EFM feed rate

 
Dave 1234
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Stoker Coal Boiler: 1948 International boiler, EFM S-20 stoker
Coal Size/Type: Buck,

Post by Dave 1234 » Sun. Dec. 24, 2017 9:35 am

Good morning , and Merry Christmas eve .

What feed rate has worked well for you in winter on your efm ? I ask about efm because it's an easy brand to know the feed rate.

I use a 6 tooth feed now and 3.5 air on buck. But that's only my preferance , I like a big pot of heat quick, and then a long dwell time for my system to slowly move that heat into the house.

Dave


 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Dec. 24, 2017 9:53 am

Dave, I assume you are running buck?

We have 4 520's in the family, all burning rice. 3 of them run 4 teeth, and 1 runs 5.

For 4 teeth the air is 4-4.5, for the 5 teeth one I think the air is at 4.75. I adjust the air so the fire just touches the inside of the burner ring on a long burn.

 
Dave 1234
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Posts: 788
Joined: Tue. Nov. 13, 2012 9:05 am
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1948 International boiler, EFM S-20 stoker
Coal Size/Type: Buck,

Post by Dave 1234 » Sun. Dec. 24, 2017 10:02 am

Rob R. wrote:
Sun. Dec. 24, 2017 9:53 am
Dave, I assume you are running buck?

We have 4 520's in the family,
Wow ! 4 units has to be a record. That in itself shows that the 520's are a great machine.

Yes I do use Buck .

Dave

 
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windyhill4.2
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Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both

Post by windyhill4.2 » Sun. Dec. 24, 2017 10:02 am

When i was burning Superior coal,i needed the air to be 1 number higher than the feed setting, with Blaschack & Reading, same number feed & air.These brands were all standard rice.
With Gale coal, both the standard rice & the large rice (rice & buck mix) i am at the same settings or down 1/2 -1 on the air as compared to feed settings.

I run my 520 all yr,it does DHW for 2 houses... during the summer, 4 teeth feed & usually 4 air...that setting will work until night time temps go below freezing,then 5 feed/4.5-5 air,night time temps below 20* @ 6 feed/5-6 air , night time temps in the single digits @ 7 feed/ 6-7 air.... 7 teeth feed has handled down to -8* just fine...-8* is the lowest temp i have seen since installing the 520.

This yr i delayed going to the 5 feed & then the forecast had some overnite teens predicted, so i went from 4 feed to 6 feed.

 
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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. Dec. 24, 2017 10:09 am

I have run an S-15 and an S-20 stoker under two different Gentleman Janitor boilers. Both liked 4 teeth, 4 air in the shoulder months. In Winter they were very comfortable at 5 teeth 4.5 air. This was with Blashcheck hard rice, also ran Kimmel's rice with the same settings.

I tried running 3 teeth in the shoulder months and actually used a little more coal than when running at 4 teeth. I have never tried 6 teeth.

-Don

 
bradludwig
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Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Coal Size/Type: Rice
Other Heating: Quadrafire pellet stoves 2 and Pacific Energy wood stove

Post by bradludwig » Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 9:37 pm

Just had an interesting and educational evening applying knowledge gained from this forum. Efm 520. Boiler recovery was too slow, could not keep temperature, cold tonight in eastern pennsyltucky. Adjusted feed rate up to maintain boiler output while slowing adjusting air at same time to maintain 2” ash ring. Item learned; had to adjust barometric damper also, as I went higher with the air flow I suddenly went positive pressure in burn chamber. So after a slight headache and CO2 detector going off. ( WiFi linked through house) , adjusted damper to go slight negative on burn chamber. A lit cigarette gives a decent idea that I am negative pressure if the smoke sucks in through open small round door. Need to buy gauge set to test. Result is much faster recovery and boilers now maintain Temperature.

Only smoked half pack tonight doing this.

Excellent discussion board guys.

 
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windyhill4.2
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Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both

Post by windyhill4.2 » Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 9:45 pm

bradludwig wrote:
Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 9:37 pm
Just had an interesting and educational evening applying knowledge gained from this forum. Efm 520. Boiler recovery was too slow, could not keep temperature, cold tonight in eastern pennsyltucky. Adjusted feed rate up to maintain boiler output while slowing adjusting air at same time to maintain 2” ash ring. Item learned; had to adjust barometric damper also, as I went higher with the air flow I suddenly went positive pressure in burn chamber. So after a slight headache and CO2 detector going off. ( WiFi linked through house) , adjusted damper to go slight negative on burn chamber. A lit cigarette gives a decent idea that I am negative pressure if the smoke sucks in through open small round door. Need to buy gauge set to test. Result is much faster recovery and boilers now maintain Temperature.

Only smoked half pack tonight doing this.

Excellent discussion board guys.
When was this unit last cleaned ? I don't get any change on my magnehelic gauge when i go from 4 - 6 feed/teeth.
The gauge will go from .02 at idle to .05 at full fire.


 
bradludwig
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Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Coal Size/Type: Rice
Other Heating: Quadrafire pellet stoves 2 and Pacific Energy wood stove

Post by bradludwig » Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 10:15 pm

Fully cleaned boiler and stoker in September before assembly. Was running the lowest possible feed rate with the slotted crank arm style adjustment. Now not quite 1/2 way in slot. Air at 6.

 
bradludwig
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Posts: 23
Joined: Wed. Nov. 15, 2017 6:58 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Coal Size/Type: Rice
Other Heating: Quadrafire pellet stoves 2 and Pacific Energy wood stove

Post by bradludwig » Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 10:17 pm

Where to buy a good quality magnahelic gauge setup?

 
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windyhill4.2
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Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both

Post by windyhill4.2 » Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 10:20 pm

bradludwig wrote:
Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 10:17 pm
Where to buy a good quality magnahelic gauge setup?
I bought 2 used units from Moses B Glick for $ 52 which included shipping.I had to make my own brackets to hang them... I installed 1 on my hand fed & 1 on my EFM. No worries about that red liquid,just watch the needle point to the reading...love it !

 
bradludwig
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Posts: 23
Joined: Wed. Nov. 15, 2017 6:58 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Coal Size/Type: Rice
Other Heating: Quadrafire pellet stoves 2 and Pacific Energy wood stove

Post by bradludwig » Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 10:25 pm

Awesome, he is just up the road from me. Looks like time for a visit!

Thanks

 
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windyhill4.2
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Posts: 6072
Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both

Post by windyhill4.2 » Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 10:32 pm

bradludwig wrote:
Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 10:25 pm
Awesome, he is just up the road from me. Looks like time for a visit!

Thanks
I forgot ... i was going to include the model number/catalog number on mine is 2000-00

 
bradludwig
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Posts: 23
Joined: Wed. Nov. 15, 2017 6:58 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Coal Size/Type: Rice
Other Heating: Quadrafire pellet stoves 2 and Pacific Energy wood stove

Post by bradludwig » Fri. Dec. 29, 2017 5:10 am

Thanks! Appreciate the information.

 
Dave 1234
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Posts: 788
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Stoker Coal Boiler: 1948 International boiler, EFM S-20 stoker
Coal Size/Type: Buck,

Post by Dave 1234 » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 2:34 pm

This week I adjusted up to 7 teeth , 4.5 air. We are dealing with wind and 4-10 deg day time , no lower yet than neg 8 at night.
I would say i'm burning 150 lbs plus a day now .

Dave

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 2:48 pm

I have been burning 100-120lbs per day for the last few days. Still on 4 teeth, and doing a great job.


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