"Boom" Heard From AA-130

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WARM AS TOAST
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Post by WARM AS TOAST » Fri. Feb. 06, 2015 10:45 am

Last night and the night before I heard a loud "boom" which I thought came from outside, but have since found it probably came from the AA-130 in the basement. This morning I noticed black dust around the base of the smoke pipe at the top of the boiler. The pipe is still solidly attached and I don't see any seams that are suspicious. I remember reading on the forum in the past that this was not an uncommon problem. I just don't remember what caused the problem and what the solution was. I used to have fines on top of the ashes. There supposedly is a cyclone effect that caused the fines to drop rather than exit through the pipe. Possibly a draft problem? I also have noticed a lot of dirt in the chimney cleanout. The chimney has been cleaned and new smoke pipe replaced.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Fri. Feb. 06, 2015 10:55 am

Ya probably need a mid season clean out of any horizontal pipeing & entrance into chimney. Were you idling a lot early this season? Of course I basically know nothing about your stove--just makes sense

 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Fri. Feb. 06, 2015 11:00 am

Your fire is probably to low in the firetube and has a lot of unburned coal above the fire. What is your anthrastat setting? How many clicks does the pawl take when ashing?


 
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whistlenut
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Post by whistlenut » Fri. Feb. 06, 2015 11:10 am

I like Freds analysis....half way through......HOWEVER I assume you are using a lot more coal now, and the pop could have something to do with burn pot level AND type of coal. What does you ash look like? Any clinker issues? How high in the burn chamber is the coal level? Anything different except for the super cold weather? How long a run to the chimney? Cleanout? Can you remove the exhaust pie and peer down into the Pope's Hat and see if the funnel in the cyclone separator is open at the bottom?
You know that it is a volatile gas concentration making the 'Perfect Storm' condition every once in a while.....'lots of reasons' , but 'lot's' to resolve the cause. More info please.
Was the boiler running HARD for an extended time just before the pop? Was the fire itself low in the chamber? In other words did the ashing actively take away more than was being refilled as the fire burned? Did that cause a greater amount of unburned (yet) coal to accumulate before the call for heat is satisfied?

Please check out these few things and do yourself a favor...record them for future reference. :idea:

 
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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Fri. Feb. 06, 2015 12:09 pm

FYI ... coal technically does not burn ... the vapor does ... gas is what burns so when you have a boom! Its a gas boom.

Not something you want to ignore.

I cannot add anything further that has not been suggested.

Good luck.

 
WARM AS TOAST
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Post by WARM AS TOAST » Fri. Feb. 06, 2015 3:23 pm

Once again you guys have come through with great advice. I will try to check all the above mentioned items when I get home tonight. I will let you know what I find. Thank you very much. You guys and this forum are priceless!!


 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Fri. Feb. 06, 2015 3:41 pm

Ashing too long = too low of fire position = too high of Anthrastat setting, or too many "clicks".

Adjust your Anthrastat down 5 degrees, or reduce number of "clicks" by one.

Have you seen and read the PID threads here lately?

 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Fri. Feb. 06, 2015 5:36 pm

Good Heavens! The man lives in Hazelton! :shock: The streets are paved with coal there!

 
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Post by cabinover » Fri. Feb. 06, 2015 8:20 pm

Hard to believe you had a boom this late in the season. Mine always happen when it's fairly warm out and less draft. Did you happen to switch coal lately? Some is more volatile than others I've found.

 
WARM AS TOAST
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Post by WARM AS TOAST » Thu. Feb. 12, 2015 3:17 pm

Horizontal pipe runs 8 ft and has a very slight pitch. Tapping the bottom of the pipe tells me that there is definitely an accumulation in the pipe. This pipe was completely replaced 2 or 3 months ago. Going to check the pope's hat and rectify what ever is wrong there. Will let you know what happens. The angle of the smoke pipe will be changed to a much steeper angle. Also will try moving the damper closer to the boiler. Coal burning like life is a big experiment. I love it!! This coming from an old man.

Hazleton's streets are paved with potholes. Big potholes. Expect to see draglines operating in them. Great location. One half hour from Dave and Matt at Leisure Line and a little more than an hour to Axeman Anderson. Fortunate to know Mrs Blaschak, the matriarch of Blaschak coal. I believe her family has since sold the company. Several good coal companies within a 5 or 10 minute drive.

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