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Frequently asked questions

Question 1: What is common in the two similar sound companies (Altherm Ltd. - Alternconsult Ltd.)?

Similarity is a coincidence

Altherm Ltd. produces, installs and upgrades biomass  (bale burning, chips and pellets firing) heating systems owned by Mr. József Sarusi-Kiss and Mrs. Andrea Sarusi-Molnár  as well as a danish companion under a danish license.

Alternconsult Ltd. is the family business of Mr. József Sarusi-Kiss and Mrs. Andrea Sarusi-Molnár offering innovative solutions in several areas. Connecting to renewable energy solutions it performs the complete design for the installation of biomass boilers and helps the customer in the licensing process as well.

Additionally, designing and constructing of agricultural storages and technological buildings such as bales, crop and machinery storage, sheep, cattle, goat and poultry barns.
 
The bended (IVLMS) structures are easy to modify, fast to build, helpful to finish agricultural investments with great flexibility and low budget as well as a short payback time. Insulated hen houses have exceptional metrics of energy, especially if heating is done by the bale and chip firing systems of Altherm Ltd. (www.altherm.hu).

Question 2: What is the difference between the two companies?

Alternconsult Ltd. only plans and permits biomass-based (bale firing, chip and pellet firing) energy systems while Altherm Ltd. manufactures and installs them which indludes local pipelines and internal heating systems as well.


Questions related to Biomass heating:

Question 3: What kind of licenses are needed to use biomass (bale burning, chip and pellet firing) systems?

Pre-construction permit from the local building authority or the MKEH permit for over 500 kW.

Question 4: Do biomass (bale firing, chips and pellet firing) systems needs to be designed?

Yes. Designing biomass fired systems requires special knowledge, experience and references. The content of the package includes the architect design and the static and the engineering plan (biomass heating, control, regulation, chimney dimensioning, internal heating system plan), fire and safety chapter, environmental design, lightning and contact protection.

Question 5: Is it true that for biomass boilers and heating systems over the 3 hectares should be subjected to environmental impact assessments?

Not true. In case of any construction on real estate above 3 ha, permission is required, the impact assessment is mandatory, so this does not apply only to biomass boilers or biomass heating systems.

Question 6: What should be considered when using the biomass boiler for alternative energy heating systems at the stage of investment preparation? 
The cornerstones of planning biomass boilers, heating plants (bale firing, chips and pellets):
  • accurate assessment of performance requirements
  • assessment of local biomass accessibility:
  • continuous supply of straw, rapeseed, maize, soy or pedestrian bale for bale firing
  • keeping the straw, rape, corn, soy or pedestrian bale dry under a bale wool fabric (www.altherm.hu) or under the multi-purpose IVLMS buildings that are ideally suited for this purpose,
  • distance of transport within 40-50 km
  • determination of the type and performance of the biomass boiler
  • deciding whether a central biomass heating plant with a local pipeline (Uponor) or individual biomass heating for each building
  • preliminary financial calculation of the biomass heating and its return time, decision
Question 7: How long it takes designing, manufacturing and installing biomass systems?

Evaluation of bale and chip milling systems, preliminary calculations and compilation of tenders take generally 2-3 weeks. Planning and licensing for a typically technical biomass heating plant is usually about two months. The production of biomass boilers usually takes between 30-60 days after a signed contract, construction of barns and heating pipeline, interior heating works between 2 to 4 weeks. Some of the works can be carried out simultaneously. Implementation of a medium-sized (300-600 kW) biomass heating plant takes about 3-4 months in total after the design contract has been concluded.

Question 8: Is there any specialty in design and authorization of biomass heating plants?

Yes. The biomass boiler requires a separate chimney. If the existing chimney is not suitable for connection and it requires a chimney of more than 6 meter a building permit is necessary for connection of the boiler. Chimney scaling is moreover, a critical element of biomass firing which many investors are ignoring. Constructions between 50 and 490 kw power needs permit of the building authority, above 500 kW power permit of the MKEH is required. Above 140 kW the combustion is a source of pollutant for biomass boilers so it is subject to authorization and is required to provide data. Overall, the designing, manufacturing, licensing and installing biomass firing systems requires special technical expertise.

Question 9: Why is it worth investing in a biomass heating plant (straw, rape, corn, soybean or baby bale, chips, pellets)?

The savings of biomass firing compared to natural gas and its payback time are very interesting for a smart investor having available or easily accessible biomass raw material.

The level of savings ranges between 80% and 90% even with purchased strawbales.
By using a good quality wood chips about 50-60%, by agripellet 30-50% (quality and moisture content is vital), 20-25% using wood pellets.

The payback period of strawbale burners are about 1.5 to 5 years. Very good for heat demanded poultry broilers such as turkeys, ducks, geese, sows and piglets and processing plants eg. slaughterhouses, meat processing, dairies, cheese factories, etc. needing hot-water all year long.

The payback period of chopping boilers is about 3-8 years, for wood pellet systems 6-10 years.

Occasionally, high savings can be achieved when combusting agricultural by-products such as sunflower shell, grain leftovers, sour cherry seeds, rice husk, etc. In these cases the investor should only think of special boilers.
 

Questions concerning agricultural storage buildings:

Question 10: What is the fundamental difference between sheep, cattle and goats or broiler barns?

Sheep, goat and cow barns usually do not have to be insulated might only the roof structure, while poultry houses require modern and precise heat insulation as energy costs such as heating, ventilation, electricity are one of the most important costs of poultry technologies. Thus, sheep, goat and cattle buildings have no architectural boundaries. Might be side walled or single-layered, ventilated throughout, sometimes with curtain-like space separation. Ventilation can be natural, manual or mechanical. In contrast, the side walls and roofs of modern poultry houses are energetically calculated and designed in a thermally insulated way, ventilation is generally automated in high-level .

Question 11: What does the IVLMS means shown on the Alternconsult brochures and web site?

IVLMS is indeed an acronym. IVLMS = bended frame structure. It summarizes the most important feature of the systems designed and distributed by the company. The most important feature of the system is that the roof structure can be constructed quickly and easily from bended elements. The IVLMS system appears in bale, crop, machine storage and in sheep, cattle, cow, pig and broiler nurseries as well.

Question 12: What makes the IVLMS systems preferable and why should an investor choosing it?

Good for any storage (bale, machine, crop storage) or animal farming (poultry, sheep, cattle, goat, sow, pig) with its certain span and height options. Where applicable the structrure can be built very quickly with low budget so it is an excellent investment. In certain areas of apllication it is not subject of building permits.

Question 13: What cover can be on IVLMS systems?

The cheapest solution is the PVC cover with 10 year warranty, 15-20 years of life expectancy with proper handling and its compatible heat insulation. Side panels and ceiling made out of sandwich panels, roof made with two layers (2x80 mm) of rolled fiberglass.

Alternatively, an expanded polyurethane foam or a tested heat-insulating material can be included.

Question 14: Could IVLMS structures be covered with other materials as well?

Yes, although the pricing and lifetime of the PVC cover is outstanding IVLMS strutcures can be covered with galvanized, aluminum or steel trapezoidal sheets supplied with auxiliary bended or rolled elements with illumination to the particular trapezoidal profile.

The system also includes fully or partially retractable folding curtains, doors, and interlocking structures. These products are unique such as their pricing.

Question 15: What is the lead time for designing, manufacturing and installing IVLMS farm storages and livestock buildings?

The survey, the preliminary calculations and compilation tenders of IVLMS agricultural and livestock structures take usually 2-3 weeks. Planning and licensing of an average complexity is usually about two months. The production of structures, covers and the thermal insulation is generally about 30 to 60 days after the signed contract. The installation is between 3 to 6 weeks which is increased by 4-6 weeks for internal education of biomass heating technology. The average execution time of a medium-sized building is 3-6 months from the conclusion of the design contract depending on the complexity of the building.

Question 16: What are the other technological benefits of biomass heating in poultry farming?

Using Biomass heating will put gas-burning devices being a spare, operation of thermo fans are recommended instead.
The disappearance of gas burning offers many advantages to the investor beyond drastic heating cost savings:

  • No gas combustion smoke produced inside
  • The operation of thermo fans does not reduce the oxygen content of the air in the barn
  • No significant arising of vapors will appear in the barn
  • Thanks to this requirement of ventilation is lowered by 50% at least
  • Due to the decreasing ventilation requirement the need for heating is also significantly reduced


Questions about flexible tanks:

Question 17: Why are these special flexible tanks made out of PVC?

Because of the quick and easy construction and short worktime of pre-installation. During construction there is almost no need for excavation machines and professionals  (underbase, insulation, etc.) Flexible tanks can be moved at any time quickly without any problems.

Question 18: What flexibility means regarding tanks?

Flexibility means it can be folded and are subject to volumetric and deformational changes because of the filled fluids.

Question 19: What materials can be stored in flexible tanks?

Many types are traded by Alternconsult Ltd. from the product range of french RCY. Depending on the material and thickness there are firewater, drinking water, rainwater tanks and there are containers for food (aseptic) chemicals, slurry storage tanks, wastewater tanks. We can also offer and deliver storage containers for special mixtures on request.

Question 20: What material the flexible tanks are made of?

Polyester fabric reinforcement in the center, the core is PVC, PU, PU / PVC, Alcryn material, the next layer is the compactness layer, followed by one or two side color layer. The compactness is possible from 200 gr / m2 to 1300 gr / m2..

Question 21: What is the storage capacity of flexible tanks?  

Custom made from 0.5 to 600 m3

Question 22: How long is the warranty on flexible tanks?

The manufacturer shall comply for the material of the firewater tank with a 10 year warranty regarding the application technology guide  with the following depreciation:

  • 100% between 0 to 5 years
  • 80% between 5 to 6 years,
  • 40% between 6 to 7 years,
  • 20% between 7 to 8 years,
  • 10% between 8 to 9 years,
  • Between 9 to 10 years, there is a 5% manufacturer's guarantee on the firewater tank's material.

Under proper care for the tank's mechanical fittings and other system elements a 1-year warranty is provided.

Question 23: What else is needed when installing flexible tanks?

Soft or sandy soil with a slope of not more than 1%, 600 gr / m2 anti-root film. It is very important not to pull the corners and not to lift the flexible tank at fittings or after installation.

Question 24: How to Order and Confirm flexible tanks?

The selected, collectively approved type will be delivered within 2-4 weeks after first deposit payment. The time required for installation will be discussed together with the customer at the conclusion of the contract.

Question 25: Does flexible tanks have color choices?

Yes. Our basic colors (green, gray, cream, white, anthracite and dark brown) can be ordered at your choice.

Question 26: Is flexible tanks require maintanance? 

Yes. The containers require regular maintenance depending on the type and the material stored therein. Detailed manual and maintenance instructions are provided for each tank at delivery. 

Question 27: What are the benefits of flexible firewater storages?

Simple design, quick licensing and construction, simple maintenance, low risk of accidents, better safety, standard fittings. 

Question 28: What are the advantages of flexible slurry storages?

Same as in fire water storage. Simple design, quick licensing and construction, simple maintenance, low risk of accidents, better safety, standard fittings.

The storage and handling of slurry is always a critical issue in the construction and operation of livestock farms. These problems will basically vanish after the planning and installation of a flexible slurry tank.

Question 29: What are the benefits of flexible food and chemical storages? 
Same as in fire water storage. Simple design, quick licensing and construction, simple maintenance, low risk of accidents, better safety, standard fittings.

 

Questions about pricing and products of flood protection:

Question 30: Is it possible to protect with the same efficiency against rainwater rise as against flooding using such systems?

Yes, the O dam system was developed for this inland water problem. It surrounds and protect the building or house to a height of 1 meter.

Question 31: Does flooding float off the elements of the mobile dam system?

No, because the hoses are weightened by the water filled in and it is also possible to fix the factory hooks to the ground. A diagram summarizes the diameters of the hoses, the layout, water flow rate and the height of the protection.

Question 32: How to fill the hoses in case of flooding?

After unpacking it must be unfolded and inflated with the supported compressor so it's easier to move and install this way. Next is to fill up even with flood water throughout the valve until water reaches the overflow. Then stop filling and shut the overflow. Filling is this simple.

Question 33: How the hoses need to be filled in case of rainwater protection?

There is no difference compared to flood control. After unpacking it must be unfolded and inflated with the supported compressor so it's easier to move and install this way. Next is to fill up even with flood water throughout the valve until water reaches the overflow. Then stop filling and shut the overflow. Filling is this simple.

Question 34: Are flooding and rain protection hoses break out easily?

The base material (PVC 900 and 1100 gr / m2) is perfectly chosen for flooding and inland water hoses providing complete safety with its user's intended care. 

Question 35: How many people it takes for installing and filling in case of flood and rain control?

Temporary barriers can be build very quickly by using flood and inland water protection hoses, eg. 3 men can do up to 100 meters in an hour. Increased staff can reduce installation times.

Question 36: What are the sizes of the flood and rain protection hoses?
Flood and rain protection hoses can be manufactured with four different diameters: 400, 600, 800, 1000 mm. The length of the 5 m connection can be extended by a connecting element forming a perfect watertight system. They can be stacked in the form of a pyramid and connected on several levels.
Question 37: How flood protection hoses can be stored?

Flood protection hoses can be stored easily at low cost drained and rolled in a covered place.

Question 38: From the environmental point of view, how can flood protection hoses and mobile barriers be categorized?

Flood protection hoses can be drained easily, stored at low cost in small spaces and reused for almost unlimited time with care. Besides, there is no side effect of environmental pollution as it is practically with sandbag technology in case of flooding.

Question 39: From an economic point of view, how can flood protection hoses, mobile barriers be categorized?

The investment cost of flood protection hoses, mobile barriers are low compared to traditional defense technologies with basically no maintenance fees.

Question 40: Does flood protection hoses, mobile barriers require professional assistance?

No special expertise is required. The product brochures, manuals and user guides for flood protection hoses, mobile barriers provide detailed information on handling, filling, draining and storage. In addition after the sale, the distributor makes a proper training of handling and maintenance.

Question 41: Summarizing, what are the benefits of these PVC-based flood protection systems?

The benefits of flood protection hoses, mobile barriers are: fast, immediate action, small storage space, low investment and maintenance costs, no environmental issues.

Question 42: What does it mean that flood protection hoses, mobile barriers are made of recyclable materials?

Weared off or damaged materials of flood protection hoses and mobile barriers are returned to the manufacturer with special conditions and reprocessed into new products.

Technological Partners

Altherm
Swedsteel
Hogslat
RCY
Wiefferink