Ferry Farm - Lincolnshire

Background

The farmhouse at Ferry Farm had been heated by a 100,000Btu (30kW) oil fired boiler located inside the house. This boiler provided both heating to radiators and domestic hot water, typically costing around £2,500 per annum to run. This high running cost, together with the owner’s intention to heat a small barn conversion adjacent, led him to look at alternative sources of fuel.

With access to large quantities of virtually free woodchip from forestry residues the owner decided to look at woodchip boilers. After undertaking extensive research into the boiler types available he decided to install a KSM unit.

Solution

It was decided that the feedstock of woodchip would be stored in a barn located approximately 65m away from the farmhouse. The owner therefore wished the boiler to also be installed in the barn and that a pre-insulated pipe system be used to connect to the farmhouse.

The boiler installed was a KSM 275-18F with a 4m³ hopper. This boiler feeds an insulated pipe system that has been installed in a trench running from the barn to the farmhouse and barn conversion. The hopper is filled weekly by a tractor equipped with a bucket. To date the owner has virtually reduced his heating bill to zero.

Installed Boiler Type

KSM Multistoker 275-18F with 4m³ Hopper

This unit is fed from the hopper mounted directly behind it and is used primarily with wood chip, although wood pellets, rape cake, wheat, barley or oats could be used. The boiler is also equipped with a moving floor heath to ensure any clinker build up is avoided, when grain is burnt.