Preliminary Review of the Heat Potential for Stockton Coal
- lsayre
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This report should have waited until at least the end of November, but my coal consumption vs. HDD's tracking for November has been so spot on (to date at least) that I am willing to make an early assessment of Stockton anthracite pea. That plus I'm a bit impulsive like a kid with a new toy.
I'm presently consuming Stockton in November at the rate of 1.24 lbs. per HDD. I always get my best efficiency for the year soon after the annual clean out, and also right after the T-Stats begin calling regularly and I stop experiencing days whereby the boiler is only providing for the homes DHW. That said, the best I have historically done at this juncture was 1.22 lbs. per HDD with Harmony pea.
To further level the playing field, I have reduced my assumed lbs. per day burned to provide for our homes DHW to 4 lbs. (down from 4.5 lbs.), as 4 lbs. is the figure I used for Harmony. Thus (so far at least) it appears that there is (for all practical purposes) essentially as much heat energy in Stockton pea as there was for UAE Harmony pea.
The 1.24 lbs and 1.22 lbs. per HDD figures are derived after subtracting 4 lbs. per day from my actual consumption, so the figures are for home heating only, and they exclude DHW.
I'm presently consuming Stockton in November at the rate of 1.24 lbs. per HDD. I always get my best efficiency for the year soon after the annual clean out, and also right after the T-Stats begin calling regularly and I stop experiencing days whereby the boiler is only providing for the homes DHW. That said, the best I have historically done at this juncture was 1.22 lbs. per HDD with Harmony pea.
To further level the playing field, I have reduced my assumed lbs. per day burned to provide for our homes DHW to 4 lbs. (down from 4.5 lbs.), as 4 lbs. is the figure I used for Harmony. Thus (so far at least) it appears that there is (for all practical purposes) essentially as much heat energy in Stockton pea as there was for UAE Harmony pea.
The 1.24 lbs and 1.22 lbs. per HDD figures are derived after subtracting 4 lbs. per day from my actual consumption, so the figures are for home heating only, and they exclude DHW.
- lsayre
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Between Harmony and Stockton, they may have similar energy (BTU's per lb.) content, but they act very differently. Harmony had a lot of volatiles, and Stockton appears to have very low volatiles. If some percentage of the energy content of Harmony was derived from its volatiles, then I would assume that Stockton has a bit higher carbon content.
- lsayre
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Well, after burning it for awhile now it seems that my load of Stockton is settling down to a more Blaschak like overall energy level than a Harmony like energy level. I'm presently hovering at around 1.4 lbs. burned per HDD. But my load of Stockton must have been scraped off the bottom of the pile, as I'm finding loads of fines and smaller chunks in it. I never experienced that with Blaschak.
So far I've made no effort to sift out the fines. Despite the fines it still seems to be burning OK (so far at least), but I'm already contemplating a return to Blaschak for next season.
So far I've made no effort to sift out the fines. Despite the fines it still seems to be burning OK (so far at least), but I'm already contemplating a return to Blaschak for next season.
- McGiever
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- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
My coal this season is exactly as you describe your Stockton Coal.
I can only add that what I am burning is also a very low ash coal, red ash.
With the fines and smaller pieces I have come to appreciate the ability I have to increase the fan speed some (VFD) to help overcome the resistance of this coal to the air flow through it.
I would discourage anyone thinking of running this coal across a flat or inclined grate because of the amount of fines. Under grate cleanings would need done very regularly.
I get some weight in the ash tub from the fines that aren't small or large enough to get burned and then end up getting expelled out from the cyclone funnel cone and dropped in the ash tub. Should have a very cleaned/polished/scrubbed swirl burn chamber all the way from fire pot to breech.
I can only add that what I am burning is also a very low ash coal, red ash.
With the fines and smaller pieces I have come to appreciate the ability I have to increase the fan speed some (VFD) to help overcome the resistance of this coal to the air flow through it.
I would discourage anyone thinking of running this coal across a flat or inclined grate because of the amount of fines. Under grate cleanings would need done very regularly.
I get some weight in the ash tub from the fines that aren't small or large enough to get burned and then end up getting expelled out from the cyclone funnel cone and dropped in the ash tub. Should have a very cleaned/polished/scrubbed swirl burn chamber all the way from fire pot to breech.
- lsayre
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Stockton now lists the typical analysis of their anthracite on their website.
Stockton Mine Mammoth Vein
Typical Analysis: Proximate Analysis as Received
% Carbon 82.04
% Sulphur 0.61
% Ash 9.34
% Volatile Matter 3.71
% Moisture 5.92
Hardgrove Grindability 29.54 HGI
Heat Value (daf) 14,844 BTU/lb (8,246 kcal/kg)
Heat Value (daf) means on a completely Dry and Ash Free basis.
This shortcut method admittedly isn't quite kosher, but it is a quick and dirty way to get into the "as received" BTU's ballpark:
0.8204 carbon x 14,844 BTU's/lb.(daf) = 12,178 BTU's/lb. as received
(where "as received" means how it will be when you receive it)
Stockton Mine Mammoth Vein
Typical Analysis: Proximate Analysis as Received
% Carbon 82.04
% Sulphur 0.61
% Ash 9.34
% Volatile Matter 3.71
% Moisture 5.92
Hardgrove Grindability 29.54 HGI
Heat Value (daf) 14,844 BTU/lb (8,246 kcal/kg)
Heat Value (daf) means on a completely Dry and Ash Free basis.
This shortcut method admittedly isn't quite kosher, but it is a quick and dirty way to get into the "as received" BTU's ballpark:
0.8204 carbon x 14,844 BTU's/lb.(daf) = 12,178 BTU's/lb. as received
(where "as received" means how it will be when you receive it)
- lsayre
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If you wonder why carbon + sulfur + volatiles + ash + moisture adds up to 101.62%, my guess is that some percentage of the "as received" carbon content comes from the carbon that is present within the "volatiles" (volatile hydrocarbons) component.
The carbon remaining after volatiles are driven away by heating is called "Fixed Carbon". Atlantic Coal PLC does not list the fixed carbon content of its Stockton Mine anthracite, so I'm free to assume that the 82.04% figure combines both volatiles derived carbon and fixed carbon.
The carbon remaining after volatiles are driven away by heating is called "Fixed Carbon". Atlantic Coal PLC does not list the fixed carbon content of its Stockton Mine anthracite, so I'm free to assume that the 82.04% figure combines both volatiles derived carbon and fixed carbon.
- Keepaeyeonit
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Larry,I know that Stockton coal needs a real good draft to burn right, I had troubles with it before I rebuilt my chimney and I haven't had an issue in the last 2 years with it even on 60* days without covering the Baro and never going below -.03 . I don't know how you chimney is but that could explain the shitty performance in the warmer weather. It works awesome in my hand fired stove I love the heat and low ash. I have only burned 3 tons of Blaschak (bagged) Its burning characteristics are very consistent but I think there sizing sucks, I never knew If I was getting nut or pea the last pallet I got from them was small but If I could get in bulk I would burn it again no problem. My bin has 3 layers of different coal in it and I can tell right away when I get into layer because Its starting take it form all 3 layers now due to the hole I have inside of the box, Mammoth has nice blue flames,the Susquehanna had yellow with a tint of blue flames with more ash, and the other layer is a mix of Mammoth/UAE and Hazleton shaft has a even blue/yellow flame. Keepaeyeonit
- McGiever
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- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Blasckak bulk pea I get from my Amish supplier lately seems to have sizing issues.
It is like the nut and stove sizes are screened out and everthing else down to dust is called pea.
I plan to look at possibly buying their bulk nut if it is on the smaller size.
Might have to screen out a few over-size pieces but that may be better than having excessive dust and fines and barley and rice in the mix.
Can't have bridging and auger jams though.
It is like the nut and stove sizes are screened out and everthing else down to dust is called pea.
I plan to look at possibly buying their bulk nut if it is on the smaller size.
Might have to screen out a few over-size pieces but that may be better than having excessive dust and fines and barley and rice in the mix.
Can't have bridging and auger jams though.
- Lightning
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Hey Larry, the volatile matter consists of hydrocarbons like you said. I think you are missing out on a few BTUs by not counting the heat produced from hydrogen into water..
- lsayre
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- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
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- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
I did make sure to say that my quick and dirty method was not kosher (meaning not properly accounting for all possible BTU factors). It is likely to be very slightly lowballing the "as received" BTU's available to the consumer. But not by much. The BTU contribution of the volatiles is likely to be countered by the heat lost in vaporizing the 6% water content of the coal. Both of them being early contributors. One positive, and one negative.Lightning wrote:Hey Larry, the volatile matter consists of hydrocarbons like you said. I think you are missing out on a few BTUs by not counting the heat produced from hydrogen into water..