Gravity Feed Rice Coal Through PVC Pipe to Stoker Stove?

 
sauerzbr
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Post by sauerzbr » Thu. Oct. 29, 2009 12:45 pm

Has anyone tried something like this with feeding coal into their stoker bin?

My coal bin is outside of house and leisure line pocono stoker is in basement. So there is about 4' from top of stove to bottom of coal bin. What if I piped a 2" pvc pipe into the bottom of the coal bin, 45 degee elbow pipe into basement and then another 45 degree pipe straight down into top of pocono storage bin. Now the pocono bin cover I would keep on and cut out a 2" hole to feed in the pvc. I would think that this would fill the bin through gravity without issue?

Coal would be rice and I understand it would have to stay dry else it would freeze and not flow through the pipe.

Do you think there would be a problem with coal continuously feeding into the stoker coal bin using this setup?


 
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Post by CapeCoaler » Thu. Oct. 29, 2009 1:16 pm

Auger in a 2" pipe would work...
Others designs here have used larger pipe...

 
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Post by Coalbrokdale » Thu. Oct. 29, 2009 1:17 pm

I've been thinking of doing that for the last 2 years. I'm actually building a chute lined with SS out of 2x4 and plywood, with a guillotine door inside the basement. There are some posts out there regarding PVC. I think the general consensus is that the size should be 4" or larger and at least 45 degrees.

The flater and wider the chute the better, also hoppers are generally sized to equal one ash pan worth of ash.

 
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Post by CoaLen » Thu. Oct. 29, 2009 6:48 pm

I built a system similar to what you're describing. It works well.
I store bagged rice coal in my garage. I mounted a box on the wall and put a toilet mounting fitting in the bottom. Off this fitting I went down and through my rim joist on a 45 deg angle into my basement. I used 3" schedule 40 PVC pipe. The pipe goes into the top of a box that contains a 5 gal bucket. I put a door on the box to keep the dust from getting into the basement. Every morning I simply open a bag of coal, pour it down the chute and it's waiting for me when I go down to check the furnace. The best way to describe how the coal flows is that it sounds like I'm pouring marbles. It really flows well.
I've attached some photos of the system.
-Len

Attachments

Coal Chute 1 082008.jpg

Box mounted on garage wall

.JPG | 87KB | Coal Chute 1 082008.jpg
Coal Chute 3 082008.jpg

Opening in bottom of box

.JPG | 95.3KB | Coal Chute 3 082008.jpg
Coal Chute 5 082008.jpg

3" PVC coming thru rim joist (seen from basement)

.JPG | 125.6KB | Coal Chute 5 082008.jpg
Coal Chute 4 082008.jpg

Overall view in basement showing box with bucket

.JPG | 111.2KB | Coal Chute 4 082008.jpg

 
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2001Sierra
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Post by 2001Sierra » Thu. Oct. 29, 2009 10:35 pm

Wow some coal guys are always thinking. :idea: Great idea, wish my configuration would except such a design :mad:

 
sauerzbr
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Post by sauerzbr » Fri. Oct. 30, 2009 7:01 am

That's very similar to what I want to do! Thanks for the pics...

Anyone see any issues with piping right into the back of the coal stove storage bin?

Hoping to get 1-2 tons in the outside storage bin and have it gravity feed through the pvc right into the coal stove. As the stove uses coal, it should continue to gravity feed. Just have to empty the ash! That will take half the work out of all this... and the dirt of dumping the coal in every other day or so.....

The had part for my setup is that I have to drill through basement concrete wall.... on an angle!!!

Thanks again for the pics!!!

CoaLen, what are your thoughts on going with a 2" pvc? Or do you think that would be too restrictive?

 
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Post by CapeCoaler » Fri. Oct. 30, 2009 7:28 am

Make sure that hole is oversized...
I would stay at 3" or better...
That setup was nearly vertical...


 
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Post by Richard S. » Fri. Oct. 30, 2009 7:51 am

sauerzbr wrote: Anyone see any issues with piping right into the back of the coal stove storage bin?
That's ideal, make sure you have a shut off though.

The problem is not necessarily the coal freezing in the pipe but the coal freezing in the bin. If it's froze in the bin it can't get to the pipe.

 
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Sting
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Post by Sting » Fri. Oct. 30, 2009 8:03 am

I had a customer that showed me his coal boiler -- he still burned bit coal when it wasn't in fashion, and I yet cared to again.

His system had a pile on the main floor and the boiler in the basement - In place of the 55 gal barrel some use for the feed tube pick up - he had a 5 gal pail -- and gravity feed that with a piece of open rain gutter.

Wish I had a picture today -- the gutter hung below a fallout of coal and about or slightly greater than 45 degrees - and the coal gracefully filled the gutter and flowed down it very slowly, as the pail needed replenishing. You could watch the gently movement -- Mesmerizing, like watching a slow running creek.

 
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Richard S.
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Post by Richard S. » Fri. Oct. 30, 2009 8:14 am

Stainless or aluminum is best but expensive. Don't use galvanized or another type of metal as it won't last and more importantly once it starts to rust it will no longer slide. The slightest obstruction can srcew it up. A few pieces of frozen rice on the chute when delivering could stop it if the angle wasn't that great.

 
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Post by 009to090 » Fri. Oct. 30, 2009 8:22 am

Sting wrote:- and gravity feed that with a piece of open rain gutter.
the gutter hung below a fallout of coal and about or slightly greater than 45 degrees - and the coal gracefully filled the gutter and flowed down it very slowly, as the pail needed replenishing. You could watch the gently movement -- Mesmerizing, like watching a slow running creek.
I thought about using a piece of aluminum Leader or Downspount. The 5" x 5" type. They are cheap and very light. The problem is, the corners for them are restrictive and not smooth. Would have to fabricate new corners.

 
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Post by Richard S. » Fri. Oct. 30, 2009 8:29 am

If you have a pipe going 45 degrees and try and put an angle on it anywhere but down you're going to have problems most likely.

Let's say this was pointed right or left:
Even if the 45 degree angle continued through the corner you might have problems.

 
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Post by beemerboy » Fri. Oct. 30, 2009 10:20 am

My concern with going from the outside bin directly into the stove, would be if the outside bin is not totally sealed from rain, would the rain water be funneled into and damage the stove?

 
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Post by sauerzbr » Fri. Oct. 30, 2009 11:21 am

Thorough drain system for coal bin would be a MUST......

 
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Post by CoaLen » Fri. Oct. 30, 2009 6:46 pm

sauerzbr wrote: The hard part for my setup is that I have to drill through basement concrete wall.... on an angle!!!

Thanks again for the pics!!!

CoaLen, what are your thoughts on going with a 2" pvc? Or do you think that would be too restrictive?
I would not go down to 2" pipe. As far as going through a concrete wall, my initial reaction is that I'd cut a vertical rectangular hole through the concrete, set the pipe in it at the 45 deg angle and cement around it. A rectangular hole would be much easier to cut.
I considered running the pipe to my hopper but I wanted to keep the coal in the garage. I can't reach the hopper from there.
Good luck with your project,
-Len


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