Smart Bunker

Basics

• A Storage Device marketed as a more ergonomic Fuel Bunker for Coal or Wood Pellets
• Essentially just a small Hopper / Tipple Type Thing
• Made mostly of plastic
• Going for 185 Pounds (Currency) Excluding Value-Added Tax According to the Website
  • £222 for a single order after taxes (although unsure of it took the shipping into account, as well as import fees etc, this math was done by User: Eric in Florida)
• If it stays in Mass Flow and avoids the various issues that funnels/hoppers can get is another aspect to look into; the groves on the funnel may be for this
• ’’’Another interesting aspect is the certifications they have’’’ by HETAS and Balcas Energy Approval

Ergonomics

• Better than shoveling out of a traditional Coal Bunker
• Shoveling out of a bin at waist level may be less bad, although as it empties it would get worse
• Alternative Solid Bulk Material Hoppers exist which are worth investigating
• The “stock” option has the bucket on the ground. This may be better from a lifting the weight of a full bucket perspective, although some back and/or knee bending is involved, a stand of sorts is shown off in some videos which makes the bucket about knee or hip height, which may help with that

Capacity

• It (along with many other storage solutions) don’t state capacity in volume, but rather mass of a material
• Quote From the FAQ:
  • ” FAQ Q2. What is the storage capacity of the Smart Bunker?

A. The Smart Bunker can hold up to 200kg. Depending on Density of the product, Coal 160kgs, Animal Feed 190 kgs, Wood Pellets, 170 kgs, Salt & Grit 200Kgs,”

Potential Alternatives

• (Outside of Bins without the Hopper Functionality like the Store and Pour Container )

Cheaper

• Things like those “hotel cereal dispensers” (basically cheap plastic Rotary Hoppers / Rotary Airlocks ) although these may shred more fragile things like wood pellets
• Things like this:
  • “Bergan® Wall Mounted Dispenser™ – 40 lbs” ( ‘’’~68 USD Each’’’ )

Similar Price Point

• An Amazon Source for the “Imagibin” Wood Pellet Storage Bin ( ‘’’~450 USD Each’’’ )

More Expensive

• A Product by “Massive Dimension” Titled “ Bulk Pellet Storage Bin” ( ‘’’650 USD’’’ )
  • This seems to be aimed at Plastic Pellets in Pneumatic Conveyance Systems for massive Injection Molding Machines or FDM Filament Extruders (think Protopasta or Prusament Factory Tours)
  • Still may work though and seems well built akin to an IBC Tote
  • May be hard to access by hand though
• Bourne’s Energy Pellet Storage Bins
  • Nearing Industrial Hopper Size, probably intended to replace a pallet of bags one may buy to heat their home for a full winter etc
  • This gets into the same territory as those really neat European Fuel Bunkers that are like a whole room/closet in the basement pneumatically filled with fuel akin to a Home Heating Oil Delivery System
  • It says “ask for a quote” which means it’s gonna be ‘’’PRICEY’’’ lol

Internal Links

• Store and Pour Style Plastic Container

External Links

• The Company’s Website
  • The Assembly Instructions (Which also show what the parts look like quite well)
• A Forum Discussion Starting in 2014 Titled “ DIY Pellet Dispenser” (Seems not too many have attempted this yet, although one similar OTS device to the Smart Bunker was mentioned)