Minor Explosion in Coal Stove
I got a real strong "POOF" from my stoker today. I was running it pretty hot, when I had to empty the 'fines' tray. I put the stove into ASH-OUT mode, then pulled the fines tray and dumped it onto my coal ash shovel. I opened the glass door, and quickly dumped the shovel full of fines onto the burning coal, only covering half of the blue flames. I immediately got a WWHHOOOOOOF flash and sound, as if I had just turned on a gas grille and delayed igniting the gas. I guess the dust from the fines caught fire before they actually hit the hot coals? No big deal, it never happened before, so I'll just dump the fines on the hot coals, a little slower next time.
- New Hope Engineer
- Member
- Posts: 429
- Joined: Thu. Aug. 21, 2008 8:12 am
- Location: Lower Saucon PA
- Coal Size/Type: Nut pea
thats what happens when you have a perfect air to fuel ratio I have them from time to time on the steam loco,but on a slightly larger scaleDVC500 at last wrote:I got a real strong "POOF" from my stoker today. I was running it pretty hot, when I had to empty the 'fines' tray. I put the stove into ASH-OUT mode, then pulled the fines tray and dumped it onto my coal ash shovel. I opened the glass door, and quickly dumped the shovel full of fines onto the burning coal, only covering half of the blue flames. I immediately got a WWHHOOOOOOF flash and sound, as if I had just turned on a gas grille and delayed igniting the gas. I guess the dust from the fines caught fire before they actually hit the hot coals? No big deal, it never happened before, so I'll just dump the fines on the hot coals, a little slower next time.
- SMITTY
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- Posts: 12520
- Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
- Location: West-Central Mass
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
- Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
- Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler
Always wanted to ride in a steam engine, to see how it's done & for the experience of being inside what is essentially a rolling 200 ton boiler. You are a lucky man! Nothing quite like standing close to the tracks when one flies by. Noise smoke & high pressure steam -- doesn't get any better than that!
WOOOOF's are good for cleaning the flyash out of the flue!
WOOOOF's are good for cleaning the flyash out of the flue!
- New Hope Engineer
- Member
- Posts: 429
- Joined: Thu. Aug. 21, 2008 8:12 am
- Location: Lower Saucon PA
- Coal Size/Type: Nut pea
if you ever come down this way let me know,i will be glad to take ya for a ride.SMITTY wrote:Always wanted to ride in a steam engine, to see how it's done & for the experience of being inside what is essentially a rolling 200 ton boiler. You are a lucky man! Nothing quite like standing close to the tracks when one flies by. Noise smoke & high pressure steam -- doesn't get any better than that!
WOOOOF's are good for cleaning the flyash out of the flue!
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Speakin of going for a ride.... Its cooling off, let me know whats a good day to play "Fireman", we'll all drive over for a ride. Smitty, come on down, and we can share the shovelinNew Hope Engineer wrote:if you ever come down this way let me know,i will be glad to take ya for a ride.SMITTY wrote:Always wanted to ride in a steam engine, to see how it's done & for the experience of being inside what is essentially a rolling 200 ton boiler. You are a lucky man! Nothing quite like standing close to the tracks when one flies by. Noise smoke & high pressure steam -- doesn't get any better than that!
Nice new Avatar
- SMITTY
- Member
- Posts: 12520
- Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
- Location: West-Central Mass
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
- Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
- Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler
Thanks!! Sounds like a blast!! I'll have to take you up on that once my finances straighten out ... which will be when the weather starts to get warmer - perfect!
AWESOME pic, btw!
AWESOME pic, btw!
You don't want that -- I'll be temped to set a land speed record!DVC500 at last wrote:Smitty, come on down, and we can share the shovelin
- CoalHeat
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- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
I was thinking about asking you about that myself, always wanted to ride up front.if you ever come down this way let me know,i will be glad to take ya for a ride.
- New Hope Engineer
- Member
- Posts: 429
- Joined: Thu. Aug. 21, 2008 8:12 am
- Location: Lower Saucon PA
- Coal Size/Type: Nut pea
ill let you know what my schedule will be for november when I get it. november is a busy month due to my trips to potter county pa for deer huntingDVC500 at last wrote:Speakin of going for a ride.... Its cooling off, let me know whats a good day to play "Fireman", we'll all drive over for a ride. Smitty, come on down, and we can share the shovelinNew Hope Engineer wrote: if you ever come down this way let me know,i will be glad to take ya for a ride.
Nice new Avatar
- New Hope Engineer
- Member
- Posts: 429
- Joined: Thu. Aug. 21, 2008 8:12 am
- Location: Lower Saucon PA
- Coal Size/Type: Nut pea
i will leave you with this video and get back on topic now before I gets in trouble
- CoalHeat
- Member
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
Way too cool!
- New Hope Engineer
- Member
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- Joined: Thu. Aug. 21, 2008 8:12 am
- Location: Lower Saucon PA
- Coal Size/Type: Nut pea
i am running trains on sunday the 15th and sunday the 22nd. for any further info shoot me a pm
mark
mark
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I knew exactly what happened:
You were in the shower, you did not hear it ! there was no explosion :
One of two things happened :
1- The wife does not like the coal stove, she wants something else; so be prepared to hear more problems about the stove , especially when you are not around, or in the shower ( wink , wink )
2-Her boyfriend just ran out the door, while you were in the shower, and slammed the door ( Just kidding )
To have a fire, you need flammable material, oxygen, and heat beyond an ignition point, to have an explosion other factors are needed, and they have to be coordinated properly, that's rarely the case with coal stoves.
You were in the shower, you did not hear it ! there was no explosion :
One of two things happened :
1- The wife does not like the coal stove, she wants something else; so be prepared to hear more problems about the stove , especially when you are not around, or in the shower ( wink , wink )
2-Her boyfriend just ran out the door, while you were in the shower, and slammed the door ( Just kidding )
To have a fire, you need flammable material, oxygen, and heat beyond an ignition point, to have an explosion other factors are needed, and they have to be coordinated properly, that's rarely the case with coal stoves.
From here forward, mind your attire when loading coal. Lest more serious singeing occur.Cyber36 wrote:I had my first puff-back happen to me this year after loading the stove after the first match. Scared the -hit out of me & burnt 75% of my left arm hair off.......
Bob