Sunday 17 February 2013

A rose by any other name . . . .

In the marketplace - there are several variations on the Bio-Gen System.

Eco Pod, Energy Cabin, Remote Heat Units, etc.

The fact of the matter is, that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out you can take a Biomass Boiler and stuff it into a container.

There are dozens of Companies in the market right now that are doing this, and undoubtedly there will be dozens, or even hundreds more in the weeks and months to come.

HOWEVER - just because it is a biomass boiler system in a Container - DOESN'T make it a Bio-Gen.

There are a few subtle differences, that sets the Bio-Gen apart:


  1. All other systems in a can require large buffer tanks and accumulator tanks. This is an expensive and unnecessary cost item. Bio-Gen Doesn't need it. Bio-Gen is a "Demand-Response" system - that operates much like a gas boiler, insofar as it only produces the energy necessary, and doesn't waste energy to heat up a huge volume of water, just to let it cool down again.  (It's a bit like my wife - who fills the kettle to the brim, pours out 1 cup for tea; refills the kettle - then boils it again for "later") Once the demand drops - so does the generation, and vice-versa.
  2. The Buffer and Accumulator tanks in old-fashioned systems are there as a form of storage, in the event of a system failure. (And make no mistake - Biomass systems fail, and relatively regularly). Once the heat stored in those tanks has been used; which is typically a matter of a few hours) the building goes cold. Bio-Gen uses a revolutionary energy storage system, that incorporates a proprietary Phase Change Material; that stores 48 hours of heat (at peak demand) so that the necessary adjustments / repairs can be made to the system.
  3. Many first generation systems require cyclonic or electrostatic scrubbers, to remove the fine particles in the flu gasses. Bio-Gen's Third Generation technology doesn't require this. The Bio-Gen combustion system so completely removes these that there is simply no need for that expense.
  4. Conventional boilers are typically the size of a small car. Just as the First Generation of Computers would fill a small room. Bio-Gen uses the latest technology, to miniaturise components down to the size of a fridge. In time, this will be further refined - to a point where the boilers will be no larger than a suitcase. Of course - the great advantage to Bio-Gen's revolutionary system is that boilers can be changed easily and quickly when they wear out.
  5. Old fashioned boilers are dinosaurs of machines. They are constructed of integrated components, which over time, cannot be easily changed or upgraded. As the system is designed to operate for 30 years - this is simply a case of built in redundancy. Imagine if the early computers couldn't be upgraded as new technologies came along. 30 years ago, in 1983, computers didn't look anything like what they do today. Bio-gen is designed on a modular component basis, which means that over time, as technology improves, the various components and systems can be upgraded to the latest edition. Where does this leave all of the Heavy, old, first generation boilers? I suppose it's fair to say that Mr. Watt's first steam engine was a monster of a machine - to produce very little Horsepower. By today's standards - we can produce 100 times the HP output, in a machine 1/100th of the size. Undoubtedly - biomass combustion technology (as ALL other technologies)  will follow this trend. And when the changes come - Bio-Gen will change along with them.
So . . . A rose by any other name may not smell so sweet.


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