source of energy!
| • | Burning pellets does not generate additional CO² emissions, because the amount of carbon dioxide produced when burning this fuel is equal to this, which in the process of photosynthesis are taken by plants planted in the place of the burned ones, |
| • | Pellets are made of wood waste, therefore, their production contributes to reducing the problem of waste management and the consumption of fossil fuels, |
| • | The ash obtained from burning pellets can be used as fertilizer. |
Emission factors for various fuels:
| Emissions [mg/MJ] |
Pellet | Coal | Heating oil | Natural gas |
| Carbon dioxide | 0 | 104 000 | 78 000 | 52 000 |
| Carbon monoxide | 50 | 4 500 | 50 | 50 |
| Sulphur dioxide | 7 | 240 | 140 | 0 |
| Nitrogen oxides | 43 | 70 | 40 | 40 |
| Dusts | 5 | 60 | 5 | 0 |
