Smartline Research
Bur-Bax-10
An energy-saving, electric-only heating system could be the perfect solution for low-cost heating and hot water. Smartline worked with Michael Burton, sole trader and inventor of the innovative Bur-Bax-10 electric boiler.
In rural communities and smaller properties, many householders rely solely on electricity for their heating needs. This may be a cleaner option than gas, oil or solid fuel; however, it can be costly for the bill-payers.
When Michael approached us for research and development support for his efficient electric heating system, it seemed like a great opportunity to trial a new system in Cornish social housing. Is the Bur-Bax-10 the future of low-cost heating and hot water?
The background
Michael is an electrical engineer with a background in the automotive industry and construction. Setting up on his own, Michael began work from an old barn on a small industrial site in North Cornwall.
The Bur-Bax-10 was invented almost by accident. Back in 2011, Michael was working on a hot box for drying compound, so he began researching. He became fascinated by how much heat could be generated by such a small element.
This led to the question: could this element be used in a vacuum container to heat water ?
Without budget for further research or funding, Michael began liaising with Majestic Transformer Company. This enabled him to expand the idea of what could be done using heating elements, and Michael’s idea began to look like a viable electric boiler system. He then approached a local boiler manufacturer, Adrian Acaster, to help refine his design.
This is an illustration of the Bur-Bax-10 electrical heating system.
The opportunity
The next stage was to look into the format and casing, and that’s when Smartline became involved. Michael needed to create a functional prototype, then once built, this needed to be tested. As well as verifying the performance, Michael needed tangible efficiency figures.
Smartline provided Michael with an Idea Generation grant of £1,000 to enable him to make the prototype. Once that has been built, we offered him In Residence Support to test the invention’s performance.
This involved a team of mathematicians from the University of Exeter attaching meters to the prototype to gather performance data. However, it soon became clear that the figures obtained from the draughty workshop wouldn’t indicate the system’s domestic performance.
We put Michael in touch with Mark England from Coastline Housing who agreed to install the heating systems in three homes, initially for a three-month trial. We were able to give Michael a further £20,000 to make three complete and functioning systems, all ready to be installed in Coastline Housing homes.
The trial with Coastline Housing
Coastline has always tried to be an early adopter of efficient technologies in its homes. As the UK moves towards net zero, associations like Coastline are exploring alternative ways to heat their properties. Michael’s system could also be an excellent solution for existing homes without gas or oil, such as rural properties, which need a cost-effective heating and hot water supply.
The well-insulated Coastline homes would provide a great opportunity to test the Bur-Bax-10 system. Three households volunteered to take part in the trial. All the householders were over 60 and had specific heating needs. The houses are bungalows, enabling the box to be stored out of the way in the loft space.
The trial needed to demonstrate whether there were cost and energy savings, how straightforward the system was to use, and what type of casing would best work in social housing properties.
This is an image of the Bur-Bax-10 prototype that has been tested with Coastline Housing.
What did the trial show?
The three volunteer households were really helpful in providing Mark and Michael with feedback. Although broadly the same demographic, the households all used the system very differently, resulting in different energy and efficiency outcomes.
The design of the housing was also key. The systems were installed in the loft, and one valuable piece of feedback was that the residents could hear the systems running. The original 24V designs made a humming sound, and there was also a “clunk” from the transformer.
Michael adapted the system to run straight from the mains, removing the problem of the noisy transformer. The new mains-powered system runs at just 3KW.
Another issue was that the water was actually “too hot”. The Bur-Bax-10 can heat the tank from 20oC to 250oC in just 20 minutes, so the thermostats were adjusted to save energy.
The Coastline trial has already been extended for another 12 months. Michael and Mark are discussing the possibility of installing trial systems in a further 20 Coastline homes.
What’s the next innovation?
Michael never stops innovating, and he’s currently looking into adapting the system to create a combi-style unit, providing instant hot water. This would be an efficient and economical system, that’s simple to install and service.
He continues to look into casing options, such as tall and narrow containers for airing cupboards, or small-but-tough housing for garages.
Who is involved?
Michael Burton from Bur-Bax-10 worked with Smartline’s James Rowberry and Mark England, Philip Gilbert and Adrian Ankers from Coastline Housing.