Energy- Cabin

  The energy cabin incorporates an all in one out-door sustainable energy unit, Which enables the heating of domestic water and central heating for the home and Commercial premises. The existing cabin is constructed from wood, but it can be  constructed from various other materials and can be constructed in a way that Will compliment gardens, ie using the back as a gazebo, or decking/patio Area etc

This cabin has been constructed to combat a number of existing problems involved with the installation of sustainable energy systems.

1. At present it is difficult to include storage for 3 tonne of wood pellet (bulk buying requirement
2. Not all houses can accommodate south facing solar panels.
3. Some houses cannot support more than two solar panels (nowhere to off load excess heat produced during the summer months giving a less efficient system.
4. The fitting of solar panels or tubes can be intrusive to a household and can   compromise the externals of the roof (water proofing when fitted and existing houses may not have the required space for the sizes of tank’s needed)
5. The liquids used in solar panels can cause staining should a leak occur within the house.
6. Solar piping and insulation is expensive and running long distances (panels to solar tank) reduces efficiency.
7. Any maintenance needed requires access to the home.
8. With standard solar systems it is not possible to contribute to central heating.
9. The labour costs in fitting standard solar and pellet systems to existing homes is expensive due to the nature of the installation and can vary from house to house.
10. Solar panels need to be able to pump continually to avoid over heating, currently the standard system stops with an electrical power outage and can burn out pumps etc due to over heating.

 This cabin will eliminate the problems as outlined by:

1. The Cabin contains storage for 3tonne plus of wood pellet which is fed
       automatically to the boiler.
2. The Cabin can be positioned facing South to maximise the Solar contribution
3. The Cabin has a large volume of water to off-load excess heat from panels, which prevents the solar system from overheating during the summer months.
4. Existing houses can avail of heating using an all-inclusive solar and pellet system, not requiring any significant alterations to their home.
5. The Cabin contains all the Solar piping so any possible leaks are not in the home.
6. Within the cabin there is a short run of solar pipes from panels to solar tanks making the system more efficient.
7. No access is required to the home for any maintenance required.
8. The off-loaded heat from the Solar panels can boost the central heating through the solar re-cycle tank.
9. The Cabin allows for most installations to be uniform, and the-built unit reduces labour costs, leaving it possible to supply Clients with a very good and efficient system for less that a similar system could be provided.
10. The Cabin will contain electrical solar panels to ensure the Solar pumps keep pumping (excess electrical power can be utilised to power the home when fitted with wind turbines, electrical solar panels and storage batteries)

The Cabin is a garden unit which can provide all heating requirements for a house, by utilising the modern sustainable energy systems (pellet boilers and solar panels/tubes) All the requirements for both systems (pellet and solar) are contained within the Cabin, both systems are combined using a series of heat-exchangers leading to a heating system that has some major advantages over other systems. In short The ECO Fusion Cabin solves all the main obstacles facing the consumer who wishes to fit solar panels and wood pellet boiler.
The cabin is constructed using a stud frame format with a boxed steel pipe or bar brace, with the pipe it is possible to include pipe work through the stored fuel giving the ability to maintain humidity levels through-out the fuel by using hot water from the system, while the way it is mounted gives additional strength to the storage silo, the external finish can be constructed to suit individual requirements but a wood finish will be preferred. The cabin will be insulated for both heat and dampness, with the plant room being fire- slab insulated to meet all regulations. A 34” door to the front of the cabin gives easy access for inspection and maintenance.

The simple construction of the cabin makes it easy to re-produce in an industrial unit and will be fully assembled and equipped leaving only site preparation and connection of pipe-work to cabin when placed on prepared site, transport and method of deposit on site may vary. The fusion system between solar and wood pellet is a combination of two standard systems with significant alterations.

 The invention is therefore directed towards making one system compliment the other thus making a more efficient heating system, comprising 3 independent plumbing systems which are combined together through heat exchangers.
The wood pellet system is a standard make but uses a larger tank to store heat for the heating of the home when required, the way a wood pellet boiler operates suits this system, when the large tank is fitted with two heat exchangers are possible and also provides a boost to central heating, which is currently not possible with other standard systems.
Off load excess heat through exchanger in solar recycle tank
Pre-heat domestic tank supply through solar recycle tank

There are a number of benefits to using this Energy Cabin inclusive of but not limited to the following;

1. The harnessing of our existing solar energy (sun)
2. The use of renewable energy in the construction of the cabin (wood)
3. Saving on costs for Domestic and Commercial heat
4. An electric wind turbine or electric solar panels can be fitted which will provide the electricity to run the system if and when required.

This project received Grant aid from the Co Wexford Enterprise Board for the conducting of a feasibility study prior to construction. The current unit is fully working and is available to view on site by the public.