I'm building a homemade boiler

[hondaracer2oo4]

Anyone that is concerned about the creosote you see in this boiler google outdoor wood boiler firebox and take a look at the pics. Absolutely normal for this style boiler. You don't have a second set of supply and return ports that you could put a pump on just for water jacket mixing do you?

 

[warno]

I know my creosote output is normal. When this thing idles is a creosote making machine. I was only bringing it up thinking it might have been the sizzling I was hearing, kind of like an oil fire.

It's strange you bring up having another set of ports. I was thinking that same thing last night. I do have another set of ports, but my only available pump I have on hand is a Bell and Gossett NRF 36. I suppose I could run it on its lowest speed, that should seriously mix things up in the water jacket.

 

[hondaracer2oo4]

Yeah I would just slap it on and see if the noise goes away. That would help solve the mystery or not.

 

[warno]

I'll get another set of flanges as soon as possible and put it on there.

 

[hondaracer2oo4]

Heatmaster is requiring minimum flows inside their gasser series water jackets. For my 200 it is 16gpm. They had hot spot issues around the heat exchanger tubes I was told.

 

[OH_Varmntr]

Interesting about the hot spots. I have noticed when at full output I can hear some boiling going on in my water jacket. I just so happen to have another circulator lying around to plumb into my other ports.

My beast is a little different than yours though, warno. 110 gallons vs 400 gallons. I wouldn't think it would take much for you to develop a hot spot.

 

[duramaxman05]

You need more heat load and colder outside temps to make the boiler work harder. Mine does the same
Like here it has been between 40 and 70 degrees so lots of idle time. When we had a cold spell for a week the cresote decreased dramatically.

 

[OH_Varmntr]

Once it gets cold after a spell of mild weather, mine will fire really hard and look like a jet engine as it burns all the build up out of the stack.

 

[warno]

That's what mine has been doing for the last few days. It will burn the creosote like crazy making brownish black smoke then about the time it clears up back to idle we go. I hope batch burns next year will solve this problem.

 

[OH_Varmntr]

Ideally with batch burning, you only use enough wood to get your storage temps up right around when fire goes out and you won't have any smoldering, creosote mess left to deal with.

There are guys who figure out how many BTUs they need to get their water temps back up, weigh their wood, and only put enough in the firebox to get them there. I want to be one of those guys lol

 

[warno]

That's my plan next year. I'll put my scale in the wood shed and probably use a basket of some kind to help gather and weigh with. Hopefully next winter will be more winter then spring and it will be easier to judge a load of wood.

 

[Welder Rob]

Good job, it's redundant to say it is very professional because you are a pro!
I'm also an ASME certified welder here in Canada and looking for wood heat for my new shop. I built Fisher wood stoves in the 70's in Powell River BC so came on to the hearth to quest about to see what's on the go! Nice to read and become more informed. And good to see your photos of the great job JJ you're doing.

 

[warno]

Thank you for the compliment. My boiler works great for not knowing anything about these things going into the project. I have been making adjustments and subtle changes throughout this season but all in all I'm pretty happy. I must say though if you are planning to build a boiler yourself I would read up on a gasifier. I know the term has been beat to death time and time again on here but there's a reason for that. If I could do it over again I would definitely go the gasser route.