Coal Bin Design for an EFM

 
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coalkirk
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Post by coalkirk » Mon. Oct. 30, 2017 2:09 pm

Almost done. I’m going to paint the inside with a high gloss enamel to seal the OSB and to make it more slippery. Ready for coal soon. Need to make a frame for the guilitine boards.

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coalkirk
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Post by coalkirk » Sun. Nov. 05, 2017 7:57 pm

All done. Just need to pretty up some wiring and then ready for 5 tons of rice.
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Sun. Nov. 05, 2017 8:42 pm

Nice work man! That should do just what you want it to.

 
Qtown1835
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Post by Qtown1835 » Mon. Nov. 06, 2017 2:33 pm

Bin looks great. Looking at the size of it, im not sure it will hold 5TN if you are planning on sending the coal through the window? Im thinking like 2.75 or 3tn to the bottom of the windows.
1/2x(A+B)xHxL

1/2x(1.33'+6.66')x3.33'x8'=106cuft At about 52#/cuft thats only 2.75tn.

 
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coalkirk
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Post by coalkirk » Mon. Nov. 06, 2017 6:21 pm

I've got a secret weapon that was not visible in the other pics. Look above the window at the big glob of expanding foam. In the center of that is a 4" pvc pipe with a rag stuffed in it. After I've loaded as much as possible through the window it gets closed and the rest comes in through that pipe. I can fill the bin to 7'. I've got a Rube Goldberg setup using a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet flange on the bottom and the coal is shot through the pipe with air flow from a leak blower. I'll see if I can find a pic of that rig.
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Well there it is. I don't know why the pic is so small. With the blower running it shoots that 5 gallon bucket into the bin very quickly.

 
Qtown1835
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Post by Qtown1835 » Mon. Nov. 06, 2017 6:54 pm

Cool. Do you unload bucket by bucket or will you have a high lift truck deposit into the bucket?

 
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Post by Rob R. » Mon. Nov. 06, 2017 6:58 pm

Does that blow coal dust all over the place?


 
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coalkirk
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Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal

Post by coalkirk » Mon. Nov. 06, 2017 8:17 pm

Qtown1835 wrote:
Mon. Nov. 06, 2017 6:54 pm
Cool. Do you unload bucket by bucket or will you have a high lift truck deposit into the bucket?
Unfortunately no high lift. It's bucket by bucket.

 
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coalkirk
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Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal

Post by coalkirk » Mon. Nov. 06, 2017 8:18 pm

Rob R. wrote:
Mon. Nov. 06, 2017 6:58 pm
Does that blow coal dust all over the place?
No the coal is wet when I load it so no dust.

 
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coalkirk
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Post by coalkirk » Thu. Nov. 09, 2017 8:24 am

Here's how much room 1 ton takes. Not quite up to where the bin sides are vertical. I had calculated it would hold 1.5 tons to the point where it goes vertical so I think judging by the appearance it should have no trouble holding that and more.
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This is how I moved the first ton, 14-5 gallon buckets at a time. So 58 buckets later is 1 ton. Now that I've taken some weight out of the trailer I may try to back the trailer up to the window and pipe for the next 3 tons. The ground is softer than I would prefer with the rain we had.

 
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Post by StokerDon » Fri. Nov. 10, 2017 10:21 am

I hope your gonna fire that thing up today, it's real cold and windy!

Nice job on the bin, I would like to come over and have a look at it and check out how the Ol' EFM is running.

-Don

 
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coalkirk
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Post by coalkirk » Sun. Nov. 12, 2017 6:34 pm

Well I have renewed faith in my math ability. I had calculated the bin would hold 5 tons. Here it is with a full 4 tons and plenty of space left over to easily accommodate a 5th ton. The bin is 7'x7' so once the coal is above the area with the sloped sides, every 1' of coal depth is approximately 49 cubic feet or 1.25 tons.
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coalkirk
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Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal

Post by coalkirk » Tue. Jan. 30, 2018 10:09 am

So I'm down to about a quarter ton and not had to rake any coal yet. Everything slopes to the auger and I get a nice gopher hole with 45 degree slopes. This bin will hold at least 5 tons. I think I can get 5 1/2 tons in it and I will for next season. Not only has this been much easier than my previous setup but the basement is MUCH more dust free. I love this EFM!

 
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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 » Tue. Jan. 30, 2018 6:59 pm

Ahhh, the way it was meant to be, a coal stoker feeding itself out of the bin. No filling a hopper and no dust!

So, from the middle of November until the end of January you used 3.5 ton. That's not bad, there were some very cold weeks in there. Are you going to get more coal? There is still cold weather to come.

-Don

 
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coalkirk
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Joined: Wed. May. 17, 2006 8:12 pm
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Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 EFM DF520 retired
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Jotul 507 on standby
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal

Post by coalkirk » Tue. Jan. 30, 2018 7:20 pm

StokerDon wrote:
Tue. Jan. 30, 2018 6:59 pm
Ahhh, the way it was meant to be, a coal stoker feeding itself out of the bin. No filling a hopper and no dust!

So, from the middle of November until the end of January you used 3.5 ton. That's not bad, there were some very cold weeks in there. Are you going to get more coal? There is still cold weather to come.

-Don
If I did I'd have to hump it in a wheel barrow from the driveway around the house to my coal bin window. Ground is too soft to drive on. I should have acted when we were having the 5* weather. Right now I'm planning to switch to oil for the rest of the season. Consider it a lesson and be sure to fill the bin to the top next season. However I did see a black helicopter circling overhead so there might be an intervention afoot.


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