Alaska Hearth Has Blue Flames Close to Hopper
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- Member
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 21, 2007 8:22 am
- Location: York county, PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Alaska Kast Console II Hearth
This is my first year running a stoker stove. I have a Alaska hearth model with paddle feed. Being new to me I am slightly nervous of a hopper fire. I believe the red burning coal is where it should be on the grate but have noticed steady blue flames between this burning coal area and the hopper. I have attached a picture but it might be a little hard to see the blue flames. Is this normal or may I have an air leak at the rear of the grate?
Attachments
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
That's just volatile gases burning off as that coal is pre-heated, red coal line is where under air stops. Not to worry.
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- Member
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- Location: Springville, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker Koker controlled with CoalTrol
This is what my fire looks like. Quite a few blue flames wafting towards the back is normal. As long as your red glow line doesn't migrate beyond the air hole line towards the back you will be fine. 4 years burning and no hopper fire, knock on wood.
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- Member
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: axeman anderson 260
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: channing III (retired)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: russo cw2 (backup)
- Coal Size/Type: rice chesnut nut
How is your fan speed?(on my triburner converted to separate fan for combustion) I get that when my air flow is turned down. No worries about it, just my observation.
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- Member
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 21, 2007 8:22 am
- Location: York county, PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Alaska Kast Console II Hearth
Thanks for the feedback. I feel a little better about letting the fire burn when I left for work this morning. As for fan speed I only have one adjustment (which I thought only controlled the speed of the room air blower). I have this set about 3/4.
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
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- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Welcome to the world of stokers Cowentz. That is what we call an idle fire, I bet you never saw a fire that small in your hand fired stove!
I'm glad to see you are up and running. You need to get a picture or two of your install posted. So we can all see it.
-Don
I'm glad to see you are up and running. You need to get a picture or two of your install posted. So we can all see it.
-Don