Feed rate or what?
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- Other Heating: EFM SPK600
Coal is piling up on the grate for some reason and I haven't changed anything from last year. Not sure what is going on. Feed is at 13turns.
Any ideas? I turned it back to 13 just this afternoon, was at 12. Odd.-
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: H.B. Smith 350 Mills boiler/EFM 85R stoker
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat/anthracite
Looks a lot like my Alaska 140 did many moons ago, when clinkering of red ash coal caused "plowing" - i.e., buildup of fresh coal that spilled over side. Assuming that's the issue, suggested steps:
- clear grate;
- rub it with a brick;
- clear air holes;
- vac or otherwise clean air chamber under grate if needed;
- restart and run at lower air/feed settings; and,
- get different (white ash) coal for running hard.
Hope this helps.
Mike
- clear grate;
- rub it with a brick;
- clear air holes;
- vac or otherwise clean air chamber under grate if needed;
- restart and run at lower air/feed settings; and,
- get different (white ash) coal for running hard.
Hope this helps.
Mike
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- Coal Size/Type: WAS Lehigh Rice (TBD)
- Other Heating: EFM SPK600
Fresh Lehigh. Vacuumed under grates, Sealed the grates and cleared the holes with some 12ga copper a few days ago. I may shut it down and sand smooth and see what happens.
Maybe the cement is causing the backup.
Mano is usually at .015 at the door in between heat calls
Maybe the cement is causing the backup.
Mano is usually at .015 at the door in between heat calls
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: H.B. Smith 350 Mills boiler/EFM 85R stoker
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat/anthracite
With fresh coal and/or improved airflow it still could be red ash/clinkering issue. If sanding doesn't work, still suggest:
- run at lower air/feed settings; and, if that works,
- get different (white ash) coal for running hard.
Mike
- run at lower air/feed settings; and, if that works,
- get different (white ash) coal for running hard.
Mike
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- Member
- Posts: 3555
- Joined: Tue. Sep. 04, 2007 10:14 pm
- Location: Dalton, MA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: H.B. Smith 350 Mills boiler/EFM 85R stoker
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat/anthracite
Good luck. I had to work around smaller amount and it was bothersome. Hopefully you can coax it to burn ok. Turning air down may just make it more like performance before you did the cleaning.
Mike
Mike
- gaw
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Not that I am picking on you…. Or maybe I am, but the cement cannot be above the grates. You want an ample smear of cement on the top edge and sides but when they are in place you wipe the excess off so the grate surface is nice and smooth. You will be surprised how the slightest interference impedes the proper flow of coal.
- 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
Maybe not, Mike has a very good point there about coal clinkering on flat grate stokers. As we get further into the heating season, you will see more and more flat grate stoker owners posting the same problem, it happens every year.
Clinkering is what happens when coal is burned above it's fusion temperature. This causes the ash to stick to the grate. As suggested above, a simple way to burn the coal at a lower temperature is to slightly lower the air setting.
Keep this in mind and smooth those grates and that should solve your problem.
-Don
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- Joined: Sat. Nov. 08, 2014 11:47 am
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- Coal Size/Type: WAS Lehigh Rice (TBD)
- Other Heating: EFM SPK600
This looks a little better.
Sanded the grates with my DA and re-cleanded the vents. Seems to be feeding nice now. Ready for some cold weather. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7502
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- 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
Now that is a beautiful sight Q!
-Don
-Don