Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Tool Talk Discussion Forum

O/T Wood boiler non-condensable gases?

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
s.crum

05-11-2008 04:58:00




Report to Moderator

Years ago on the farm (early 70s) we installed a new wood fired furnace in the house to take advantage of a large supply of wood on the farm and 2 boys in their teens with more brawn than brains (little brother and I). This furnace was built by an operation called Deer creek fabricating I believe located in Minnesota and marketed as a 'Len-Jay'. It was a very simple design that incorporated a vertical fire chamber that resembled the tank out of a hot water heater. The chimney came off the side about 12" down from the dome shaped top and the fire was not fan induced (didn't need to be with a 35' chimney). What I remember most about this furnace was in the warmer spring and fall months when the fire didn't need to be pushed very hard, this furnace would get a build up of "non-condensable vapors" or gases (an old term from the dairy evaporator business). These gases accumulated in the dome of the fire chamber and were quite flammable when mixed with freah air. ie; when you opened the door to check the fire. This usually resulted in a brief fire ball and resulting report and big eyes and brown pants when these vapors would ignite. This was especially hilarious when the old man would go down and check the fire and it would happen. You heard the door open, a loud report and a string of explicatives, then the smell of creosote for a few minutes.
Now I'm the old man and it don't take a lot for me to do something that others find humorous, but I'm planning out a large outdoor boiler to heat the house and the 2 shop buildings. I plan to bring the 6" chimney pipe out the back of the fire box rather low in the chamber to avoid pulling off gases that can otherwise be burnt for BTUs. The fire in this will be fan forced as needed. Anybody have opinions on this design and or experienced ignition of built up gases? I might mention that the fire chamber in this boiler is 30" diameter and 54" long and horizontal and of 1/2" thick high pressure gas line pipe

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
M Moline Fan

05-12-2008 04:40:29




Report to Moderator
 Re: O/T Wood boiler non-condensable gases? in reply to s.crum, 05-11-2008 04:58:00  
For the past 5 years we've had an Aspen wood stove, bought at TSC. It feeds combustion air through a plenum with lots of small holes at the top of the stove. At times the flames burn DOWNWARDS from the plenum holes, especially if you have a hot fire going and slow the draft. Then it reminds me of a "gas burner" - which in fact it is. I think it's a nice design.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
PJH

05-11-2008 20:05:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: O/T Wood boiler non-condensable gases? in reply to s.crum, 05-11-2008 04:58:00  
We had a Jensen wood furnace in the basement for about 25 years,(it's in use in the shop now) and it would "woof" a ball of fire in your face if you didn't crack the door for about ten seconds before you swung it open. The exhaust was on the back of the firebox, horizontal, and about six inches below the top. We now use a Hardy outdoor boiler. The exhaust goes straight out the top. It will blow an unbelievable ball of fire in your face if the conditions are right. Must open the ash door first to ignite the gases, then safely open the loading door. Point is: I think they'll all woof at you if the conditions are right, no matter how they're designed. I think you'll enjoy your outdoor boiler. We've had ours for 10 years now - no problems. I like backing the wood trailer up to the furnace, and leaving it loaded. Just feed the fire box right out of the trailer. It was lotsa work getting the wood into our basement thru an old coal chute door. Good luck with your project and keep us posted on your progress.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Lee in Iowa

05-11-2008 05:26:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: O/T Wood boiler non-condensable gases? in reply to s.crum, 05-11-2008 04:58:00  
Just google plans to build wood stoves. There was one made from an old water heater tank set horizontaly that had a secondary combustion chamber to burn the gases. They cut out a section lengthwise and welded it back in upside down and then closed the top with sheet steel to make a flat top. Lee



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Lee in Iowa

05-11-2008 05:26:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: O/T Wood boiler non-condensable gases? in reply to s.crum, 05-11-2008 04:58:00  
Just google plans to build wood stoves. There was one made from an old water heater tank set horizontaly that had a secondary combustion chamber to burn the gases. They cut out a section lengthwise and welded it back in upside down and then closed the top with sheet steel to make a flat top. Lee



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Matt from CT

05-11-2008 05:16:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: O/T Wood boiler non-condensable gases? in reply to s.crum, 05-11-2008 04:58:00  
Can't offer much design advice.

Sounds like it was a build of carbon monoxide from a smouldering fire. Explosive (flammable) limits are 12.5% -- 74%. So you had fuel (CO) and heat, and when dad opened the door it let in the air it was lacking, and it would pop off.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
36 coupe

05-12-2008 04:04:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: O/T Wood boiler non-condensable gases? in reply to Matt from CT, 05-11-2008 05:16:22  
Wood gas can run gasoline engines.Never pop the door open on any wood stove or furnace.Low fires produce a lot of gas.Gas generation is why wood burns.Wood cook stoves can puff once in a while.My dad managed to get a kerosene pot burner to flash years ago.It got the few hairs he had.I was trying to see what dad was looking at.I remember both of us jumping back real fast.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
ldj

05-11-2008 08:12:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: O/T Wood boiler non-condensable gases? in reply to Matt from CT, 05-11-2008 05:16:22  
Maybe something happened??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_gas_generator



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy