I Tweeked My DHW

Well it took a little over 40 years starting with a stoker, 30 years with a hand fire and back with a stoker for the past few seasons.

Heated my dhw on and off thru the years with countless combinations of coils and tanks and I think I finally got it tuned in right where I want it.

I only wish I ran across this fine site a few years ago.

Up until this last cold spell my Alaska 140 dual paddle feed was doing a great job maintaining my dhw between 140 and 160 degrees.

The cold spell pushed the temps up to 180 in the water heater. At night I would manually valve it over to the tempering tank bringing the uninsulated tempering tank to 120 on a few cold mornings.

I installed a upper element thermostat from an electric water heater in my existing water heater and set it at 150 . When it reaches 150 it controls 2 solenoids one N/O and the other N/C diverting the coil water to the tempering tank. My Aquastat is set at 170 with a 10 degree differential to control the circulator.
Working like a charm

Nice job! Is that blue barrel your coal feed?

mariohotshot wrote:Nice job! Is that blue barrel your coal feed?

Thanks. Yes, the hopper holds about 200 lbs and the 55 gallon drum another 400 or so.

Coal is delivered and dumped on attached garage floor, vac takes it thru a cyclone into coal bin on the other side of the basement, vac system loads the drum as needed, and the vac system takes the cold ash outside thru baghouse and into ash bins on the other side of the house.

Paul

Pauliewog wrote:
Coal is delivered and dumped on attached garage floor, vac takes it thru a cyclone into coal bin on the other side of the basement, vac system loads the drum as needed, and the vac system takes the cold ash outside thru baghouse and into ash bins on the other side of the house.

Paul

Pictures, we need pictures !!!!!!

You could start your own thread showing the coal loading system you have and another showing the ash vacuum system. A lot of members here would love to see the ash removal system you developed. Me included !!!

Rick

A Youtube video would also be great!

mariohotshot wrote:Nice job! Is that blue barrel your coal feed?

Love those sight level holes in your barrel.

Rick 386 wrote:
Pictures, we need pictures !!!!!!

You could start your own thread showing the coal loading system you have and another showing the ash vacuum system. A lot of members here would love to see the ash removal system you developed. Me included !!!

Rick

Rick

I'm headed back to Michigan tomorrow but will start another thread on the cyclone transfer and one on the ash removal baghouse when I get back .
There is a video on a loading system very similar to mine posted by another member here. I think his screen name is Whiz. I'm using 2" pvc to my craftsman 2.5 hp vac and after seeing his, I plan to upgrade to the 6.5 hp to speed up the filling. I'm using 1-1/2" pvc electrical conduit and long sweep 45 and 90 s on the coal suction side. Three of the wife's jelly canning jars are used for my level sight glasses.

The ash removal was more of a challenge. Started out pulling a vacuum in an old refrigerator outside and spent more time cleaning and changing filters than carrying the ash buns up the stairs.

I refined that by building a small baghouse to keep the fines out of the shop vac.

Paul

mariohotshot wrote:A Youtube video would also be great!

I'll have to get my son to help with a video ...... I have all I can do to post pictures right side up !

Paul

McGiever wrote:

mariohotshot wrote:Nice job! Is that blue barrel your coal feed?

Love those sight level holes in your barrel.

The wife wasn't really pleased when she found out they were her jelly canning jars ....... but they snapped in sooo nice in the 3" hole saw cuts

Paul