I think by solid fuel, you mean wood. I don't know much about coal, but this is also an option, as are pellets/corn stoves.

As far as wood, I would co non cat, as these use brains to burn the fuel completely, rather than expensive platinum, rhodium, etc. They tend to last longer and with fewer problems.

Let us know how your choice works out, as they say, "there's more than one way to skin a cat."

-Peter

This is the info on their brochure. Does this info mean anything Im especially interested 'effective after burn control ' but what does it all mean!!

The Hercules Range of stoves are powerful, robust and cabable of performing the most demanding task. These stoves have been throughly tried and tested to withstand the harsh rigours of continuous mutifuel firing. The Hercules is cabable of reaching unparalleled burn rates that can give you as much as 30kW of heat to your living area.

The Hercules boiler options have been designed to harness all the extra available heat and use it to power home central heating and hot water systems. Three sizes of boiler models can easily heat between 9 and 22 standard sized radiators whist still allowing 2.5 to 3kW to heat the hot water tank.

The Broseley Hercules 12B Multi-fuel boiler stove has standard features like a riddling grate, effective after – burn control (tertiary air for even grater burn efficiency) and also can be easy dismantled for easy installation. The 12kw (40,000btu) boiler in the Broseley Hercules 12B Multifuel Boiler Stove gives out 4kw of heat to the room, 2.5kw to water and 6kw to central heating: enough to power 9 standard size single radiators. Boiler fittings on the back of the Broseley Hercules 12B Multifuel Boiler Stove are 1 1/2"bsp. Boiler pressure tested in accordance with BS 3377 to 2.1 bar.

I'm looking into a wood gas bio fuel stove at 12,000 BTU. This would be
for the guest house only and would place "accessable fire" outside the building.
I did manage to find a 12,000 BTU stove for $3 more than the smaller stove.
Here's the link:
http://www.knowledgepublications.com/biomass_energy_fuels_and_power.htm

And, here's how I plan to use it.

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll154/rbuchananlogman/?action=view&current=LEstove-1.jpg

-Rick

1 bar = 14.5 PSI

atmospheric pressure = 14.5 to 14.7 PSI @ sea level

2.1 bar = 30.45 PSI