Southern, Maine Boiler Plant COAL 400--500 Tons

I have been looking at some coal from a boiler plant in Southern Maine....About a year ago on Maine CL, the Boiler plant Coal was for sale and a friend of mine delivered a sample for me to try in the old Jotul 507.

I have some pics of the coal and as soon as the 507 wakes up...I will try a load or two and let you know how it burns....

Eddie

Ok, I have a about 10 pounds of the boiler plant coal burning on top of the anthracite in the 507...

Smells different

Had to open the over fire air. This helps with the new burning smell...........

PICS of the new Fire...

Eddie

A bit coal used in a small stoker plant will likely have the attributes that are good for home heating. Average to low pyritic sulfur, 12% or less ash (possibly substantially less) and a low to mid coke button. I think you'll be happy with your coal. Make sure that you don't have a cap with a screen on the chimney and if you have less than an 8" flue be sure to clean the horizontal areas and elbows occasionally for soot buildup. If it works out well for you I would get as much of that coal as you can and stockpile it.

As you've found out you'll want some overfire draft and if you're really loading it up for cooler weather you'll want to bank it a bit and make sure you have some glowing coals exposed to prevent puff-backs.

Berlin wrote:A bit coal used in a small stoker plant will likely have the attributes that are good for home heating. If it works out well for you I would get as much of that coal as you can and stockpile it.

As you've found out you'll want some overfire draft and if you're really loading it up for cooler weather you'll want to bank it a bit and make sure you have some glowing coals exposed to prevent puff-backs.

A small puffback was the first clue that the coal was a" Bit " different.....

I have a MPD & a Baro Damper....Plus a manometer ....Do you think I should cover up the Baro???

Thanks, Eddie

Edit: 8"X8" Flue tile about 36' tall....

Is the smaller sized coal bituminous also? I bet it would work well in EFM and other underfeed stokers with the smaller diameter auger tube.

rockwood wrote:Is the smaller sized coal bituminous also? I bet it would work well in EFM and other underfeed stokers with the smaller diameter auger tube.

Yes the coal is all from the same place...I used a large 3 foot X 3 foot 1/4" screen to size the coal and to remove the fines....The Boiler Plant Coal is all Bituminus Coal.....

I will have prices soon and a phone number so you can talk to the owner...
Looks like they will only sell large amounts at a time... Tri axle or TT loads...Dump trailers etc...

More info ASAP.

Eddie

I talked with these folks way back in May last year. The burn quality wasn't the issue, nor the cost, the real issue was how to remove it. Could NOT remove a roof section for crane access, nor could you even get a skid steer into the access halls, so after much thought I said this sounds great, but it isn't worth the aggregation to remove it in 5 gallon buckets...especially not 500 tons of Bit/Cannel type coal. All that glitters isn't gold..... My suggestion was to refire the boilers and use it up.

is there no way to get a big grain auger inthere?

BTW, chimney looks really good. Nice lead flashing, someone did a very nice job. As far as the baro, i'd try it with it uncovered, but I would probably remove the MPD, at the least, I'd leave it open. leave some glowing coals on each re-load (rake them into a pile in the front etc.) and you won't have the puff-backs.

Auger would be a good thought or maybe something like this...

...if it would be worth it...?

I don't know if that would be worth it, but a 5 or 6 inch grain auger of the necessary length would do it VERY cheaply and pretty fast if you only wanted a few ton.

whistlenut wrote:I talked with these folks way back in May last year. The burn quality wasn't the issue, nor the cost, the real issue was how to remove it. Could NOT remove a roof section for crane access, nor could you even get a skid steer into the access halls, so after much thought I said this sounds great, but it isn't worth the aggregation to remove it in 5 gallon buckets...especially not 500 tons of Bit/Cannel type coal. All that glitters isn't gold..... My suggestion was to refire the boilers and use it up.

The coal has been removed from the building and is outside.

That still does not change my mind......nice to have it outside however. The buildings were quite remarkable and historic, so there was no easy way to get anything inside without doing a lot of modification. If you can use that Bit, go for it! The price would have to be very affordable for the effort required.