Van Wert VA series boilers, what are their BTU ratings?

What are the nominal input BTU ratings for the various Van Wert VA ___ Anthratherm boilers? Any guess as to their nominal output BTU ratings?

Over what period of years were these produced? What are they lacking by comparison with EFM's? Are they effectively clones?

I think Van Wert went out of business in the late 80's, but that is only what I've heard. As for comparing them to an EFM, I guess the only thing they are "lacking" is the adjustability of the feed rate. Considering lots of people don't know how to set the feed and air properly anyway, that might not be as big of a deal as some people make it out to be. The Van Wert stoker has a deeper pot than an EFM, and is made to burn buck.

Forum member Scottscoaled has a VA600 sitting next to a DF520, perhaps he can offer some insight.

Thanks kindly there Rob!

lsayre wrote:Thanks kindly there Rob!

You will notice that the Van Wert company didn't leave any questions unanswered with their literature. They show what they allow for the coal btu content, lbs of coal fed per hour, gross ratings, and the net output rating for steam and water...they also point out that if you have unusual piping or pickup loads you will need to allow extra capacity.

I also think they don't need any real tube for feed, you can pretty much set a barrel right beside them. Also I think they have a lot less chance of getting gasses out of the coal feed tube based on the way they feed there combustion air in.
Could be wrong though



Eric

Va 600-150k
800-198k
1200-288k
1500-360k
1800-430k
Just replaced the grates and coal transfer on an 800 two day ago. I think they are great units, burn buck very nice and get up to temp very fast from a cold start. the only thing that can be a negative is that they don't have a coal feed adjustment, comes in on a constant rate. But for some reason I never heard anyone complain about that, coal always burns perfect. I think they are as good as any unit out there.

Coalfire wrote:I also think they don't need any real tube for feed, you can pretty much set a barrel right beside them. Also I think they have a lot less chance of getting gasses out of the coal feed tube based on the way they feed there combustion air in.
Could be wrong though

Eric

That is correct, they will run with a short auger and do not have the same issues as an EFM S20 stoker with gasses pushing back out of the feed tube.

Can they be stoked from either side?

lsayre wrote:Can they be stoked from either side?

yes, but you need to get a differant gear for the transfer head I belive



Eric

Coalfire wrote:

lsayre wrote:Can they be stoked from either side?

yes, but you need to get a differant gear for the transfer head I belive

Eric

What is the default feeding side if looking at one from the front?

lsayre wrote: Are they effectively clones?

No they are not. Here's some pictures from mine when it was disassembled.

The stoker gear transfer comes in from the back of the boiler, coal pipe can go right or left from the back

From what I have been told by various people over the last 4-5 years, Van Wert was a manufacturer of fine boilers that suffered the same fate as much of Pa.'s coal industry. When oil became the weapon of choice, coal mines shut down, boiler shops closed,and the industry became a shell of what it was. Only the strongest survived. Boilers like EFM, AA, and Keystoker were larger manufacturing facilities that were able to diversify and capture market share. Stay in business. Van Wert was doomed just by the economic times. As was Gentleman Janitor, Yellow Flame, Allens, Losch, Wagners, to name a few. All of these boilers are beautiful working machines in their own right. Just no longer made. Arnie Huntley, up in South Otselic, bought the patterns and rights to the Van Wert line and is now reproducing that fine line. Ther is much to like about the Van Werts in my opinion. They are shaped different than most. Most of the older coal boilers are wide and long and take up a bit of room. Van Werts are square and tall. The stoker portion is compact, easy to work on. Has very few wear parts that are easily replaceable. The boilers in general, have an interesting flow pattern that gives the unit more heat transfer area for it's size and makes it a self cleaning unit. Some models give up a 87% efficiency. Several models were offered with an oil backup in the last couple years they were in production. A DF model.

I believe any of the stokers used in the VA1200 or larger units had a rotating pot.

Rob R. wrote:I believe any of the stokers used in the VA1200 or larger units had a rotating pot.

The pot doesn't rotate on the 1200, there is three fingers that go around the outside. You can see them in the picture I posted above.