About this course
Learn advanced techniques and strategies for designing and installing biomass heating systems with industry legend John Siegenthaler. This comprehensive, ten-week online course is designed for engineers, installers, designers, and professionals looking to take their skills to the next level. Developed in partnership with the Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC), this is a unique opportunity learn directly from an industry expert.
During the course, you will learn:
- How to design the most efficient biomass heating systems, including wood gasification, pellet-fueled, and wood chip boiler systems
- Specific control techniques that allow the operating characteristics of a boiler to match the load profile of a building
- Building blocks for modern systems, including high efficiency circulators, distribution efficiency, air & dirt separation, hydraulic separation, auxiliary boiler integration, expansion tanks, and more
- Residential design example applications, including a combisystem using a wood gasification boiler, auxiliary boiler, unpressurized storage, and floor heating
- Commercial/Municipal design example applications, including a multiple pellet-fired boiler system with low temperature convectors.
- How to confidently design a quote system for installation of biomass heating systems, and more…
Course outline
12 modules
25 - 30 hours to complete
24:39 hours
of video lectures
Welcome • 3 assignments
Orientation Materials
Welcome • 3 assignments
Orientation Materials
This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.
- Set up email notifications and your student profile
- Important Note on Continuing Education Credits
- Introduce yourself on the discussion board
Module 1 • 6 assignments
Introduction and Course Overview - Why Wood and Why Hydronics?
Module 1 • 6 assignments
Introduction and Course Overview - Why Wood and Why Hydronics?
Topics Include: Instructor introduction, course structure, overview of wood-based fuel options, overview of wood fueled heat sources, Thermal energy in wood, Cost of wood-based fuels relative to other options, environmental benefits of wood-based heating, realistic expectations.
- Week 1 - Part A - Introduction (01:17:03 hours)
- Week 1 - Part B - Fuel Cost Comparisons (01:17:59 hours)
- Slides: Week 1 slides (.pdf)
- Assignment
- PDF: Week 1 homework questions (.pdf)
- Answer Key: Week 1 homework answer key (.pdf)
Module 2 • 7 assignments
Wood Gasification Boilers (Operating Characteristics & Design Details)
Module 2 • 7 assignments
Wood Gasification Boilers (Operating Characteristics & Design Details)
Topics Include: High efficiency attained at high rates of heat production, typical operating cycle, why thermal storage is critical, why boilers require protection from low water temperatures, overheat protection options, how to provide that protection, how to size a wood gasification boiler, boiler maintenance requirements, European hydronic wood stoves, overview of an example system.
- Week 2 - Part A - Introduction and Background on Wood Gasification Boilers (30:03 minutes)
- Week 2 - Part B - Boiler Protection Considerations (58:28 minutes) Preview
- Week 2 - Part C - Thermal Storage and Sizing (28:30 minutes)
- Week 2 - Part D - Example Systems (26:09 minutes)
- Slides: Week 2 slides (.pdf)
- PDF: Week 2 homework questions (.pdf)
- Answer Key: Week 2 homework answer key (.pdf)
Module 3 • 8 assignments
Pellet-Fueled Boilers (Operating Characteristics, Fuel Conveyance, and Design Details)
Module 3 • 8 assignments
Pellet-Fueled Boilers (Operating Characteristics, Fuel Conveyance, and Design Details)
Topics Include: Time to initiate heat production, ability to modulate output, why storage is important, why pellet-fired boilers require protection from low water temperatures, how to provide that protection, automatic cleaning systems (pneumatic and mechanical scrapers), bulk pellet storage and conveyance options, maintenance requirements, how to size a pellet-fired boiler, auxiliary boiler integration, multiple boiler systems, overview of an example system.
- Week 3 - Part A - Pellet-Fueled Boilers (43:15 minutes)
- Week 3 - Part B - Venting Pellet-Fueled Boilers (21:16 minutes)
- Week 3 - Part C - Boiler Protection Considerations (15:33 minutes)
- Week 3 - Part D - Integrating an Auxiliary Boiler (31:06 minutes)
- Week 3 - Part E - Sizing a Pellet-Fueled Boiler (34:12 minutes)
- Slides: Week 3 slides (.pdf)
- PDF: Week 3 homework questions (.pdf)
- Answer Key: Week 3 homework answer key (.pdf)
Module 4 • 9 assignments
Wood Chip Boilers (Operating Characteristics, Fuel Conveyance, and Design Details)
Module 4 • 9 assignments
Wood Chip Boilers (Operating Characteristics, Fuel Conveyance, and Design Details)
Topics Include: fuel characteristics and specification, time to initiate heat production, ability to modulate output, when and where should wood chip boilers be considered, wood chip conveyance systems, why wood chip boilers require protection from low water temperatures, how to provide that protection, Automatic cleaning systems (pneumatic and mechanical scrapers), maintenance requirements, how to size a wood-chip boiler, small scale systems, auxiliary boiler integration, multiple boiler systems, overview of an example system.
- Week 4 - Part A - Introduction (27:57 minutes)
- Week 4 - Part B - Wood Chips (18:05 minutes)
- Week 4 - Part C - Wood Chip Storage and Conveyance (14:14 minutes)
- Week 4 - Part D - Large Wood Chip Boilers (13:06 minutes)
- Week 4 - Part E - Wood Chip Fired Boiler Systems (21:41 minutes)
- Week 4 - Part F - Sizing a Wood Chip-Fueled Boiler (18:19 minutes)
- Slides: Week 4 slides (.pdf)
- PDF: Week 4 homework questions (.pdf)
- Answer Key: Week 4 homework answer key (.pdf)
Module 5 • 10 assignments
Thermal Storage Options & Sizing
Module 5 • 10 assignments
Thermal Storage Options & Sizing
Topics include: Pressurized versus unpressurized storage, code requirements, space considerations, volume calculations, piping connections to tank, determining storage size for wood gasification boiler systems, determining storage size for pellet-fired boiler systems, stratification & temperature stacking, heat scavenging, standby heat loss, examples of available hardware, maintenance requirements.
- Week 5 - Part A1 - Introduction and Unpressurized Tanks (32:31 minutes)
- Week 5 - Part A2 - Benefits of External Heat Exchangers (24:47 minutes)
- Week 5 - Part B - Pressurized Storage Tanks (40:41 minutes)
- Week 5 - Part C - Heat Loss from Thermal Storage Tanks (12:55 minutes)
- Week 5 - Part D - Temperature Stacking in Thermal Storage Tanks (32:43 minutes)
- Week 5 - Part E - Heat Scavenging from Storage (23:33 minutes)
- Week 5 - Part F - Sizing Thermal Storage (22:11 minutes)
- Slides: Week 5 slides (.pdf)
- PDF: Week 5 homework questions (.pdf)
- Answer Key: Week 5 homework answer key (.pdf)
Module 6 • 8 assignments
Low-Temperature Heat Emitter Options & Distribution Systems
Module 6 • 8 assignments
Low-Temperature Heat Emitter Options & Distribution Systems
Topics include: Low temperature radiant panel options for floor, wall, and ceilings, panel radiators, fan-assisted panel radiators, low temperature fin-tube convectors, homerun distribution systems, parallel distribution systems.
- Week 6 - Part A1 - Introduction and Slab-on-Grade Floor Heating (23:53 minutes)
- Week 6 - Part A2 - Other Hydronic Radiant Floor Panels (22:57 minutes)
- Week 6 - Part B - Alternatives to Radiant Floor Heating (28:53 minutes)
- Week 6 - Part C - Panel Radiators (35:52 minutes)
- Week 6 - Part D - Distribution Systems (26:24 minutes)
- Slides: Week 6 slides (.pdf)
- PDF: Week 6 homework questions (.pdf)
- Answer Key: Week 6 homework answer key (.pdf)
Module 7 • 10 assignments
Building Blocks for Modern Systems (Part 1)
Module 7 • 10 assignments
Building Blocks for Modern Systems (Part 1)
Topics include: High efficiency circulators, distribution efficiency, air & dirt separation, hydraulic separation, auxiliary boiler integration, expansion tanks.
- Week 7 - Part A1 - Introduction and Common Piping (29:02 minutes) Preview
- Week 7 - Part A2 - Hydraulic Separation (29:11 minutes)
- Week 7 - Part B - Distribution Efficiency (36:43 minutes)
- Week 7 - Part C - Circulators (33:12 minutes)
- Week 7 - Part D - Expansion Tank Selection and Sizing (36:04 minutes)
- Week 7 - Part E - Expansion Tank Placement (19:03 minutes)
- Week 7 - Part F - Air and Dirt Separation (35:09 minutes)
- Slides: Week 7 slides (.pdf)
- PDF: Week 7 homework questions (.pdf)
- Answer Key: Week 7 homework answer key (.pdf)
Module 8 • 7 assignments
Building Blocks for Modern Systems (Part 2)
Module 8 • 7 assignments
Building Blocks for Modern Systems (Part 2)
Topics include: Outdoor reset control, staging, mixing options, on-demand domestic water heating sub-assembly.
- Week 8 - Part A - Introduction and Outdoor Reset Control Theory (44:23 minutes)
- Week 8 - Part B - Mixing Options for Biomass Boiler Applications (23:37 minutes)
- Week 8 - Part C - Instantaneous DHW Subassembly (39:36 minutes)
- Week 8 - Part D - Introduction to Heat Metering (32:14 minutes)
- Slides: Week 8 slides (.pdf)
- PDF: Week 8 homework questions (.pdf)
- Answer Key: Week 8 homework answer key (.pdf)
Module 9 • 6 assignments
Example Systems (Residential Applications)
Module 9 • 6 assignments
Example Systems (Residential Applications)
Topics include: Piping design, control design, descriptions of operation. Examples include: 1) A combisystem using a wood gasification boiler, auxiliary boiler, unpressurized storage, floor heating. 2) A combisystem using pellet-fired boiler, mod/con auxiliary boiler, pressurized storage, radiant ceiling heating. 3) A combisystem using a European hydronic wood stove, pressurized storage, panel radiators
- Week 9 - Part A - Introduction and Example Combisystem #1 (47:38 minutes)
- Week 9 - Part B - Example Combisystem #2 (23:37 minutes)
- Week 9 - Part C - Example Combisystem #3 (35:31 minutes)
- Slides: Week 9 slides (.pdf)
- PDF: Week 9 homework questions (.pdf)
- Answer Key: Week 9 homework answer key (.pdf)
Module 10 • 9 assignments
Example Systems (Commercial / Municipal Applications) and Course Summary
Module 10 • 9 assignments
Example Systems (Commercial / Municipal Applications) and Course Summary
Topics include: Piping design, control design, descriptions of operation, course summary. Examples include: 1) Small-scale wood-chip boiler system, floor heating. 2) Multiple pellet-fired boiler system, low temperature convectors. 3) Pellet-fired boiler, mod/con auxiliary boiler, floor heating.
- Week 10 - Part A - Introduction and Example Systems (48:33 minutes)
- Week 10 - Part B - Pellet-Fueled Boiler Supplying Space Heating for Town Highway Garage (43:13 minutes)
- Week 10 - Part C - Large Capacity Wood Chip Boiler System (04:53 minutes)
- Week 10 - Part D - Mini-District Heating Systems (09:45 minutes)
- Week 10 - Part E - What's Wrong With This System? (23:54 minutes)
- Slides: Week 10 slides (.pdf)
- PDF: Week 10 homework questions (.pdf)
- Answer Key: Week 10 homework answer key (.pdf)
- Final Quiz (you must pass to complete the course)
Conclusion • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
Conclusion • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!
- LinkedIn: Join the Hydronic-Based Biomass Heating Professionals LinkedIn Group
- 1 Year of Access to Course Materials
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Continuing Education Units
Approved for the following CEUs
- 23 Professional Development Contact Hours
- 11.5 BPI CEUs
Instructor
John Siegenthaler
P.E., Appropriate Designs
John Siegenthaler, P.E., is a mechanical engineering graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a licensed professional engineer, and Professor Emeritus of Engineering Technology at Mohawk Valley Community College. “Siggy” has over 40 years of experience in designing modern hydronic systems. He is a hall-of-fame member of the Radiant Panel Association, and a...
Frequently asked questions
Full FAQHow does this course work?
You can begin this online course instantly upon enrollment. This 10 module course is delivered entirely online. This course is self-paced and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll. During your year of access the instructor will be in the course answering questions on the discussion board. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.
How long do I have access to the materials?
Students get unlimited access to the course materials as soon as they enroll and for one year (365 days) after enrollment. Rewatch videos and review assignments as many times as you want. View updates the instructor makes to the course as the industry advances. Return to your course anytime with online access from anywhere in the world. After the one year of access expires, access can be extended by joining as a HeatSpring member. A single membership extends access to course materials for all past enrollments.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, when you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes please visit our HeatSpring for Teams page to get a group discount.