Burning cheap coal in the efm WCB boiler

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stoker-man
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Posts: 2071
Joined: Mon. Nov. 19, 2007 9:33 pm
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: 1981 efm wcb-24 in use 365 days a year
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite/Chestnut
Other Heating: Hearthstone wood stove

Post by stoker-man » Tue. Oct. 25, 2022 6:51 pm

My local coal yard had alot of unusable coal. It was in the corners of the old concrete structures, mixed with dirt, sticks, and concrete pieces and stone that had spalled off the ancient structures. He said he could drive 40+ miles to a breaker and they would buy it as scrap for $25/ton and resift it. I said I'd buy it all for that price, especially since the current price is $350/ton. It was a mixture of nut all the way down to dirt.

He also sifts his new coal and all the fines fall into a pile which he also wanted to get rid of. I took that too. Most of that is rice and smaller. I have about 10 years worth of tiny coal now.

So, how does it work in a boiler using grates for nut coal?

First, close the grates and overlay the grates with a trench drain cover. Cost, about $75 last year.
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Next step was to build a blower device that inserts into the air supply on the ash door and control the air flow using a bathroom fan with dimmer and timer.
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The fire is initially started with a few pieces of pallet wood and the coal is placed on the sides a bit, so that air can come up through the grates. The fan is (dimmed) set to about 30% air flow and the timer is set to one hour. (By the way, this fan and dimmer work great in the Summer when it's 95 degrees outside and there is no draft at all.
I use this boiler every day of the year for heat or hot water.)

By then the coal is well lit and can be pushed to the center with my schedule 40 steel water pipe, which I also use to get under the ash and clunkers to break them up. Add coal as necessary.

It's very important to keep the grates covered with a light coating of clinker to keep the hot coal from laying directly on the grates. Especially if using a fan to stoke it.

Here is the ash.
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And here is my coal supply.
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I found a way to burn this junk coal in my living room wood stove and it's even easier because the draft is better and I don't need a fan.

Both chimneys have a 316 SS liner but the efm WCB has bad draft until it really warms up.

Once the coal fire is well established, I can remove the fan and let the Samson control the damper.

 
lincolnmania
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Joined: Fri. Jan. 26, 2007 9:55 pm
Location: Birdsboro PA.
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: reading allegheny stoker
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: alaska kodiak stoker 1986. 1987 triburner, 1987 crane diamond
Coal Size/Type: rice

Post by lincolnmania » Tue. Oct. 25, 2022 8:04 pm

Nice!
Staying warm for cheap!

 
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Sylvesterd101
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Posts: 257
Joined: Tue. Sep. 11, 2018 10:46 pm
Location: Lehighton PA
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF260
Coal Size/Type: nut, anthracite

Post by Sylvesterd101 » Wed. Oct. 26, 2022 9:17 am

that coal looks fine, i have some questionable bit to burn and it doesnt look that good haha


 
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stoker-man
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Posts: 2071
Joined: Mon. Nov. 19, 2007 9:33 pm
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: 1981 efm wcb-24 in use 365 days a year
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite/Chestnut
Other Heating: Hearthstone wood stove

Post by stoker-man » Sun. Nov. 13, 2022 6:58 pm

Finally the temps are in the 40s and I don't have to use the fan to stoke the coal once it's lit.

Coal fire using all scrap tiny coal and dust.
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Sylvesterd101
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Posts: 257
Joined: Tue. Sep. 11, 2018 10:46 pm
Location: Lehighton PA
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF260
Coal Size/Type: nut, anthracite

Post by Sylvesterd101 » Mon. Nov. 14, 2022 12:33 pm

stoker-man wrote:
Sun. Nov. 13, 2022 6:58 pm
Finally the temps are in the 40s and I don't have to use the fan to stoke the coal once it's lit.

Coal fire using all scrap tiny coal and dust. 20221113_172608.jpg
lol same

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