Furnace Add-On Quality
Yes. The secondary heat exchanger is actually made out of the same fire brick that lines the fuel bed walls. It allows the furnace to really keep the firebox temperatures high and the baffle plate rod keeps the secondary chamber relatively clean so fly ash and soot doesn't build up and insulate the secondary chamber, unlike many other designs with just a metal plate acting as a secondary chamber.
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- Member
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Wed. Mar. 05, 2008 7:27 pm
- Location: south central pa
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: hitzer 82 ul
- Coal Size/Type: nut
The only thing I can think of for you is some of the hitzer stoves also burn bituminous coal. The model 354 comes to mind.
- gitrdonecoal
- Member
- Posts: 506
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 16, 2009 4:35 pm
- Location: Elba, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 90
hey solar+coal, I tried sending a pm. don't think it sent, hope it did computer being stupid . if ya want pm your phone number and I can give ya a call and talk to ya.
john
p.s. doug is right, best bang for ya buck. I love mine!
john
p.s. doug is right, best bang for ya buck. I love mine!
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- Site Moderator
- Posts: 11416
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 05, 2008 5:11 pm
- Location: Kent CT
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: V ermont Castings 2310, Franco Belge 262
- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114
- Coal Size/Type: nut and pea
Read the bituminous forum. There is a lot of good information there including stokers for bit.Solar+coal wrote:Thanks Richard.franco b wrote:All three are primitive junk. Guaranteed smudge pots with undersized ash pans and ineffective grates. They will work after a fashion but you will not be happy. Lifetime guarantees are not much help if the company only lasts a few years.
If I were in your position I would much rather have several stoves, for better heat distribution, that did not rely on electricity. It could be a real disaster if your generator fails.
The stoves that have the potential to burn the cleanest and most efficient are the stoker designs, whether for pellets or coal. A small fire box fired at a high rate. They need the least tending and have large ash pans. I don't know if any are meant for soft coal, and of course they need electricity. It's a shame that with the exception of the stoker designs have regressed from what was available in the 1920s and 30s.
Richard
Wow.... haven't heard anything like that..... but then again know almost nothing about coal stoves/furnaces. Do you know of anyone that has any of these stoves? I would love to chat about any of these furnaces and their experiences.
As for multiple stoves.... yep. Had/have two. Due to high altitude, stove pipe and STRONG winds, did I mention strong winds, my stove in the basement became unreliable. My upstairs stove limped along (Phoenix) and it was suggested I add some Vacu Stacks .... and add an outside air kit to the Phoenix. I had to wait a couple weeks before I would get any of the parts, so I had to take "drastic" measures to keep things unfrozen and installed a propane furnace. Luckily my solar system can handle it without having to run the generator...... but I haven't gone without sun for more than a day. Anything more than that and the generator will probably have to run for a few hours to get my batteries fully charged.
Again, if you have anyone that I can chat with I would be grateful. I was leaning towards the Fire Chief out of the three.
Cheers,
Newbie
Before doing anything you have to solve the draft problems with your present stoves because a new stove could have more of the same problems. I understand that at your altitude the air is thinner, and so requires more of same than at lower altitudes. Chimneys should be insulated or be inside the structure and ideally no larger than the outlet of the stove. Venting a small stove into a large outside chimney will only keep draft with a high firing rate. Coal also tends to have lower stack temperatures than wood. A barometric damper should control the wind problem.
About the Fire Chief furnace. Very nice illustration, but all down hill after that. A big sheet metal box with vee shaped fire box that the ash will refuse to settle to the grate. One long grate pre-supposes that the ash will settle evenly along its length, which it will not do, resulting in part of the bed of coal not burning. That long narrow ash pan will be hard to handle and is undersized. A secondary burn chamber has to be very hot to work and needs air directed to it. This one will not work.
My experience is with anthracite stoves and boilers as well as wood stoves. I have converted many to oil (what a shame) that were far better than what is available today. Even though I have never burned bituminous coal the conditions for a good burn are similar in most fuels. Bituminous is high in volatiles (as is wood) and so requires particular attention to the design of the secondary chamber to avoid throwing away a good portion of the heat as smoke. You might try to find one of the old Warm Morning stoves used. These stoves have a very unique firebrick design that probably could handle bituminous very well. Might make a good replacement for one of your present stoves and to try soft coal inexpensively before investing thousands on a pig in a poke. They were made in three sizes with the largest also available with a sheet metal enclosure to act as a convector stove.
Richard
- coal berner
- Member
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- Location: Pottsville PA. Schuylkill County PA. The Hart Of Anthracite Coal Country.
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1986 Electric Furnace Man 520 DF
If you looking to burn Anthracite coal only then look at the first group of links If you want to burn Multi fuel then look at the second group of links . There is a lot of companies out there that make good units for burning Anthracite coal
but not to many that can off three fuel s like Anthracite Wood & Bituminous coal . Take you time and read what
members on here use and what works and what don't . You will find the right unit for yourself. Good luck on your hunt .
First Group Anthracite coal only
http://www.efmheating.com/index.html
**Broken Link(s) Removed**http://www.leisurelinestoves.com/
http://www.bakerstoves.com/
http://www.keystoker.com/
http://www.hitzer.com/products/
**Broken Link(s) Removed**
http://www.axeman-anderson.com/anthratube.html
http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com/coalboilers.htm
Second Group Multi fuel units
The efm WCB-24 hand fired wood/coal boiler
http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com/Multi-Fuel ... oilers.htm
**Broken Link(s) Removed**http://www.brunks.com/Bruncofurnaces.html
http://www.harmanstoves.com/list.asp?id=24,27,28, ... t%20Stoves
http://www.marathonheaterco.com/products.html
http://www.newyorkerboiler.com/
http://www.energyking.com/wood-coal-furnace_draftoptions.htm
http://www.firechiefwoodfurnace.com/fc700.aspx
**Broken Link(s) Removed**http://www.usstove.com/products.php?cat=2
http://www.usstove.com/products.php?cat=4
http://www.usstove.com/products.php?cat=1&pg=2&PH ... 141677a467
but not to many that can off three fuel s like Anthracite Wood & Bituminous coal . Take you time and read what
members on here use and what works and what don't . You will find the right unit for yourself. Good luck on your hunt .
First Group Anthracite coal only
http://www.efmheating.com/index.html
**Broken Link(s) Removed**http://www.leisurelinestoves.com/
http://www.bakerstoves.com/
http://www.keystoker.com/
http://www.hitzer.com/products/
**Broken Link(s) Removed**
http://www.axeman-anderson.com/anthratube.html
http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com/coalboilers.htm
Second Group Multi fuel units
The efm WCB-24 hand fired wood/coal boiler
http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com/Multi-Fuel ... oilers.htm
**Broken Link(s) Removed**http://www.brunks.com/Bruncofurnaces.html
http://www.harmanstoves.com/list.asp?id=24,27,28, ... t%20Stoves
http://www.marathonheaterco.com/products.html
http://www.newyorkerboiler.com/
http://www.energyking.com/wood-coal-furnace_draftoptions.htm
http://www.firechiefwoodfurnace.com/fc700.aspx
**Broken Link(s) Removed**http://www.usstove.com/products.php?cat=2
http://www.usstove.com/products.php?cat=4
http://www.usstove.com/products.php?cat=1&pg=2&PH ... 141677a467