Stoker Question

 
bejm1
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Post by bejm1 » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 8:28 am

Still kind of new to the coal heating. my question is. my main heating supply is I believe the efm ap350 the problem im having right now is there is some smoke coming out of the barrel where the coal goes. I cleaned out the pipes coming out of the stoker going to the chimney, cleaned out the below where the pipe comes out of the stoker and also cleaned out the bottom of the chimney but still have some smoke. what can I do to stop this? ive been told that the fire could be burning to hot and burning into the worm or the coils need to be cleaned. being new to coal heating not sure how I can fix this


 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 8:42 am

Benny, there are a lot of things that can cause this, but you have eliminated some already. First thing to check is that the smoke pipe and chimney are clean, and that the barometric damper is set correctly. If you don't have any way to measure the draft, take a match and hold it up to the hole in the "E" on the fire viewing door. The flame should get sucked into the boiler, if not....you have insufficient draft, and/or too much combustion air.

We need to know how many teeth the feed rate is set at, and what the air setting is. Start with the air setting. At the top of the blower housing on the right side you will see a pointer with some numbers...see what it is set at. To check the feed rate, you need to count how many times the ratchet "clicks" on the downward cycle of the arm. This is done by turning the power off to the stoker, and turning the gearbox input shaft by hand.

Have you verified that the air chamber is free of fines, and that the holes in the grates are clean? The auger pipe that goes into the pot also has some holes at the end that can get clogged..but I wouldn't pull that out unless nothing else seems amiss.

Lastly, can you tell us your location? There might be someone nearby that can give you a hand.

 
bejm1
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Posts: 13
Joined: Wed. Dec. 11, 2013 5:34 am
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Alaska Kodiak
Coal Size/Type: rice and nut

Post by bejm1 » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 9:10 am

The smoke pipe and chimney are both cleaned out . not quite sure if the barometric damper is set correctly. the air setting is set at 5 1/2 I did have it at 7 but thought maybe that was too high and that was the problem. the feed is set at 3. as for the air chambers cleaned out I assume you mean to pull the lever next to the motor back and forth a few times if that is correct that is done every time coal is added. my location is near Hazleton,Pa
Rob R. wrote:Benny, there are a lot of things that can cause this, but you have eliminated some already. First thing to check is that the smoke pipe and chimney are clean, and that the barometric damper is set correctly. If you don't have any way to measure the draft, take a match and hold it up to the hole in the "E" on the fire viewing door. The flame should get sucked into the boiler, if not....you have insufficient draft, and/or too much combustion air.

We need to know how many teeth the feed rate is set at, and what the air setting is. Start with the air setting. At the top of the blower housing on the right side you will see a pointer with some numbers...see what it is set at. To check the feed rate, you need to count how many times the ratchet "clicks" on the downward cycle of the arm. This is done by turning the power off to the stoker, and turning the gearbox input shaft by hand.

Have you verified that the air chamber is free of fines, and that the holes in the grates are clean? The auger pipe that goes into the pot also has some holes at the end that can get clogged..but I wouldn't pull that out unless nothing else seems amiss.

Lastly, can you tell us your location? There might be someone nearby that can give you a hand.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 9:34 am

Your air setting is far too high for the feed rate. Adjust the feed to 4 clicks and the air to 4 also.

 
bejm1
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Post by bejm1 » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 9:38 am

ok I will try that thank you for your help. I will post back to let you know how it is working
Rob R. wrote:Your air setting is far too high for the feed rate. Adjust the feed to 4 clicks and the air to 4 also.

 
Pacowy
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Post by Pacowy » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 9:42 am

4 and 4 is a good place to start. The key with the feed and air settings is to make sure that after running continuously for 45 minutes or more, the ring of ash around the outside of the burn pot is about 1-2" wide. If it is more than that, you should add feed and/or reduce air. If it is less than that, you should add air and/or reduce feed.

Mike

 
bejm1
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Post by bejm1 » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 9:59 am

Ok thank you for all this information.
Pacowy wrote:4 and 4 is a good place to start. The key with the feed and air settings is to make sure that after running continuously for 45 minutes or more, the ring of ash around the outside of the burn pot is about 1-2" wide. If it is more than that, you should add feed and/or reduce air. If it is less than that, you should add air and/or reduce feed.

Mike


 
Pacowy
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Post by Pacowy » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 10:43 am

You're welcome. Please let us know if this gets the smoke issue under control.

Mike

 
bejm1
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Post by bejm1 » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 11:05 am

Ill give it a day with the settings and see what the outcome is and post the results
Pacowy wrote:You're welcome. Please let us know if this gets the smoke issue under control.

Mike

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 11:15 am

Is your coal oiled?

 
bejm1
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Post by bejm1 » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 11:29 am

Not that im aware of
Rob R. wrote:Is your coal oiled?

 
bejm1
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Post by bejm1 » Fri. Mar. 14, 2014 6:04 pm

So far so good the changing of the air and feed settings seems to have fix the problem. I will monitor it and let you all know if there's any changes thanks for all the help. One question I do have I was told it could be the worm wearing out that may be causing this problem also is it possible

quote="bejm1"]Not that im aware of
Rob R. wrote:Is your coal oiled?
[/quote]

 
bejm1
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Posts: 13
Joined: Wed. Dec. 11, 2013 5:34 am
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Alaska Kodiak
Coal Size/Type: rice and nut

Post by bejm1 » Sat. Mar. 15, 2014 7:43 pm

well I just went down and checked on it and it started smoking again
bejm1 wrote:So far so good the changing of the air and feed settings seems to have fix the problem. I will monitor it and let you all know if there's any changes thanks for all the help. One question I do have I was told it could be the worm wearing out that may be causing this problem also is it possible

quote="bejm1"]Not that im aware of
Rob R. wrote:Is your coal oiled?
[/quote]

 
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Rick 386
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Post by Rick 386 » Sat. Mar. 15, 2014 8:32 pm

bejm1 wrote:well I just went down and checked on it and it started smoking again
I know Rob asked in his first post...... do you have a manometer to check your draft ??

I sure hope you have enough CO monitors.........

With the warmer temps today, it might be that you now have a lower draft in the chimney. Try cutting back a little more on the feed and air. The boiler may run a little longer to get back up to temp, but that is a small trade off to prevent the smoke coming out.

Make the adjustment and get back to us. If you don't have adequate CO Monitors, I suggest shutting down until you get some.

Rick

 
Pacowy
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Post by Pacowy » Sat. Mar. 15, 2014 9:35 pm

x2 on the CO monitors.

Ironically, I think sometimes cutting feed and air rates during warmer weather can make draft problems worse by cooling the flue. With the current feed and air settings how wide is the ash ring after a long run?

Two additional questions: How wet is the coal? And what is the source of make-up air for the boiler?

Mike


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