Problem with rice coal in my EFM

 
Highboy520
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Post by Highboy520 » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 9:56 am

I have been burning my EFM for about 10 years now but never had this problem. The coal is clumping up in the pot area and not falling down to the ash bucket. also loosing a lot of coal as some is clumping and causing un-burnt coal to fall. About three extra buckets of ash compared to other years in a week. I believe i got some bad coal with a lot of iron in it! The problem being is i purchased almost 7 ton and going through it like water. I have attached some pics to see the ash. Can anyone help?

Attachments

bin.jpg
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fire pot area #2.jpg
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fire pot area.jpg
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un burnt coal.jpg
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 10:00 am

That stuff looks nasty !! Have you tried cutting the air back like 1/2 a setting to see if that helps ??

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 10:08 am

What are your feed and air settings?

 
Dave 1234
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Post by Dave 1234 » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 1:04 pm

Best to get new coal asap . Next go see the ppl your bad coal came from and show them the mess that bad coal created.
I bet you are not the only one dealing with that trouble !

Dave

 
Pacowy
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Post by Pacowy » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 1:14 pm

Agree with WH that cutting the air a little might help to control the clinkers, but also agree with Dave that you should get some coal on hand that can better handle times when the unit needs to run hard.

Mike

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 1:23 pm

I just noticed you are a new member of the forum. Welcome.

I asked about your feed and air settings because it is possible you have been running a lot of extra air for the last 9 years, and have gotten some coal that can't tolerate it.

 
LehighanthraciteMatt
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Post by LehighanthraciteMatt » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 3:17 pm

Pacowy wrote:
Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 1:14 pm
Agree with WH that cutting the air a little might help to control the clinkers, but also agree with Dave that you should get some coal on hand that can better handle times when the unit needs to run hard.

Mike
Symptoms like that could be high higher carbon coal, Usually cutting back on the air and sometimes both the feed and air will solve this.


 
lincolnmania
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Post by lincolnmania » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 4:07 pm

i would cut back the feed and the air. what are your current settings? is this stuff making decent heat?
do you pull the fines lever every day?

 
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Post by LehighanthraciteMatt » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 4:17 pm

Pacowy wrote:
Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 1:14 pm
Agree with WH that cutting the air a little might help to control the clinkers, but also agree with Dave that you should get some coal on hand that can better handle times when the unit needs to run hard.

Mike
What you are seeing there is not a clinker, it is ash caking. A clinker will not break up easily by hand. a true clinker is caused by the low fusion coal, caking is generally cause by over firing the stoker or stove.

 
Pacowy
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Post by Pacowy » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 5:36 pm

The OP cited getting a batch of coal with a lot of iron in it. Doesn't the iron reduce the AFT, making this a clinker even as you have defined it?

Mike

 
Dave 1234
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Post by Dave 1234 » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 5:47 pm

The third pic looks like the ash is swelling , and clinkering too. Not fun if you want heat !
Dump the fire, empty the bin, run the auger clean and start over with new coal.

IMHO Dave

 
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Scottscoaled
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Post by Scottscoaled » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 6:08 pm

That coal looks real familiar. Would you be in the Scranton/Wilkesbarre area by chance?

 
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Pauliewog
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Post by Pauliewog » Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 6:48 pm

Scottscoaled wrote:
Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 6:08 pm
That coal looks real familiar. Would you be in the Scranton/Wilkesbarre area by chance?
What breaker are you thinking Scott ?

Paulie

 
Highboy520
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Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 high boy
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Hand Fed Coal Furnace: yes
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: Gas firplace

Post by Highboy520 » Sat. Dec. 23, 2017 10:27 am

Rob R. wrote:
Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 1:23 pm
I just noticed you are a new member of the forum. Welcome.

I asked about your feed and air settings because it is possible you have been running a lot of extra air for the last 9 years, and have gotten some coal that can't tolerate it.
coal is at 3 and air is at 4

 
Highboy520
New Member
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 9:33 am
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 high boy
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: yes
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: yes
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: Gas firplace

Post by Highboy520 » Sat. Dec. 23, 2017 10:29 am

lincolnmania wrote:
Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 4:07 pm
i would cut back the feed and the air. what are your current settings? is this stuff making decent heat?
do you pull the fines lever every day?
coal is at 3 and air 4
not getting good heat I go trough 10 ton a year on a average just got this in Nov. and over half of the 7 ton is gone


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