Smoke coming out of auger in coal bin

 
JDG5147
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun. Jan. 15, 2023 2:07 am
Stoker Coal Boiler: efm 520

Post by JDG5147 » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 2:11 am

I have an efm coal stove and I get smoke and fumes out of the auger in my coal bin. I checked the draft and have about.5 in smoke pipe and .4 at inspection door. Why would it be coming out in bun? I’m going to try and attach a short video

Attachments

IMG_2218.MOV
.MOV | 49MB | IMG_2218.MOV
A37C892A-946D-4D13-B54D-8EC5DB666E06.jpeg
.JPEG | 1.3MB | A37C892A-946D-4D13-B54D-8EC5DB666E06.jpeg


 
User avatar
nepacoal
Member
Posts: 1690
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
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 » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 6:44 am

Have you used any wet or even damp coal this year? Wet coal can cause multiple issues and is never a good idea. There are several possibilities:

1. Excessive fly ash build up in your stovepipes. It's usually heaviest in the pipe right outside the boiler breech.
2. Clogged air holes in your pot auger pipe. These can easily become clogged if using wet, oiled, or even damp coal, especially if you have a load of coal with lots of fines.
Smoke in Coal Bin
3. Fire burning too low in the pot and even burning back into the auger pipe? Is your pot auger pipe ever hot to the touch? Warm is fine, but hot would indicate the fire migrating back into the pipe. This could be caused by a draft issue or a partial blockage in the auger. Does your fire look normal with about a 2" ash ring?

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17965
Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
Location: Chazy, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr

Post by Rob R. » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 7:00 am

I would suspect plugged air holes in the end of the pot auger, or an obstruction that is preventing the coal from feeding correctly.

It is time to shut down and do a thorough inspection and cleaning.

 
User avatar
Lightning
Site Moderator
Posts: 14652
Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 9:36 am

Please be aware that you could also be venting Carbon Monoxide into the boiler room. Having CO alarms is very important while burning any fossil fuels.

 
JDG5147
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun. Jan. 15, 2023 2:07 am
Stoker Coal Boiler: efm 520

Post by JDG5147 » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 12:48 pm

Let me start every time my bin gets low I have this problem. I just had the burner apart and installed a new auger and burner pipe. I had all the burner plates out and cleaned everything. The coal in dry and has been. I cleaned the smoke pipes of the fly ash.

 
User avatar
nepacoal
Member
Posts: 1690
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
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 » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 12:57 pm

What are your feed and air settings. The draft readings should only be taken during a relatively long run (with the stoker still running). -.05 sounds okay for the stovepipe, but -.04 would be very high for over fire draft taken through the door. -.02 is ideal but anything between -.01 and -.02 would work. I shoot for -.02 draft over fire on our EFM.

 
User avatar
nepacoal
Member
Posts: 1690
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
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 » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 1:09 pm

Did your new auger pipe have the 7 holes drilled in it? What are your feed and air settings. The draft readings should only be taken during a relatively long run (with the stoker still running). -.05 sounds okay for the stovepipe, but -.04 would be very high for over fire draft taken through the door. -.02 is ideal but anything between -.01 and -.02 would work. I shoot for -.02 draft over fire on our EFM.


 
lzaharis
Member
Posts: 2358
Joined: Sun. Mar. 25, 2007 8:41 pm
Location: Ithaca, New York
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4-1 dual fuel boiler
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: former switzer CWW100-sold
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: kerosene for dual fuel Keystoker/unused

Post by lzaharis » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 1:14 pm

JDG5147 wrote:
Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 2:11 am
I have an efm coal stove and I get smoke and fumes out of the auger in my coal bin.
I checked the draft and have about .5 in smoke pipe and .4 at inspection door.
Why would it be coming out in bin? I’m going to try and attach a short video.
=======================================================================================================
The video you uploaded for us is fine.

Are you using a doghouse to protect the end of the auger or is the auger
supported by wooden blocks without a doghouse???

Do you open and close the fines release lever every day?

The auger should be above the floor and supported by a doghouse and wooden block or
concrete half block to prevent grinding of the coal and bringing fines into the Tuyere/air bowl/burn pot.

Checking the flue pipe at the breech for fly ash build up is also a must.

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7484
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

Post by StokerDon » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 5:37 pm

JDG5147 wrote:
Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 2:11 am
I checked the draft and have about.5 in smoke pipe and .4 at inspection door. Why would it be coming out in bun?
Hopefully you mean Minus .05 and Minus .04. With Minus .04 on the fire door its hard to believe your pushing combustion gas down the auger pipe.

Looking at your picture and video I noticed that the coal looks very large. Is it just big Buckwheat?
-Don

 
User avatar
davidmcbeth3
Member
Posts: 8505
Joined: Sun. Jun. 14, 2009 2:31 pm
Coal Size/Type: nut/pea/anthra

Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 5:44 pm

Is that water vapor ?

 
User avatar
nepacoal
Member
Posts: 1690
Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
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 » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 6:14 pm

StokerDon wrote:
Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 5:37 pm
Hopefully you mean Minus .05 and Minus .04. With Minus .04 on the fire door its hard to believe your pushing combustion gas down the auger pipe.

Looking at your picture and video I noticed that the coal looks very large. Is it just big Buckwheat?
-Don
I think the over fire draft was taken without the stoker running. It's the only thing that makes sense unless his air is set on 1 or lower. That's why my post above mentioned taking the reading after a long run with the stoker running...

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7484
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

Post by StokerDon » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 6:25 pm

davidmcbeth3 wrote:
Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 5:44 pm
Is that water vapor ?
No, its combustion gas. No good, and very dangerous if you like breathing.

-Don

 
User avatar
Scottscoaled
Member
Posts: 2812
Joined: Tue. Jan. 08, 2008 9:51 pm
Location: Malta N.Y.
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520, 700, Van Wert 800 GJ 61,53
Baseburners & Antiques: Magic Stewart 16, times 2!
Coal Size/Type: Lots of buck
Other Heating: Slant Fin electric boiler backup

Post by Scottscoaled » Mon. Feb. 13, 2023 6:29 am

Put a bucket over the end of the auger to make the coal level deeper. Most auger driven boilers will spill rotten egg smell if the coal gets low over the top of the auger. It really is worse if you are using buck.

 
JDG5147
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun. Jan. 15, 2023 2:07 am
Stoker Coal Boiler: efm 520

Post by JDG5147 » Mon. Feb. 13, 2023 5:00 pm

Sorry I meant -.5 and -.4 stove was running for over 5 minutes when draft was taken and was At running temp. The coal is rice and buckwheat mixed.

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17965
Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
Location: Chazy, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr

Post by Rob R. » Fri. Sep. 08, 2023 11:43 am

Blocked is different than obstructed at the inlet. You are right that if an auger was plugged solid no gasses would go through, but what usually happens is a big piece of coal ends up at the mouth of the auger and prevents rice or buck from flowing in. The auger ends up mostly empty, and gasses can blow back into the coal.


Post Reply

Return to “Stoker Coal Boilers Using Anthracite (Hydronic & Steam)”