'LL Pioneer burning 25% more coal

 
tster
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Post by tster » Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 7:14 pm

Hi
This season I am going through 25% more coal than any of the previous 12 years .I have contacted 'LL stove company and they suggested replacing combustion fan(done),and checking with my coal dealer to see if they changed supplier(they said they havent).Now to get a 72 degree temp I have to set the CoalTrol max at 55 while in previous years a setting of 40 would do the job.
I wonder if I have been sold bituminous instead of anthracite.
Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.I should also add the burn grate holes have been cleaned,any firings removed from grate tray and burn unit reseated.
Thanks!


 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 7:17 pm

Its not likely you have bit coal.. it would be quite glaringly evident if you did.

 
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Post by tster » Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 7:36 pm

Lightning wrote:
Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 7:17 pm
Its not likely you have bit coal.. it would be quite glaringly evident if you did.
Thank s for the response.Could you please tell me what your referring to when you say it would be evident? I'm what way?
Thanks again.

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 7:42 pm

Bit coal smells like a tire on a camp fire. Other than that, if the fuel air mixture wasn't right you'd could get massive puff backs. The fire looks a lot different, there wouldn't be much if any blue flames... the most evident would be black soot collecting on the walls of the fire chamber and black smoke coming out the chimney.

Bit coal is very dirty burning unless you have the right appliance to burn it more cleanly.. Bit coal isn't usually sold as rice size also.

 
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Post by tster » Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 8:24 pm

Thanks for the feedback! having never been around any bit coal usage,I wasn't sure what you meant. Appricate it!

 
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Post by Lightning » Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 8:59 pm

No problem! Somebody will be along to help you diagnose your concerns. :)

 
Badog
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Post by Badog » Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 9:47 pm

I would start with the draft. Too high and heat goes up the chimney.


 
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Post by waytomany?s » Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 7:05 am

Badog wrote:
Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 9:47 pm
I would start with the draft. Too high and heat goes up the chimney.
Plus one.

 
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Post by Hambden Bob » Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 7:13 am

Have You noticed a change in Your ash? Same color,consistency? There are some Folks reporting here that they've been with Coal Co's for quite some time with steady quality,and this year that quality has dropped. They're getting more ash,and lower BTU results...

 
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 7:15 am

Just because the coal is from the same supplier doesn’t mean it is the same coal. Coal varies in how it burns and some loads are better than others.

Making sure the draft and combustion air are correctly adjusted is a great place to start, but you may find that this years coal doesn’t have as much “punch”.

 
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Post by waytomany?s » Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 7:27 am

Rob R. wrote:
Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 7:15 am
Just because the coal is from the same supplier doesn’t mean it is the same coal. Coal varies in how it burns and some loads are better than others.

Making sure the draft and combustion air are correctly adjusted is a great place to start, but you may find that this years coal doesn’t have as much “punch”.
I thought the coal was tested to ensure uniformity? I always thought it was mixed, poorer with better to meet a standard. Thought I read that on both Lehigh and blashak websites. Ill have to go look again.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 7:50 am

You are correct, that is what is supposed to happen. Normally they do a very good job at it, but nothing is perfect.

 
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Post by waytomany?s » Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 12:45 pm

They give a range. Maybe in years past it was the high end of the range and this year's mining is at the lower end.

 
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Post by Retro_Origin » Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 7:12 pm

Rob R. wrote:
Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 7:50 am
You are correct, that is what is supposed to happen. Normally they do a very good job at it, but nothing is perfect.
A previous miner told me if you're not getting the expected results you can go to the breaker/distributor and file a complaint and supposedly they have to reimburse you or prove their batch was tested or whatever...I'm sure it's not simple...probably not even effective! Any quick tips as far as getting good coal? Shini-ness? Time of year? One guy told me if it sounds 'dull' coming down the delivery chute it's junk and if it sounds like glass then it's good. That sounded like something a fifth grader would say, but hey, sometimes the simplest things do make sense!

 
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Post by Badog » Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 7:46 pm

It might be helpful if you post the name of the supplier to see if anybody else has had issues. I have noticed with my paddle feeder but I’ve had to adjust the maximum feed rate up a little bit every year. I have a coaltrol. I think it’s because the paddle itself tends to wear from grinding against coal so I think it pushes a little less at a time. Although that would not account for using more coal.


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