Steam Boiler

 
hardcoalhardcore
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Post by hardcoalhardcore » Mon. Sep. 24, 2018 2:56 pm

lzaharis wrote:
Mon. Sep. 24, 2018 2:48 pm
=================================================================================================

I wish to offer you an apology if you feel that I offended you. That was never my intention.

Living through what I did with my boiler for over a year and half taught me a lot about flat bed stokers and digital controls that are bad and how the replacement digital controls can also be defective which can cause many problems and boil outs which I experienced.
If I had been able to afford $6,000.00 cost of the Van Wert Anthratherm VA400 installation in 1982 I would still have it to heat my home.
The VA400 in 1982 had mechanical honeywell controls and that made them very simple to operate and control.

Again, If you feel I slighted you, I wish offer a sincere apology to you.


Don't worry about it. I took it the wrong way. My bad


 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Mon. Sep. 24, 2018 3:10 pm

There should be a large plug to the right of the coil. If you can get that plug out, it would be the best place for a skimming port.

 
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David...
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Coal Size/Type: Nut

Post by David... » Mon. Sep. 24, 2018 3:45 pm

Yes, that would work.

David

 
hardcoalhardcore
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Post by hardcoalhardcore » Tue. Oct. 09, 2018 8:58 pm

It's ALIVE!!!

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StokerDon
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Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood

Post by StokerDon » Tue. Oct. 09, 2018 9:04 pm

NICE!!!

Is it making steam yet?

-Don

 
hardcoalhardcore
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Post by hardcoalhardcore » Tue. Oct. 09, 2018 9:12 pm

Kind of haha. This pic is from the other night. its been too hot out lately to get this thing making steam. When it cools down this weekend I'm going to skim it. Right now it's just heating my water

 
hardcoalhardcore
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Post by hardcoalhardcore » Tue. Oct. 09, 2018 9:22 pm

Can someone fill me in on the damper? I set the weight to 4. Its been running fine since Friday. Should I mess with the damper or is it fine?


 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. Oct. 09, 2018 9:37 pm

Set it on 5. The manual calls for a minimum draft at the breech of -0.04 to -0.05" of WC. Confirm with a draft gauge.

 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Tue. Oct. 09, 2018 10:03 pm

Get a manometer or draft gauge and set it properly.

 
hardcoalhardcore
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Post by hardcoalhardcore » Sun. Oct. 14, 2018 9:28 am

Is this burning right? I'm used to hand fired stoves where the ashes are like powder.

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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Oct. 14, 2018 9:44 am

Yes, ashes look good.

 
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StokerDon
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Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood

Post by StokerDon » Sun. Oct. 14, 2018 10:01 am

Well, you have to get used to something new, you will never get powder out of a coal stoker. When it idles a lot you will see black partly burnt coal, that is normal.

What you have there looks pretty dern good! Keep do'in what yer do'in.

-Don

 
Pacowy
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Post by Pacowy » Sun. Oct. 14, 2018 11:45 am

If you are trying to determine whether your fuel/air mix is providing a proper burn, it is best to rely on the size of the ash ring after a continuous long burn, rather than the appearance of the ash. It's normal for a stoker to produce a small % of unburned coal, like it's normal for an internal combustion engine to have a small % of unburned fuel in the exhaust. You can reduce the unburned coal by using excessive air, but doing so reduces overall efficiency.

Mike

 
hardcoalhardcore
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Post by hardcoalhardcore » Sun. Oct. 14, 2018 11:57 am

Ok what's the ash ring suppose to look like?

 
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StokerDon
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Location: PA, Southern York County!
Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood

Post by StokerDon » Sun. Oct. 14, 2018 12:12 pm

On a long heat call, there should be 1 to 2 inches of ash on the ash ring. Less than that, you risk pushing lit coal off the edge. More than that, the fire might not be able to provide enough heat.

-Don


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