Haha thanks, I'm a bit fanatical I guessDieselpowerf350 wrote: ↑Fri. Dec. 29, 2017 10:05 amDamn boy! You got a heck of a setup. I like the meter station.
Chronicles of the Clayton
- Lightning
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- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
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- Dieselpowerf350
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- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Hotblast 1557m
- Coal Size/Type: All and I want more....lol!
- Other Heating: Oil
That’s why we are glad to have you aboard. Thanks
- Lightning
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I wanted to update this thread with a recent modification for anyone who might be following along. As many of you have seen there has been a "grate conversion". I no longer use the shakers, they sit in a pile here in the basement with the frames and shaker handle along with other tools I don't use anymore.
I now use a flat grate and riddle bar ("Ash Destroyer") to clear the fuel bed and I'm very pleased with the success so far. The mayhem of the debacle can be found here,
Riddle Method for Ash Clearing
Okay, so now that's outta the way, on to further business.
I really stretched the burn cycle today, the average daily temp was 16 degrees which is grounds for two tendings. Normally under 22 degrees I'll do two tendings, today I only did one. Clearing ash filled 2 and half ash pans and left about 3 inches or less of fiercely burning fuel bed. It took 85 (yes 85) pounds of fresh coal to bring it back up to par. Recovery is in process now, it might take a little longer than usual. The thermostat is calling for heat but we're not getting any.... yet. The 122 degree warm air supply is deceptive since the blowers are currently off.
Aaaaaa yes, the volatiles just ignited.
I now use a flat grate and riddle bar ("Ash Destroyer") to clear the fuel bed and I'm very pleased with the success so far. The mayhem of the debacle can be found here,
Riddle Method for Ash Clearing
Okay, so now that's outta the way, on to further business.
I really stretched the burn cycle today, the average daily temp was 16 degrees which is grounds for two tendings. Normally under 22 degrees I'll do two tendings, today I only did one. Clearing ash filled 2 and half ash pans and left about 3 inches or less of fiercely burning fuel bed. It took 85 (yes 85) pounds of fresh coal to bring it back up to par. Recovery is in process now, it might take a little longer than usual. The thermostat is calling for heat but we're not getting any.... yet. The 122 degree warm air supply is deceptive since the blowers are currently off.
Aaaaaa yes, the volatiles just ignited.
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Last edited by Lightning on Fri. Jan. 26, 2018 5:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Lightning
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
I started composing the first post after I poured the 85 pounds on, the blues ignited just as I was about to submit it. So about 15 minutes at -.03" with the ash pan door open. The new riddle method for clearing ash and flat grate with the bigger amount of combustion air volume flow that can pass thru it while the ash door is open has made a huge difference with recovery time.
Yes, life is good again
- Dieselpowerf350
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- Coal Size/Type: All and I want more....lol!
- Other Heating: Oil
Yea, wow! That looks so easy and so much faster. That recovery is close to mine at about 12 minutes WITH forced draft, but my Shakedown and flossing still sucks. I think I’m gonna attempt it this summer
I’ve been working alot so I haven’t really got to read, but you had somebody make you a small piece for the front to take up the gap?
I’ve been working alot so I haven’t really got to read, but you had somebody make you a small piece for the front to take up the gap?
- Lightning
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- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
I didn't take note of the actual time but I'm sure it was less than 20 minutes. I was just about to grab the remote BBQ thermometer and go up stairs but at that moment th blues lit up.
I don't floss anymore but I have been doing some top side work and a 2nd riddle after long burns that generate a lot of ash. The riddling is definitely less laborious than using the shakers and it does a better job since the grate frames aren't there to create a landing for ash.
Actually it's a scrap piece of 1/8 inch thick steel I had laying around. I just drilled the front liner and bolted it on. It leaves ~ a quarter inch slot for the Ash Destroyer to get in at grate level.Dieselpowerf350 wrote: ↑Fri. Jan. 26, 2018 6:50 ambut you had somebody make you a small piece for the front to take up the gap?
- Lightning
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- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
I think it's safe to say that I can lower the once per day tending outside average temperature threshold. Yesterday was another mean OAT of 16 degrees with only one tending. The flat grate doesn't get blocked with ash as early as the shaker system did. Pretty cool.
In other news, I'm expecting a decent tax refund this year. I'm going to avidly watch Craig's list for some kind of automatic boiler. It's the next logical upgrade for my heating needs. If things work out I'll be using a boiler next year. We'll see. What we want and what we get don't always match up lol.
In other news, I'm expecting a decent tax refund this year. I'm going to avidly watch Craig's list for some kind of automatic boiler. It's the next logical upgrade for my heating needs. If things work out I'll be using a boiler next year. We'll see. What we want and what we get don't always match up lol.
- warminmn
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- Other Heating: Wood and wear a wool shirt
If you get a boiler, make sure to get one that does not fit your needs so that you can spend several years upgrading it, modifying it, and entertaining us with those mods
- Lightning
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That was some interesting foresight warminmn
Ashley has been doing well keeping us warm. Even thru a three day power outage, I used a generator during the day, shut it down at night. The furnace would gravity feed quite well. I'm still happy with the flat grate using riddle bars. It's a lot less laborious clearing ash. Although, there is more mess with ash spillage and dust. I'd still take it over the stock grates.
I was doing some coal usage figures and came up with these....
During 10 days in March the average mean daily temp ranged 21 to 26 degrees with an average of 23.3 degrees, during which I used 64.8 pounds per day.
Earlier this year between Dec 26 - Jan 7 with average mean daily temp ranging -3 to 10 degrees the with that 13 days averaging 4.2 degrees, I used 88.5 pounds per day. This set of temps is approximately 19 degrees colder than the above set and used about 24 more pounds per day.
Why is all this important? I'm not really sure lol, but I think it's interesting to see the coal usage difference during two different periods of similar average temperatures. I'm sure there's a pattern there somewhere. Oh I know, it got colder so I used more coal
Last edited by Lightning on Mon. Mar. 12, 2018 9:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- michaelanthony
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- warminmn
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I try!
Do you think you are wasting less unburned coal Lee? That weighs up pretty fast.