Looking for a boiler

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Stanb999
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Post by Stanb999 » Fri. Jan. 14, 2022 10:14 am

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?

 
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carlherrnstein
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Post by carlherrnstein » Fri. Jan. 14, 2022 7:05 pm

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.

 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Fri. Jan. 14, 2022 7:27 pm

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.

 
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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 9:38 am

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

 
Stanb999
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Post by Stanb999 » Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 4:42 pm

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.


 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 6:01 pm

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

 
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carlherrnstein
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Post by carlherrnstein » Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 6:05 pm

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.

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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 10:01 pm

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 ;)

 
lzaharis
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Post by lzaharis » Mon. Jan. 17, 2022 11:14 am

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.

 
Pacowy
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Post by Pacowy » Wed. Jan. 19, 2022 11:33 am

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


 
lzaharis
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Post by lzaharis » Wed. Nov. 15, 2023 8:06 pm

Stanb999 wrote:
Fri. Jan. 14, 2022 10:14 am
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?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry I missed this, but you should contact the folks at ALL CANADIAN COAL-FIRED HEATERS as they can burn sub bituminous and anthracite coal if you do not have a heating plant yet.

Their NAC30 model coal stoker boiler is 1,000,000 BTU and has 3 inch N.P.T. tapping's.

The design of their round vertical fire boxes allows for an ash pit underneath the stoker
than can be cleaned with a tractor loader or skid steer loader.

They are located in Kingman, Alberta, Canada the time difference is 2 hours behind us here in the eastern time zone.

Office phone 1-780-662-4867

www.allcanadianheaterscom

 
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Richard S.
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Post by Richard S. » Thu. Nov. 16, 2023 3:01 am

If I was putting in a coal boiler and needed that amount of heat I'd be looking to put in at least two if not three to potentially advert any break down issues.
Stanb999 wrote:
Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 4:42 pm
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?
The issue isn't whether it's possible but they are built for anthracite. The other issue is they expect uniformly sized coal, with the EM for example the typical size is rice. I may be wrong but all the coal boiler manufacturers are based in Eastern PA.

EFM was playing around with soft coal model many years ago when energy prices were sky rocketing into 2008 but I haven't seen anything come of it. They modified it with a larger auger and an ashing system to break up klinkers.

EFM Bituminous Boiler Testing Is Next Week


 
lzaharis
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Post by lzaharis » Thu. Nov. 16, 2023 8:58 am

Good morning Mayor,

The owner of All Canadian Coal Fired Heaters told me that his stokers burn
both Western Sub Bituminous Coal and the harder Eastern Anthracite Coal.

The boiler temperature controls are two single Honeywell aquastats.

The stoker controls operate the stoker reduction gearbox and the separate
combustion blower just as the Iron Fireman Stokers did.

His stoker is designed with a cast open gear rotating tuyere lid that pushes
the burning coals to the center through the opening in the center of the casting
while firing and the casting prevents ash from clogging the top of the tuyere/
burn pot and at the same time rotating the casting lid carrying away the ashes
and clinkers.

The lid casting has mating fingers that mesh with the arm that rotates to spin the
cast lid that covers the Tuyere/burn pot simular to the Wilburt stokers with the rotating
ash ring.

The coal ash and clinkers rise to the center of the Tuyere/burnpot and as the coal
is fed into the tuyere/burn pot the ashes are forced through the small diameter
hole of the rotating cover and fall down the slope of the casting and off the tuyere/
burn pot into the ash pit.

The combustion air blower is piped separately into the base of the tuyere/burn pot
like the Iron Fireman coal stokers that were made in Spokane, Washington.

The coal hopper supplied by All Canadian Coal Fired Heaters that is used to feed the
coal to the coal auger includes a fire sprinkler connection.

 
lzaharis
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Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4-1 dual fuel boiler
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Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: kerosene for dual fuel Keystoker/unused

Post by lzaharis » Thu. Nov. 16, 2023 9:13 am

Coal stoker boilers and furnaces for western sub bituminous coal are also made
by the Maertons Manufacturing in Center, North Dakota.

They do not offer a Million BTU stoker boiler though. They jump from 175,000 BTU; 350,000 BTU; 750,000 BTU; 1,500,000 BTU in boiler size.

1-701-794-3183

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