Suddenly Experiencing Puff-Backs in AHS S130 Coal Gun
- lsayre
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- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
Quite recently I've been experiencing a series of somewhat nasty in intensity puff-backs which only began occurring once I switched bin compartments and was unquestionably burning 100% Lehigh coal (as opposed to the blend of Blaschak and Lehigh that was in the previous bin compartment I was using).
I'm already at 105 degrees and 1 degree of hysteresis on my ashing settings. Should I take the ashing set-point down to say 95-100 degrees (or lower)?
I checked the flapper and it is springing open about 1/4" to 5/16" at fan cut-off. All puffs have been at fan cut-off, and I believe they have occurred after an ashing cycle.
I currently have the tiny adjustable ~5/8" over the fire air inlet opening on the flapper door fully closed. Before I adjust the ashing settings I'll try opening this inspection door port all the way for awhile to see if it changes anything with regard to the puffs.
I'm already at 105 degrees and 1 degree of hysteresis on my ashing settings. Should I take the ashing set-point down to say 95-100 degrees (or lower)?
I checked the flapper and it is springing open about 1/4" to 5/16" at fan cut-off. All puffs have been at fan cut-off, and I believe they have occurred after an ashing cycle.
I currently have the tiny adjustable ~5/8" over the fire air inlet opening on the flapper door fully closed. Before I adjust the ashing settings I'll try opening this inspection door port all the way for awhile to see if it changes anything with regard to the puffs.
Last edited by lsayre on Sat. Dec. 15, 2018 10:36 am, edited 2 times in total.
- lsayre
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- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
The flapper door "hole" is more like 3/4" by eyesight. I just adjusted the swinging cover plate which regulates this over the fire air opening until the hole is now about 80% of full open.
Last edited by lsayre on Sat. Dec. 15, 2018 8:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
- lsayre
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- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
Good question! Since I always keep the tombstone cover in place I haven't looked at fire position for a couple years now. I'll have to give it a look during/after the next fan cycle. The fire has likely moved noticeably lower for some reason.
- lsayre
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- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
I just went through a fan cycle with no ashing required. During the fan cycle I removed the tombstone cover, and a few seconds after the fan motor stopped (while you could still hear the fan rotating and winding down) I watched the flapper door snap open. Immediately at that juncture I heard an almost imperceptibly faint little woosh, and then I saw blue ladies dancing. I swung the cover fully to one side and saw orange glowing coals about one to two layers down from the bottom lip of the flapper port, below a layer or two of still jet black coals.
Before the fan cut out I tried seeing a fire through the 80% open hole in the flapper, and even with the lights out in the boiler room I was not seeing any fire, even when it got close to fan cut off temperature near the end of the fan cycle. I backed away as it got real close to the actual cut-off temperature, as I wasn't interested in the potential of seeing a puff up close and personal. That's when I heard the motor cut off, saw the flapper spring open, immediately heard a very mild woosh, noticed the nice crackling sound, and saw some blue ladies. Only after that did I swing the flapper open for a really close look.
Before the fan cut out I tried seeing a fire through the 80% open hole in the flapper, and even with the lights out in the boiler room I was not seeing any fire, even when it got close to fan cut off temperature near the end of the fan cycle. I backed away as it got real close to the actual cut-off temperature, as I wasn't interested in the potential of seeing a puff up close and personal. That's when I heard the motor cut off, saw the flapper spring open, immediately heard a very mild woosh, noticed the nice crackling sound, and saw some blue ladies. Only after that did I swing the flapper open for a really close look.
- Hambden Bob
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Larry,if anyone was going to "Crack The Code" on this recent,disturbing development,it's You! I'm already seeing a couple of Santa's Coal Elves tossing Thoughts and Possibles at You! It seems possible that a rare coincidence occurred between something declining on Your Unit and the introduction of Full On Lehigh burning,but I doubt it.
Last edited by Hambden Bob on Sat. Dec. 15, 2018 10:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
- coaledsweat
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
Pic of the fire after shutdown.
I reccomend you stop ashing until the fire actually breaks the surface and then restart, make adjustments as required to keep it at or near there.
That ashing temp seems very low. It could be telling you the device that measures it is on the way to its creator.
I reccomend you stop ashing until the fire actually breaks the surface and then restart, make adjustments as required to keep it at or near there.
That ashing temp seems very low. It could be telling you the device that measures it is on the way to its creator.
- McGiever
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- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
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In a word "Hysterisis" is your cure, leave your SV be.
Change hysterisis setting some small bit and wait a day or 2...bringing the top glow higher (breaking through) to consume those extra volatiles with that Lehigh.
Change hysterisis setting some small bit and wait a day or 2...bringing the top glow higher (breaking through) to consume those extra volatiles with that Lehigh.
- hotblast1357
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1984 Eshland S260 coal gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite pea
- Other Heating: air source heat pump, oil furnace
I think opening that port on the door will fix this..
I’m running lehigh pea, 105 ash temp also with a hysterisis of 1.
My pot is completely black before fan comes on, no orange glow, about midway between fan cycle my volitals light, and I have nice blue flame.
My sight port door is solid, but when it is sucked shut there is a gap around the bottom left side allowing over fire air in.
I’ve never had a puff back.
I’m running lehigh pea, 105 ash temp also with a hysterisis of 1.
My pot is completely black before fan comes on, no orange glow, about midway between fan cycle my volitals light, and I have nice blue flame.
My sight port door is solid, but when it is sucked shut there is a gap around the bottom left side allowing over fire air in.
I’ve never had a puff back.
- lsayre
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
If I increase the hysteresis I will increase the ashing time, which increases the fresh coal feeding time. Isn't that counter-intuitive to an attempt at stopping puff-backs?
- McGiever
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Yes, that's correct
I did revise it just before you quoted me...
I'm begining to beleive AA/AHS 260's do not behave entirely the same as the half-sized 130's.
I did revise it just before you quoted me...
I'm begining to beleive AA/AHS 260's do not behave entirely the same as the half-sized 130's.
- lsayre
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- Posts: 21781
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
If it still puffs with the opened hole in the flapper/door I will try lowering the ash temp setting to 100 degrees, and shutting off the ashing switch for about 4 hours.
- McGiever
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- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Keep in mind it'll be 24 hours for fire to reconfigure once you resume ashing.
The SV setting has it's biggest effect on Bottom or grate level changes...Hysteresis has it's biggest effect on Top level changes.
Both do have minor effects at the opposite level...logic can mess with ya here.
The SV setting has it's biggest effect on Bottom or grate level changes...Hysteresis has it's biggest effect on Top level changes.
Both do have minor effects at the opposite level...logic can mess with ya here.
Last edited by McGiever on Sat. Dec. 15, 2018 12:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- tsb
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Beans in the coal ?