Future-Proofing Industrial Biomass Boilers: The Ranheat Advantage

Future-Proofing Industrial Biomass Boilers: The Ranheat Advantage

By Chris Franklin, Director of Ranheat Engineering Ltd.

Introduction

In the woodworking industry, handling industrial wood waste efficiently is a key challenge. Whether you’re a small joinery shop or a large-scale factory, investing in the right biomass boiler is crucial—not just for immediate energy savings, but to ensure long-term compliance with evolving environmental regulations.

At Ranheat Engineering, we’ve spent decades perfecting our industrial wood waste boilers, ensuring they are future-proof, efficient, and compliant with both UK and European emissions standards. This article explores how our systems meet the challenges of industrial wood-waste burning, the different combustion systems we offer, and why a Ranheat biomass boiler is the best investment for businesses looking to cut costs while remaining environmentally responsible.

The Need for Adaptability in Industrial Biomass Boilers

When it comes to burning industrial wood waste, not all biomass boilers are created equal. Different types of wood waste—virgin timber, MDF, chipboard, and MFC (melamine-faced chipboard)—require specific combustion techniques to ensure efficient burning and regulatory compliance.

At Ranheat, we recognized this early on. That’s why we’ve always built our systems with separate boiler/heater foundations, allowing different combustion systems to be used depending on:

• The type of wood waste being burned.
• Ash content and ash melt temperature.
• The need for particulate and NOx control to meet environmental limits.

Unlike fixed combustion systems, Ranheat boilers allow for easy adaptation to changing fuel types and future environmental regulations.

Types of Grate and Combustion Systems

Ranheat designs and manufactures a wide range of combustion systems to suit different types of wood waste.

1. Standard Refractory Lined Retort

• Ideal for clean wood waste with predictable burn characteristics.
• Maintains stable combustion while reducing NOx emissions.

2. Inclined Refractory Lined Retort

• Designed for higher ash content fuels, ensuring that ash is efficiently expelled.

3. Water-Cooled Retorts

• Prevents excessive ash melt in cases where low ash-melting point fuels are used.
• Reduces clinker formation and ensures consistent operation.

4. Moving Grates and Step Grates

• Designed for variable waste streams, where fuel composition changes frequently.
• Automatically adjusts to ensure complete combustion while minimizing emissions.

By allowing customers to choose and modify their combustion system over time, Ranheat boilers ensure long-term compliance and maximum fuel efficiency.

Meeting UK Regulations: Permits and Compliance

Industrial biomass boilers in the UK are subject to strict environmental regulations, particularly when burning wood waste. Businesses need to be aware of:

• Permitting Requirements:
  • If your business processes more than 1,000 m³ of wood per year, a permit under PGN 6/02 is required.
  • If you burn less than 90kg of wood waste per hour, a Small Waste Incineration Plant (SWIP) permit is needed.
• Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) Compliance:
  • Any boiler burning more than 90kg/hr of waste must meet strict NOx and particulate limits.
  • Annual emissions testing is required for compliance.
• Chimney and Planning Regulations:
  • Some industrial chimneys require planning permission, most are “permitted development.”
  • Chimney height calculations must be submitted to Environmental Health.

At Ranheat, we don’t just manufacture biomass boilers—we help our customers navigate these regulations. Our team assists with permits, emissions compliance, and planning applications, making the process as smooth as possible.

Environmental Impact: Beyond Compliance

Many people associate wood burning with pollution, but when done correctly, it is one of the cleanest and most sustainable forms of energy.

1. Lowering Particulate Emissions

Domestic wood-burning stoves and open fires generate more fine particulate matter (PM2.5s and NOx) than all the UK’s road traffic combined. However, Ranheat’s industrial biomass boilers are engineered for ultra-low emissions.

• With ceramic filter technology, we can reduce particulates to 2 mg/m³—well below the 60 mg/m³ legal limit.
• Our flue gas recirculation system further cuts NOx emissions, ensuring full MCPD compliance.

2. Turning Waste into Energy

For woodworking businesses, installing a Ranheat system means:
✅ Eliminating wood waste disposal costs.
✅ Reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
✅ Generating free, renewable heat from production by-products.

These savings often allow customers to recover their investment in under three years.

Why Ranheat? The Benefits of Our Modular Design

One of Ranheat’s key innovations is our modular design, which separates the combustion system from the boiler or heater foundation.

Advantages of Our Design:

✅ Flexibility – Easily switch combustion systems to suit different fuels.
✅ Future-Proofing – Upgrade grates, retorts, and filtration as regulations change.
✅ Easy Maintenance – Retorts and grates can be replaced without dismantling the entire system.
✅ Longer System Life – Components expand/contract independently, reducing mechanical stress.

This approach ensures lower maintenance costs and long-term reliability, making Ranheat boilers a smarter investment compared to fixed-design alternatives.

Conclusion: Invest in a Ranheat Biomass Boiler

For businesses looking to maximize energy efficiency while meeting strict UK environmental regulations, Ranheat industrial biomass boilers are the ultimate solution.

With a Ranheat system, you get:
✔ A future-proof investment with modular adaptability.
✔ Regulatory compliance with MCPD, SWIP, and PGN 6/02 permits.
✔ Ultra-low emissions through advanced filtration and flue gas recirculation.
✔ Significant cost savings on waste disposal and energy.

As industry regulations evolve, choosing a Ranheat boiler ensures your business remains compliant, efficient, and profitable for decades to come.

For expert advice on selecting the right industrial wood waste boiler, contact Ranheat Engineering Ltd. today:

📞 01604 750005
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.ranheat.com