Just an idea......

[william petts]

For the record I have we have no desire to use a kiln buy it was just an idea where possibly we could become more self sufficient.

As to for the mobile kiln I would say a fixed trailer unit would be better.

[SbTVF]

In a thread which is likely to be populated by dedicated and aspiring kiln users??

 

Where the logic, even amongst those die hards, has clearly demonstrated the lack of commercial viability unless suckling at the teat of RHI???

 

Can't see it being very receptive audience.....

 

But we're here, watching and shaking our collective heads in moral indignation!

 

(For the hard of thinking, and there must be a high proportion amongst the kiln fraternity, this is light-hearted, not serious!)

 

 

 

It all depends if the boiler was put in purely for log drying or other purposes.

 

For those of us who installed them for heating multiple houses and animal buildings the saving on gas and electric alone is worth the cost of putting a boiler in without the RHI. The RHI is just a nice incentive to help it pay back faster.

 

We have extra capacity so we use it to power the kiln.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[openspaceman]

I would love to build a kiln and run it off branch loggings made from brash.

 

Build the boiler into the kiln and not have to use water as means of energy transfer as I think this is whats required for RHI but seems a waste to have boiler separated from the kiln and have lots heat wasted along the way. No idea if it could be done but maybe one day.

 

I know very little about RHI but it was an incentive to adopt biomas for heating, fine for the early adopters but by now burning wood for heat should be standing on its own.

 

Why not have a combustor which is a bit catholic in its tastes, able to burn solid wood when there is someone to stoke it and arb chip over night with a stoker.

 

There's no problem making a kiln with fire tubes as the heat exchanger, much cheaper than a wet set up only one fan required and the auger motors, no circulation pump but control and cleanliness have to be much better as the tubes will be running above the ignition point of char (don't ask how I know:biggrin:)

 

You can still use the waste heat to run an underfloor hot water system.

[matelot]

How much would it cost for someone to make their own kiln?

 

I can't help thinking someone that was good at welding could get plenty change out of 5 grand by making their own. All they'd need is a shipping container/ insulation/ old stove and a fan.

[ash_smith123]

Yes if your not bothered about the RHI I recon you could do it under £5k!

Second hand boilers are going for peanuts on eBay. £500 would buy you one with a flue kit too.

Container with delivery £1k. I bought aload of seconds insulation off eBay from seconds and co £200 (in the summer) pumps and pipework £1k. Small buffer tank again loads on eBay under £500 and Heat exchangers £500-1000 for cheap ones on eBay. Happy days you've got yourself a kiln.

[R5log]

Running around with a mobile kiln!