Looking for a boiler

I need a stoker boiler for several greenhouses. I would prefer to get one that can burn Bit. because of the expense. I'm in Pa so both are available. But Bit is still much cheaper. I have looked at the coal gun and it looks fine. But it doesn't do bit.

Specs. I need it to be 500-1 million BTU. I'd like an auger for feed and ash.
It will be installed a purpose built building.

Any Ideas on who to contact?

I don't know about a boiler but these guys have the rights to makes an sell will-burt stoker mechanisms. They burn bit very well I don't know how well the burn anthracite. https://jonmargear.com/coal-and-wood-stokers/heav ... d-stokers/

You need to decide on bituminous or anthracite before you buy a unit, the two fuels are very different. Most bit stokers are a clinkering type stoker meaning the ash is melted into a clinker for easy removal.

Out west Wyoming way there can be used big bit stoker turn up occasionally.
You may of thought of this already but it may be wiser to have 2 medium bit stoker boilers rather than 1 big one.

When evaluating Bit vs Anthracite, be sure to consider the reliability of the fire- especially for a boiler in an "outdoor" situation that is at higher risk of freezing.

Bit is less, but has burning stages that cause more ups and downs in temps, burning characteristics, etc.

Anthracite costs a fair bit more (about 2X) but the burn rate is steady and fires are highly reliable.

Even with antifreeze in the lines, you don't want the lines to cool down too much- hence the reason you are heating the greenhouse.

Do you know what models you are considering?

Pacowy talked to us about a Bit stoker that had ash removal system a number of years back. He might be a good person to ask

Here's a thread for more info on bituminous stokers. Bituminous Stoker/Lump Coal Grates

I haven't decided on a model yet. I would like one that is kinda set it and forget it. Is that not really possible with bituminous? I have used and am familiar with small anthracite stokers like in the keystoker koker. I was kinda thinking if I'm gonna spend 20k plus I should go with a unit designed for bit and get the fuel cheaper.

Bituminous has its issues that make it problematic for a stoker. If you go with anthracite, Keystoker builds some monsters.

Bituminous in a underfeed stoker is absolutely controllable. I have a combustioneer which was made by will-burt it's a hot air "furnace" it hooks up to a normal thermostat. It has a hold fire timer built into the controlbox so it acts like a pilot in a few furnace. Here is a picture of it running and the chimney while it's running, the soot staining on the cap and pipe are from 9 years of use.

There are a number of different boiler/furnace makers and styles. You've heard from one already who uses bit, probably will hear from some others shortly as well. I have used bituminous hand fed, but in stokers, just anthracite. They will have more info than I do

Please be sure to check the PM I sent you. The All Canadian Heaters are an underfed coal stoker that can be equipped with an ash auger and it burns Sub Bituminous, Bituminous and Anthracite coal.

CCW, the stoker with ash removal I used burned anthracite. If bit clinkers are as big and gnarly as I think they are, they would pose problems for an ash removal system. My suggestion would be to look into designing the new building with an ash pit under the boiler firebox, which I have seen under some big anthracite stokers. This way the stoker(s) wouldn't have to do ash removal. Maybe members who burn bit could weigh in on whether this would work.

Mikr