Design and Development of a Didactic Mobile Installation with Solid Fuel Boilers and a Heat Pump

The emission of dust and pollutants from coal-fired boilers is the main source of air pollution in the Malopolska Region. This is due to the low awareness of inhabitants, particularly in suburban and rural areas, of the need for outdated heating systems and non-energy efficient houses to use considerable amounts of energy. The authorities of the region undertake activities aimed at educating and raising the awareness of the inhabitants. The AGH University of Science and Technology is a natural partner in these activities, especially in the field of education and popularization of energy efficient solutions. One of them is a mobile educational installation designed by AGH in cooperation with the boiler and heat pump producer Galmet. The construction of the installation was supported by a grant from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. The leader of the project is the Foundation for the Support of Ecological Initiatives. The main aim of the designed installation is for didactic/educational purposes in the field of air quality and pollution reduction connected with the utilization of coal fired boilers with various efficiency classes, according the PN-EN 303-5:2012 standard. The whole installation is in a 4-wheel trailer adapted to conduct the measurements and present the results. The installation consists of two solid fuel boilers (a boiler with an automatic fuel feeder and a boiler with a manual fuel loading), heat pump, heat buffer, radiator and connection fittings (valves, pipes, circulation pumps, etc.). This allows the comparison of working conditions and pollutant emissions from each boiler. The system measures the level of pollution, analyzes exhaust gas and presents the results via a visualization system which allows mobile research to be conducted. This paper presents the methods of our research and focuses on the issue of low emissions and their impact on our environment and the inhabitants of Małopolska.