110 Boiler Owners, What Are You Burning?
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- Joined: Sun. Mar. 27, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: Bridgeton, RI
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350
- Other Heating: Biasi B-4 oil boiler
I'm curious what you fellow boiler operators are burning, and what are your results?
Last year I used Blashak bags with minimal fuss, only complaint was light bags with 5 lbs of water.
This year I got a load from Jeddo, and I can't get anything right. I was expecting less usage and less ash. I'm burning more with more ash in the pan, unburned coal, and way more flyash.
Last year I used Blashak bags with minimal fuss, only complaint was light bags with 5 lbs of water.
This year I got a load from Jeddo, and I can't get anything right. I was expecting less usage and less ash. I'm burning more with more ash in the pan, unburned coal, and way more flyash.
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- Joined: Tue. Jan. 18, 2011 6:41 am
- Location: New Britain, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: WL 110
I buy from a local guy who picks up the coal from the South Tamaqua Coal Pocket. And this year I'm having the same issue that you are in regards to clinker formation, although I haven't had any issues keeping the boiler going since I plumbed in the primary loop.
I've kept the same settings as last year, but I get huge slag dams forming on the end of the grate. And whiile the stoker will eventually force these into the pan, I keep an eye on them so the fire doesn't end up burning way back on the grate. Because of you I pulled my grate apart and found the same amount of fines loaded underneath, and I thought that would eliminate the slag issue but it has not. The boiler 'seems' more efficient, but not by a measured standard only by my seat of the pants meter.
That said, it's January 11th, I've burned 530.00 worth of coal to keep the house at ~68f since October, so this is merely another learning experience when it comes to burning coal.
I've kept the same settings as last year, but I get huge slag dams forming on the end of the grate. And whiile the stoker will eventually force these into the pan, I keep an eye on them so the fire doesn't end up burning way back on the grate. Because of you I pulled my grate apart and found the same amount of fines loaded underneath, and I thought that would eliminate the slag issue but it has not. The boiler 'seems' more efficient, but not by a measured standard only by my seat of the pants meter.
That said, it's January 11th, I've burned 530.00 worth of coal to keep the house at ~68f since October, so this is merely another learning experience when it comes to burning coal.
- jpd989
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- Posts: 194
- Joined: Tue. Nov. 06, 2007 5:43 am
- Location: Mt Cobb Pa.
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Leisure Line WL110
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: D.S. Machine Basement Stove #3
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat and Chestnut
I was able to get UAE buckwheat back in September. A years worth I hope 5 ton. I am impressed with its qualities. I hope I will be able to get more when money is available. It is the lowest ash coal that I have burned so far. And I tried a lot Reading, Blaschak, Jeddo, Kassey Kassa, and Hudson. They all have burned for me. Some are better than others. I am saving my pennies.
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- Joined: Sun. Mar. 27, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: Bridgeton, RI
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350
- Other Heating: Biasi B-4 oil boiler
Have you noticed different consumption with different coal. I took the trip to NEPA this past fall to try and save some pennies. I had ok results with Blashak. My only complaint really was not getting 40 lbs of coal in a 40 lb bag. I thought by getting a "better" coal, I'd burn less. Quite the opposite. I had no problems keeping a consistent fire last year, with minimal flyash. I only cleaned the tubes and what not every ton. This year I'm cleaning the top end weekly, and the fire is very inconsistent.
I went to Jeddo because of all the good reviews, I'm just thinking its burning characteristics are incompatible with how our stokers work. That is the reason for this thread. If I decide to take the trip again, I want to know what burns well in our boilers. Unfortunately, it looks like UAE won't be an option.
I went to Jeddo because of all the good reviews, I'm just thinking its burning characteristics are incompatible with how our stokers work. That is the reason for this thread. If I decide to take the trip again, I want to know what burns well in our boilers. Unfortunately, it looks like UAE won't be an option.
- jpd989
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- Posts: 194
- Joined: Tue. Nov. 06, 2007 5:43 am
- Location: Mt Cobb Pa.
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Leisure Line WL110
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: D.S. Machine Basement Stove #3
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat and Chestnut
The UAE coal I had to reduce feed 1 1/2 turns. The Blaschak burned ok but it was more expensive for me to buy. I can get it local in bulk but at 235 a ton. I opt for other coal. I didn't pay that much for the UAE . I had ok results with Kassey Kassa and Hudson. Higher as content and you burn a bit more. Cleaning fly ash accumulations out of tubes and pipes is done on the 1st Saturday of every month.
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- Location: Northern Maine (Houlton area)
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Leisure Line WL 110
I have been using bagged blaschak rice with good results and it is just slightly damp . I weighed a bag of it and it was 40 lbs. . I have not tried other brands as they are not available where I live. Like others have mentioned I do clean the top end about every couple of weeks do to the fly ash content , not a real big deal as it only takes a couple minutes with the optional clean out door . If I didn't have that it would be pain for sure .
Last edited by hcarlow on Sat. Jan. 19, 2013 5:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Joined: Sun. Mar. 27, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: Bridgeton, RI
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350
- Other Heating: Biasi B-4 oil boiler
Perhaps I had a bad run last year? I had no issue with the coal itself, but it wasn't just damp, it was soaked! I opened a lot of bags, let them dry out then weighed them. Average dry weight was 32 lbs. So figure on average 8 lbs of water over 5 skids, I feel like I got screwed a whole skid! Not to mention the couple lbs of non coal.hcarlow wrote:I have been using bagged blaschak with good results and it is just slightly damp . I weighed a bag of it and it was 40 lbs. .
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I've burned Reading and Blashack, both with the same results. I haven't had the soaked coal problem, both brands were just a little moist. Enough to prevent keeping the bags outside, but not soaked.