Does Coal Burn Best When It's Wet?

 
Csparks5305
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Post by Csparks5305 » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 10:36 am

I have heard coal burns best and hotter when it is dampened prior to putting it into the hopper? Just wanted to see what some of you guys do on here? Thanks! Stay warm!


 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 10:43 am

:down:
Coal would be dry again before it burns...and that requires even more heat to make it dry.
Last edited by McGiever on Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 10:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

 
NJJoe
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Post by NJJoe » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 10:44 am

Well, I'd say wet coal is better for dust control but that's about it. Moisture needs to be evaporated away, therefore robbing heat. While coal, being a solid rock, can burn wet, wetting it won't improve the fire/burn until that moisture is gone.

 
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SMITTY
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Post by SMITTY » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 10:47 am

Another myth to go with the car battery / concrete one. ;)

 
titleist1
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Post by titleist1 » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 11:02 am

dampen it if necessary to lessen dust while pouring into the hopper, but it will probably dry out from the heat of the stove while in there. Wet coal is not recommended. my manual for the mag stoker has written at the bottom of every page 'do not burn wet coal' and I can attest that it will cause problems trying to get it to feed correctly.

 
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Post by Csparks5305 » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 11:35 am

Thanks everyone for the response. I have been just dampening to keep dust down some. Now the biggest problem I have is just getting the heat to go upstairs in my rancher.

 
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Post by titleist1 » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 11:48 am

heat distribution with a stove can be tough and is very much house layout dependent. There are a lot of threads on here discussing how people have overcome issues. I would suggest reading through some of those to see which is most similar to your situation and try a couple temporary things before cutting holes in floors and walls only to find out they don't work as well as hoped!!


 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 2:25 pm

Cs, how big is the house? Is there any existing duct work from oil/propane furnace?

 
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Richard S.
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Post by Richard S. » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 2:45 pm

Van Wert in their ancient literature suggests damp coal is desirable. They also suggest you don't burn trash. :lol:

Dust aside I believe there is reason behind why you might want the coal damp. I do recall someone explaining at one point but I forget the reasoning.

 
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SMITTY
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Post by SMITTY » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 2:54 pm

Don't use as rubbish burner!
Damn! ......... :funny:

 
Rigar
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Post by Rigar » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 6:41 pm

...aside from heat energy required to convert moisture (water) to steam... steam takes up 1600 times the volume of water...which then needs to be evacuated with flue gases...
...more than likely though...damp coal will 'dry' before its actually burned...
...just my 2 cents

 
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Post by Csparks5305 » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 8:55 pm

Freetown Fred,
House is 1300 sq. ft. rancher. There is existing ductwork fairly close to the stove

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 9:34 pm

Is there any simplistic way to tie into the existing duct work--I've read a lot of guys doing it here- Maybe start a new thread--" using existing duct work" I'd bet you would get what you need as far as moving that heat :)

 
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captcaper
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Post by captcaper » Tue. Dec. 10, 2013 6:14 am

I tried to move the heat without any duct work and it futile. Grates,fans,open cellar doors you name it. Using insulated duct work up to a register did the trick. Also maybe the one reason why I bought the Super Mag it had a 100% blocking kit that stopped all air from blowing into the stove room and sent it up duct work. The side jacket's produce an airflow for the stove room but all the blower forced air get's upstairs. So my living areas upstairs stays perfect and the stove room is comfortable to work in. Blower doesn't work nearly as hard getting heat to upstairs.

 
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Post by coalkirk » Tue. Dec. 10, 2013 7:54 am

I slightly dampen my coal in the bin with a garden hose and spray nozzle. As it is sucked down into the auger, it cut's down on the dust and seems to flow better through the auger and settle out in the hopper better.


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