Woodwanter

Out of curiosity, what would say a 25t load of mixed logs worth now? Assume 25% or below (is that too wet?) split but in various lengths?

100!? I meant energy in the fuel! based on around half a ton / m3 I'd imagine around 5-6000 kWh depending on boiler efficiently!

Have you ever worked how many kWh / cube?

What tarrif and size are you on? What fuel can you burn? in theory, yes it can be done. I have never heard one being completed yet, simply down to the time it takes ofgem to sort it out. your buyer may not get any RHI for several years but there is still a value.

Do you know what boilers and what MC they are burning at? Are they RHI approved? i guess a lot if those costs is the initial fuel purchase costs?

Can you share the break down for that please. what do use for drying

Do many farmers deal in firewood? I thought it was mainly surgeons running this as a top up to their felling day job? Just curious really. Spoke to local chap here who has 4-5 gangs out daily, he just processes it himself on the quieter day and pushes it into a windy shed. Crickey. So call it £42 on average x 900 = £37k at 90 t that's just over £400 / ton!? Transport, processing, bad debt / tolerating the general public aside, from the outside that seems like a respectable business model!

Completely on my wave length. We only differ by the colour of our boilers and the fact that as mine is for my own use I don't need it processed down as small as you would. how many tons do you sell per annum? V smart website too

Take a few on a trailer to a weighbridge, only way to be sure

About 300 m2 of surface space in one of ours, yet try it out but could pass air 30-40 degrees 24/7 with RH at 40%. if I stacked it 1m tall I would get loads of air flow, tempted to try half a shed and try about 75t in a batch

Thanks for this. my nibbler description was poor, it's like tree shears / pincers but they have sharp points that bite into and split timber, same concept as cone splitter but different design. Pros and cons to both!

That's very helpful, thanks i have been looking in to getting one, i 'only' need to break down about 300 t per annum but it's all for personal use and I am not much bothered by length or size of finished product. I am collecting it locally and then trying to get it dry hence the need for a splitter of sorts as it comes in all sorts of lumps. did you look at log nibblers instead? Did you look at any other cone splitter makes, I hadn't considered the cone angle, what do you think is the optimum angle? i have a 3.5 and 7.5t machine, prefer to use the larger unit as better reach and would assume a little quicker?

Interested in the cone splitter, which size have you and on what machine? Any idea on price?

I am having fire place envy!

On a separate point, where is the wettest part of a log? Dropping back to my biology lessons, I always thought the outside ring (xylem or phylum vessels) which transported the nutrients up the stem were. As the tree grew the stem expanded and the centre was retained for strength and support instead. With this in mind, surely the outside 10-20% is where it all going on, the inside would be much drier, so why the need to split!?

You are just a bit too far away from me otherwise I would have sent a lorry over to collect

I don't disagree all though not sure I can't get it down to 15%? Especially in the sized material I will end up with. I have the shed space to store 600 tons but it's the opportunity cost of that space which gets expensive!

I could but it's not very stackable, mix of rings trunks and cordwood, doubt much air would pass, going to try piling in a windy shed and review but like to plan ahead!

Yeah I agree with you ref the science! I know for grain drying, dry air helps, I think it helps 'suck' moisture out. my biggest issue will be breaking down what I have, trying a cone splitter but it's on a 3.5 t machine so concerned it won't be fast enough for my liking. I imagine your stuff is split for a domestic stove I am burning in a commercial boiler that can take wetter logs all though there will be a (yet to be found) sweet spot between cost of drying vs extra heat output? I have done all my calcs on 2500kwh @ the meter which I hope is going to be much lower than reality. trying to keep cost down by only moving it around by walking floor which will take some logistics!

That's impressive, thanks. as none of mine is caged up I will struggle to move it in. I do have drying floors but I cant get the temperatures you can, I could spread approx 160m3 1 meter deep on the floor though? Air temp would be 30 degrees tops but air RH about 30-40. I would not get the air flow you have but it would be 'a strong breeze'! Could you see this working? I only need it down to 25-30% though

I am considering trying this for my own consumption and want to learn more. Looking to dry about 300t per annum i am assuming the 3 main ingredients are heat, dry air and surface area? I can do two out of three but can't easily get the air temp above 35/40 Guessing most on here have containers converted with fans in front of heat exchangers? How long does a batch take to get down to 25/30% and how many kWh would you need? What air temp / RH are you producing? all advice / tips very welcome!

Future proof your systems by applying now to dry everything. Bare in mind that you need a paper trail of fuel bought to dry then sold, you can't dry it for yourself I believe.

answers here - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/677747/RHI_Eligible_Heat_Use_Government_Response.pdf RHI eligible heat use consultation… a lobbying success In response to Renewable Heat Incentives (RHI) Consultation, the Government has decided NOT to remove all drying practices as eligible heat uses. Although it will be tightening up the rules of the RHI scheme and drying wood for fuel as well as drying waste WILL be removed. Back in September last year, together with the NFU we responded to the Consultation on eligible heat, demonstrating strong agreement with other trade associations such as the Renewable Energy Association. The NFU has said, “Drying is a legitimate part of the agricultural processing of food and animal feed products, where it may be required for reasons of food safety, quality and to meet contractual obligations on moisture content – sometimes under challenging ambient environmental conditions.” The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has published the Government's full response and here is a brief summary of the changes: The Government does not intend to remove all drying practices as eligible heat uses. This includes drying of crops, and wood used for purposes other than fuels which will remain eligible (subject to the existing scheme rules around drying) However, the Government will: Remove wood-fuel drying as an eligible heat use other than where the renewable heat installation is replacing a fossil fuel heat source. Where installations are considered to be in development, they will have an additional six months after the reforms take place to get an RHI application in. For plants that are in development, evidence will be required such as planning permission and purchase of equipment to be eligible for the proposed transition period Remove the drying, cleaning or processing of waste as an eligible heat use as soon as the reforms are implemented Further tighten the eligibility of swimming pools so that only swimming pools that are used for a municipal or commercial purpose receive Non-domestic RHI support These changes will apply to new participants (those applying for accreditation after the new rules come into force) and existing participants who add capacity on or after the date the reforms come into effect. This is in addition to any participant who begins to use heat generated by an accredited installation for an ineligible heat use on or after the date the reforms come into effect. Additionally, the Government will amend RHI scheme rules so that installations, where heat is produced predominantly for single domestic premises, will no longer be eligible under the Non-domestic RHI. The Government will not, at this time, amend the eligible heat use criteria in relation to any other heat uses. These changes are currently anticipated for spring 2018. In effect, this will mean once the new regulations have gone through the parliamentary process which could be as little as six weeks from now

I would say so as the first use is (currently) eligible heat. what may work is recycling heat from a certain eligible use to dry logs as a heat by product.

I am not worried about size, my focus is moisture really. I plan to stick it on a 3.5 or probably 7.5 t machine, larger will have more reach and higher oil flow so in theory quicker? if this is going to work I will want to buy a purpose made and proven unit as it will have to perform. I have acces to a pecker, not sure what bit will work best, time for a play I think! i thought the shears would cut across the grain whilst the pincers will fit along it? Imagine the shears will be above to nibble at rings but not sure how they will bet on with say a 2dt trunk in 4 ft lengths? This sounds interesting but I don't really follow what you do!? Have you any pics or links, sounds like several processes to get what you want, which I assume is firewood to sell on? If so that's a different aim to me as few will be able to burn the size of what i have planned, I don't need the frills