Pellet boilers: prices and characteristics of models from different manufacturers

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

Pellet boilers have appeared on the market for a long time and have managed to establish themselves as highly efficient heating systems.

What is a pellet boiler?

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

Pellets are used as fuel, which are granules consisting of wood waste: pressed wood debris, chips, shavings

How much does pellet fuel cost? The price for these granules is determined depending on the quality and environmental performance. Today, 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 ability to fully automate the work process. Thus, pellet structures are able to function with minimal human intervention.

Helpful information! Fuel pellets can easily deteriorate in a damp room, so they must be stored in a dry place only.

Advantages and disadvantages of a pellet stove

Today 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, operational reliability and ease of maintenance.

• the operation of such furnaces is completely safe due to their high environmental performance;
• solid fuel water heaters of other types do not have such a burning time;
• they are unpretentious in maintenance and have a high level of automation;
• can be equipped with external temperature sensors;
• 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 functioning of the boiler in a remote area 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:

• pellet itself;
• combined.

For the operation of the first units, exclusively granular raw materials are used. Combined models can operate on both pellets and 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 ovens are distinguished:

• flare;
• retorn.

Helpful information! Retard burners are used in units that function by processing only pellets, while flare burners are used in combined designs.

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

It should also be noted that the supply of fuel 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 the boilers by specialists. In the second case, the oven requires manual adjustment. And mechanical feeding means 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. It is recommended that you consider your local climate before purchasing this device. 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 must be approached with special care.

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

Features of the device of the pellet stove

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

• furnace;
• convective;
• ash pan.

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

Convective department. Has a built-in heat exchanger. Depending on the location, there are three types of heat exchangers: vertical, horizontal, and combined.In this section, the heat carrier (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 plate.

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.

Pellet boiler standard design

Ash pan. This section of the stove is necessary for collecting waste generated during the processing of pellets. After that, they are removed through the cleaning door.

The above 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 attachment (automatic fuel supply).

Consider what devices are included in the APT set-top box:

• bunker;
• screw;
• fan.

A hopper is a metal tank into which fuel is filled for processing. From this container, the fuel flows in parts to the combustion section. Depending on the location, there are two types of bunkers: internal (built-in) and external. The auger is an important element of the ADF and is required for batch feeding of pellets It is driven by a special device - a gearbox.

Diagram of a pellet boiler with a hopper

Note! The fan is needed so that, in the absence of natural draft, the fuel does not stop burning.

And also the device of the pellet stove provides for 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 Kiturami: specifications

Kiturami manufactures solid pellet stoves in South Korea. By far the most popular model of this campaign is the Kiturami KRP 20-A Premium.

Among the positive qualities of the 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 electronically controlled. They also have a modified version of the bunker.

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

Pellet boiler Kiturami, a South Korean manufacturer - an excellent alternative to devices operating on gas, out of the reach of the gas pipe

Consider the main technical features of this unit:

• device power is 24 kW;
• weight - 310 kg;
• the bunker has a capacity equal to 160 kg;
• the area that such a boiler is capable of heating is 300 m²;
• pellet consumption rate - 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 for its products. The approximate price of a pellet boiler of this type is 210,000 rubles.

Features of pellet stoves OPOP BIOPEL

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

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

Czech-made Opop Biopel pellet boilers with a fully automated pellet ignition process and automatic combustion control have excellent economic performance and quickly pay off.

Helpful information! Separately, it should be said that a turbulization system is installed in OPOP BIOPEL products. It allows you to stabilize traction 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:

Heating options for a country house: choosing a boiler by power and type of fuel

Advantages and disadvantages of water heating from a wood-burning stove. Features of solid fuel, gas, electrical 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 once during the entire heating season.

Boilers from the company 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 ease of installation. The Wirbel EKO-CK PELLET-SET stoves are versatile and include an integrated pellet burner.

Raw materials are fed into the firebox of Wirbel pellet boilers automatically, so it can work continuously as long as there is a need to heat the room

The body of such a unit is made of heat-resistant steel, the thickness of which is 5 mm. The pellet container can be installed on either side of the boiler. The standard equipment of the stove provides for the following functions: automatic ignition, feeding of pellets to the combustion section. However, if necessary, the unit can also operate in manual mode.

Control of the operation of a solid fuel heating device is carried out through a special panel. Cleaning of Wirbel EKO-CK PELLET-SET models is a necessary activity and is carried out at least once a week.

Boilers from the company Grandeg with increased fire safety

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

The body of the device is made of durable, heat-resistant steel. The furnace of such a unit has a sluice valve, the function of which is to protect the hopper from the ingress of flame. The hopper itself can be mounted on either one or 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.

As a fuel for such devices, not only pellets are used, but also firewood, as well as briquettes. The operating life of the Grandeg oven can be up to 20 years (under normal use). The cost of 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 various capacities. One of the most popular units of this company are pellet boilers "Zota" Pellet-15A. This model has many advantages that are worth considering.

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 pellet heating boiler of this model is controlled remotely.

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

Consider the main technical characteristics of the Zota Pellet-15A oven:

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

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

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

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

Pellet boilers from the Teplodar company

The Teplodar company is located in Russia and produces boiler equipment of different configurations. Pellet boilers "Kupper" are distinguished by 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 the automatic delivery of granular fuel. In addition, such ovens have automatic ignition.

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

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

Having a large power 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 Svetlobor company

The company "Svetlobor" belongs to domestic manufacturers and produces units with a capacity ranging from 16 to 170 kW. The level of automation of these products is in no way inferior to foreign counterparts. Let's consider the main functions of boilers from the Svetlobor company:

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

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

Diagram of the Svetlobor boiler with a pellet pneumatic loading system

"Obshchemash" pellet boilers: prices and characteristics

The manufacturer of boiler equipment "Obshchemash" 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.

Helpful information! Valdai furnaces are manufactured with different powers (from 15 to 200 kW). Such units are used to organize 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;
• controller.

If necessary, control of the Valdai furnace operation can be carried out via GSM. Boiler equipment "Peresvet" has several differences from "Valday", including:

• the ability to control via the Internet;

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

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

Prices for pellet stoves from the Obshchemash company start at 150,000 rubles. At the same time, as a rule, Valdai devices cost about 10,000 rubles more than Peresvet.

Where can you buy pellet boilers? Tips for choosing

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

• power;
• Efficiency;
• type of heat exchanger;
• number of contours;
• bunker volume;
• fuel supply;
• additional functions.

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

Depending on the power of the pellet unit, they are divided into household and industrial. The models used for heating residential buildings can have different powers (starting from 15 kW). The power is calculated as follows: heating 1 m² requires at least 1 kW of electricity. 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 the granular fuel.

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

• cast iron;
• steel.

Cast iron are distinguished by a long shelf life, as well as resistance to overheating. Of the minuses of the cast-iron device, one can single out the fact that it has a rather large mass and weak resistance to shock. In turn, steel models are more durable, however, they have a shorter operational life.

Today, only a small number of models from the entire range of boilers are equipped with hot water supply (DHW) circuits. To carry out heating of water, which will go to domestic needs, some structures are modernized with their own hands. Pellet boilers after improvement include additional storage tanks.

Pellet boiler control consists in dosing and supplying fuel to the combustion chamber

The volume of the bunker is an individual indicator, which depends on the characteristics of the use of the boiler and the needs of the consumer. Delivery of pellets to the fuel compartment can be done in two ways:

• using a screw;
• vacuum feeding.

The vacuum feeding is more efficient and has a lower noise level.

Additional functions are needed to improve 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, since it requires minimal human intervention. A boiler with such a system must be checked no more than once a month.

Note! The average cost of pellets is 8,000 rubles per 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, a 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 must also be remembered before purchasing.

Price overview for pellet boilers with automatic fuel supply

Foreign manufacturers of pellet stoves produce high quality products. The cost of the most budgetary 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:

Products from domestic manufacturers are, as a rule, 2 times cheaper. The most expensive foreign models will cost customers 1,500,000 rubles, while stoves from Russian companies rarely exceed 750,000 rubles. The cheapest models are produced by the Teplodar brand. The price of automatic pellet boilers "Cooper" in the basic configuration is about 80,000 rubles.

Prices for domestic brands of pellet boilers:

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