What I'm wondering is will the life of the cat be shortened if its operated (within the proper limits of the stove with the acceptable fuel/moisture content) on high (100%) indefinitely vs one that is operated in the same manner but at a lower heat output (say 75%?).
Is the smoke roll out a common thing? I have about 17' of pipe/chimney. If I wait toward the end of the burn I get no smoke. If I do a hot reload (which I usually do to keep a 12 hour cycle) I get some roll out. After I open the thermostat I wait a few minutes while I get wood ready, then bypass for awhile. Even then I still get some. If i open the door VERY slowly it reduces it. Maybe with 2/45s in my system I'm just at the edge of poor draft? Burns fine otherwise?Yeah, you got it.I think they are saying that because it will minimize smoke roll-out into the room in setups where the draft is weaker. With my stove and stack, I can open the door anytime and get no smoke....might have to open it more slowly in certain situations, though.
I'm not sure. It's possible that the cat might actually not burn as brightly when you have the air wide open, as the smoke may to have the "residence time" to burn...the smoke might just blow right through the combustor un-burned. That's why I asked how brightly the cat was glowing at the various air settings...because I believe that the brighter it is glowing, the faster it will be worn out, over time. Have you looked at the stack when you are running with the air wide open? How much smoke are you seeing?
The BKs seem to require more draft to operate than some other stoves, but I would not think that applies with the bypass open. Front-loading stoves generally have less space between the top of the door opening and the top of the stove and have a larger opening, so are more prone to smoke escaping.
It glows bright, just like you would expect when operating on High. It doesn't smoke at all, just some vapor right after reload. No offense but I was asking BKVP because Im sure he has been intimately involved with the testing and life cycle of the cats. It seems like an assumption that their life would be shorter if they are run at the high end of their operating limit when in fact it might be better for it. I don't know that but would be interested in know the facts so that way I'm not disappointed that my cat has been exhausted at year 4 vs year 8 because I operate the stove (within the limits) on high.
OK, I looked at a couple of your other threads...looks like you go to Class A at the ceiling, and the Class A may exit close to, and be above, the roof ridge, correct?
8' dvl to 45 to 24"dvl to 45 to support box. So around 104" of rise.
Not in our units. And remember please, cats can much hotter on low than on high.
Very interesting! Why is there a higher emissions output on high then? Is it because higher velocity of gas through the cat cause less combustion or just more ash particulate being carried through the unit?
Hmm? I always thought it was maybe drafting past the cat to fast to activate. IDK, but it certainly does get more active as the air is reduced.
17',2 45's? Ya, some roll out is gonnna happen on occasion. I find it's much less when it's real cold outside.
Kinda what I figured. I'm going to get up on the roof when I get a chance to see how much I can add without bracing. It's anything over 5' correct?
If you screw the pipe to the flashing with short sheet metal screws I'd be ok with 6', but technically ya, every 5' needs a brace.
The air wash on the window basically can cause that secondary type burn up at the top before it goes into the cat. At least that's what I see happening but that is strictly opinion.
I have no idea why anyone would do this? First smoke would pour out, but my fear is cold air being sucked directly into the catalyst if your draft was real good.
I think I'm going to notice performance start to drop off after year 3, and by year 5 it's going require higher temps to light off, and won't stay lit nearly as long, so I'm going to want to replace it. Since I got 'dry-wood religion' six years ago, and a few new stoves and different cats to try here and there, I've only seen about three years max on any single cat. So the jury is still out for me on longevity in my main stove, with my yearly use. Even though I have no backup heat, I'm probably not burning as continuously hard and for as long as it sounds like you will be doing.
Yeah, 5'. You can get some cheap vent pipe and try it out first to see if it's worth it to buy Class A and add it.
Besides, it's harder to pull air through the cat than through an open bypass, and smoke in the box will also be routed forward, so you will get more smoke roll-out.
Forgot to ask...it looks like it is, but is the connector pipe double-wall to the ceiling?
