DS Machine Comfortmax 75 Update (on Wood)

 
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Sat. Feb. 13, 2016 6:46 am

Since its finally become winter here, we've finally gotten around to firing up the ComfortMax for a test run. Presently burning Enviro-Bricks (highly compressed sawdust blocks that each weigh 3.5 lbs.) in the ComfortMax. It's around 3 to 4 degrees F. outside right now, and a comfy 77 degrees in our living room (where the stove is). 70 degrees in a bedroom down the hall. No fans running , and no blower on the stove. Getting a decent (for wood) 5 to 5.5 hours between feedings, which are only 4 Enviro-Bricks per. Still have not tried coal in it. (First loading of wood bricks only lasted a bit more than 3 hours, but subsequent loads are going 5 to 5.5 hours)

Most claims are for 8,000 BTU's per pound for this type of high pressure compressed sawdust blocks, but I'll assume 7,500.

7,500 BTU's/LB. x 3.5 lbs/brick = 26,250 BTU's per brick

4 bricks x 26,250 BTU's = 105,000 BTU's per stove feeding

105,000 BTU's x ~0.70 = 73,500 output BTU's (allowing for 70% efficiency)

73,500 BTU's of total output/ ~5.25 hours between loads = ~14,000 BTUH output

14,000 BTUH seems to be all it takes to heat our entire upstairs at roughly 3 to 4 degrees outside. The coal boiler is still heating the downstairs (finished walk-out basement and garage) and our DHW. We will probably only continue this experiment through this weekend. It supposed to get to a high of 10 degrees here today, and a low of -1 tonight.


 
titleist1
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Post by titleist1 » Sat. Feb. 13, 2016 7:10 am

Heating options are good to have. If something mechanical on the boiler would crap out at 3am tonight when it's -1 out it's a good feeling to know you are not in emergency mode scrambling to keep the pipes from freezing!

But......WHERE ARE THE PICTURES?!?!?!?!?!? :taz:

I mean those numbers are all fascinating and interesting and real scientific and thought provoking and all that.... but what about those of us that just look at magazines for the pictures and not the articles?!?! :P

A nice mid burn pic would have us feeling all warm and fuzzy inside! :bighug:

 
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Keepaeyeonit
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Post by Keepaeyeonit » Sat. Feb. 13, 2016 7:34 am

Dam Larry I forgot you bought a stove, well when do you plan on feeding that beast coal? I would think you could do that 14,000 BTU/ hr on 1.6 lbs of coal/ hr right?( I would think thats $4.85/ day on coal )what Is the cost difference from the bricks to coal? I do know the coal will require less tending though,

 
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lsayre
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Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75

Post by lsayre » Sat. Feb. 13, 2016 7:43 am

Here is the picture I just took. The flash wiped out any view of the fire, but the temperature gauges are visible for an indicator of the heat. The stack gauge is probing internal, and not merely a magnet measuring the surface. Enviro-Bricks are just visible to the lower left of the stove. Pay no attention to the sawdust. Yelling at me for that will be my wife's job. I'd better get the broom and go at it. After only one day of burning wood the glass is about 2/3 yucked up already. Must be making plenty of creosote.
Stove.JPG
.JPG | 158KB | Stove.JPG

 
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lsayre
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Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75

Post by lsayre » Sat. Feb. 13, 2016 7:48 am

Keepaeyeonit wrote:Dam Larry I forgot you bought a stove, well when do you plan on feeding that beast coal? I would think you could do that 14,000 BTU/ hr on 1.6 lbs of coal/ hr right?( I would think thats $4.85/ day on coal )what Is the cost difference from the bricks to coal? I do know the coal will require less tending though,
My wife is not keen to coal. I haven't been able to sell her on that for her living room yet. I got 2 tons of the compressed sawdust bricks on sale for $175/ton after tax (our pick up). Coal has been costing me about $270/ton after tax (delivered).

Yes, about 1 x 40 lb. bag of coal per day should do it.

 
titleist1
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Post by titleist1 » Sat. Feb. 13, 2016 7:52 am

:punk: Nice looking set up!! The hearth pad and brickwork look good. Did it smoke off much in the first burn?

Just keep leaving that sawdust laying around, mention how hard sawdust is to control and that coal has none of that and she'll come around! :verycool:

 
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lsayre
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Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
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Post by lsayre » Sat. Feb. 13, 2016 7:57 am

titleist1 wrote::punk: Nice looking set up!! The hearth pad and brickwork look good. Did it smoke off much in the first burn?

Just keep leaving that sawdust laying around, mention how hard sawdust is to control and that coal has none of that and she'll come around! :verycool:
Yes, the house smelled of oily burnt paint yesterday.


 
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Keepaeyeonit
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Post by Keepaeyeonit » Sat. Feb. 13, 2016 8:08 am

Nice looking setup except the saw dust :shock: , so the blocks are around $.75/day more, easier to start and let burn out but more tending( I'm sure you could go a full 24 hrs with that amount of coal though), I guess Its a good trade off for only a backup,to take the chill off, or an emergency. If your not going to run It very often then that may be your better choice.

 
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warminmn
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Post by warminmn » Sat. Feb. 13, 2016 9:38 am

Looks nice! My Dad likes burning those bricks too, and you can fit a few hundred pounds of them in a very small area. No mess either. Not as cheap as coal but perfect for what you want them for.

 
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Sat. Feb. 13, 2016 3:28 pm

I just loaded the coal boiler and added 43 less pounds than my computer program calculated.

 
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lsayre
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Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
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Post by lsayre » Tue. Feb. 16, 2016 5:58 am

The biggest drawback I've seen for the ComfortMax in very limited firing is that (as for all EPA stoves) it is limited in the degree to which you can throttle it down. It burns hot by design to meet the EPA regs. Great when it reaches -7 outside, but not likely so great at other times. The sawdust blocks I was burning compound this problem by also inherently burning hot (due to only 8% moisture). I have even heard rumors that at least one major stove company has declared the sawdust blocks off limits in their EPA stoves and stated that using them voids the warranty.

Perhaps anthracite pea can mitigate this?

 
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. Feb. 16, 2016 6:12 am

Anthracite will be much easier to control at moderate output levels. Load it up with pea coal and you will see.

 
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blrman07
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Post by blrman07 » Tue. Feb. 16, 2016 6:59 am

lsayre wrote:I just loaded the coal boiler and added 43 less pounds than my computer program calculated.
And this is a problem why?

 
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lsayre
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Posts: 21781
Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
Location: Ohio
Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75

Post by lsayre » Tue. Feb. 16, 2016 1:34 pm

blrman07 wrote:
lsayre wrote:I just loaded the coal boiler and added 43 less pounds than my computer program calculated.
And this is a problem why?
no problem, only a match for wood burned.

 
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Keepaeyeonit
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Post by Keepaeyeonit » Sat. Feb. 27, 2016 7:22 pm

Anymore updates on the ComfortMax Larry?


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