Coal vac seal or flap, let's see them

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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Joined: Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Western PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
Other Heating: Oil Boiler

Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Sat. Jan. 28, 2023 11:34 am

For a coal vac, what are you guys using to seal the bottom of your coal barrels or buckets?

I've considered a hinged NEMA box, dust collector gate valve (difficult to find a surface mount version that seals reasonably), and a weathertight PVC round electrical box with cover and some kind of magnets to hold it in place.

Looking for ideas and solutions. It is a small blue PVC barrel.

Ideally something that seals under vacuum but falls free when vacuum is cut and weight of coal opens it

TIA

 
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nepacoal
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Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Sat. Jan. 28, 2023 12:27 pm

I am still using a peanut lid with a yoga mat as the gasket. It's bungied to my feed box.

I have been thinking of switching to a hinged wooden lid with a counterweight for an automatic solution but the peanut lid still works great... 33 tons vacuumed so far with no issues.

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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Posts: 2323
Joined: Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Western PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
Other Heating: Oil Boiler

Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Sat. Jan. 28, 2023 4:39 pm

Nice! How do you get it to stay on the pipe while you go out to the coal bin?

My bin is outside and I have some flexible PVC that we'll use like a shop vac.

Ideally, I'd like to have an outdoor switch. Not a critical need, but wondering....


 
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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Posts: 2323
Joined: Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Western PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
Other Heating: Oil Boiler

Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Sat. Jan. 28, 2023 4:51 pm

Anybody try something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-Backdraft-Spri ... B0842XSTV9
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I'm wondering if the spring will be enough to hold it closed with no coal on it, then vacuum will hold it closed as long as the vacuum is going, then when vacuum is released, the coal will force it open,

I'm also thinking there may be a limit to how much coal can be on top of it, so maybe can't do a full barrel at a time, but it should be self-resetting until coal in the bin is up to bottom of the barrel so the coal bridges and doesn't allow the flappers to shut again.

I don't know if a heavier spring could be used?

Thoughts?

 
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nepacoal
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Location: Coal Country
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Sat. Jan. 28, 2023 4:55 pm

I use a two stage system so I'm standing right next to it when I start the vacuum... Check out my build thread in my signature. I also use a remote switch to control the vacuum when I'm 20' away in the coal bin

 
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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Posts: 2323
Joined: Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Western PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
Other Heating: Oil Boiler

Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Sat. Jan. 28, 2023 5:30 pm

That's a pretty good thread, thanks!


 
LouSee
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Post by LouSee » Sat. Jan. 28, 2023 9:15 pm

I vac from the bin outside into a 20-25 gallon LDPE barrel that sits high on the wall. From there, it's an angled PVC pipe run into the LL's bin. My F-i-L plumbed in dust collection metal gate valve inline, near the top of the PVC so we can disco the barrel from the stove off-season. We're running rice in the garage, so it's fairly easy to close it if need be. Usually don't need to close it if we refill the barrel before the PVC pipe runs dry. And if it's full, there's usually enough restriction so that we don't need to close it.

I probably spent more time thinking about a flap than i've spent time using a flap in the past 4-5 years now. If I was going to do a manual flap, nepacoal's bungeed lid is :chef's kiss:.

Using a remote control when outside in the bin. Make sure you get one that is rated for motors as a continuous load and not just a resitive load. No fun when they burn out - which only happens on the coldest of days when you need to most coal.

DAMHIK...

 
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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Posts: 2323
Joined: Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Western PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
Other Heating: Oil Boiler

Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Sat. Jan. 28, 2023 9:24 pm

Thanks! Not sure why you don't have to close the end of the PVC dump when starting the vac?

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