New gasification system looking for information

[arngnick]

Very fast install Nick!

Why the pipe connecting the top and bottom ports in your second pic? And I would really find some tape other than the blue painters tape, that could get too hot pretty easily and smoke/burst into flames.

That pipe is not actually connecting the top and bottom port but it is where I am going to hook the return of my emergency heat dump when I get the materials. I know about the tape ...I am actulally impressed that it is not even discolored. I and going to get the sealed up properly really soon!

 

[maple1]

Pretty impressed with how fast you got up & going. Mine was months in the making - and I'm still not calling it finished.

Keep an eye out for air gathering in places while it works its way out of the system. I had some gather then slip into my piping & airlock a couple of my zones early on - I got lazy about staying on top of my air bleeding out of top of storage.

Good luck!

 

[arngnick]

I have an air scoop on one of my highest lines so that should help. It took me 5 trips to lows to have theiron cut to length and the last was because I measured wrong. I still have alot to do but at least it is keeping me warm for now. Thanks again for all the help! I will likely need more advice moving forward. I origionally said there is no way I would consider batch burning but I have really warmed up the the idea given the potential flexibility it can offer.

 

[maple1]

I have more than one air scoop & vent on my system piping at high points, but the very top of storage seems to be a pretty good place for air to accumulate. Of course, if I had an auto-vent there rather than a valve, I wouldn't have had it sneak up on me like it did. But I chose to put a valve there for easier bleeding/draining.

If there is any way you can squeeze in more storage later you'll get even more flexibility out of the batch burning, especially with that bigger boiler. I'm still trying to figure out if I can shoehorn in one or two more 110 gallon tanks to my setup, but haven't quite figured out if I can or not - I think I've pretty well decided to just stay with what I have, unless a revelation hits me.

 

[Clarkbug]

Glad its going well Nick! I hope it gives you less trouble than your old boiler...

 

[arngnick]

I know Ihave only had this thing for a couple weeks but this thing is awesome! I am actually hoping for cold weather so I can fireit more often. The other day I was able to coast without a fire for 16 hours on storage. on 30-40 degree weather. Between the boiler working so well and the convienience of the storage it seems to be great! I am looking for ways to expand my storage already just to add more capacity! Thanks to Dean at SmokeLessHeat.com and everyone on here for the advice and reccomending the Varm. I am impressed everytime I light a fire!

Maple: I recomened the draft fan on a timer! When I have periods of low draft I can use it for 5-10 minutes for easy lighting then once the timer shuts the fan off the chimney is warm and drafing well!

 

[Coal Reaper]

i picked up my 37 on monday. my install is not going to be as speedy as yours but i am excited.

 

[arngnick]

i picked up my 37 on monday. my install is not going to be as speedy as yours but i am excited.

Did you get a new one?

 

[Coal Reaper]

no, the show model that dean had on the trailer at one point

 

[maple1]

Maple: I recomened the draft fan on a timer! When I have periods of low draft I can use it for 5-10 minutes for easy lighting then once the timer shuts the fan off the chimney is warm and drafing well!

That was suggested as a possible option when I got mine. I decided to try it without first. I've now got my firestarting & building routine pretty well nailed so by the time I get my firebox full, I've got full draft going & instant gassing when I close the door & the bypass. If I had a shorter chimney, I'd likely look into it further.

Glad you're liking it - more storage would definitely be your tickiet, if you can swing it.

 

[arngnick]

no, the show model that dean had on the trailer at one point

AHH...SO YOUR THE ONE! I had my eyes on that but the day I showed up he said it was sold. He offered me the one at his brothers house but in the end I really like the Vedolux 50. I was on the fence between the 2.

 

[Coal Reaper]

GUILTY. i reserved it a day or two before you went there. i was assuming the one he just listed on the website was his brothers. i am putting mine in the pole barn and wanted shorter chimney so i went with the 37.

 

[arngnick]

Yes I am sure that is his brothers. To be honest I probly would have bought the 37 since I was borderline on my chimney, but the extra output of the 50 really appealed to me as I plan to add more heating space in the future it will also allow me to burn less fires in a day. (I think I can get away with 2 on cold days where I would have done 3 with the 37) I hope you enjoy it I think it worked out better for me in the long run...except I had to buy a full priced model.

 

[arngnick]

One quick question for you guys...Can I have storage located in 2 seperate buildings? If so what would be the best way to plumb it? I would assume seperately with 2 seperate loading units.

 

[Floydian]

One quick question for you guys...Can I have storage located in 2 seperate buildings? If so what would be the best way to plumb it? I would assume seperately with 2 seperate loading units.

Dean has (or at least had) storage in two locations at his place. 250 gallons next to the boiler and 500 gallons in his house. You might discuss this with him.

I'm sure there are ways to add storage without adding another loading unit. Maybe post some schematics of what you have and what you want to add.

As far as my Varm, couldn't be happier! After the epic, forever install it has been quite simple in operation.

Noah

 

[Clarkbug]

Ooooh, the legions of Varmebaronen owners is growing....

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your natural draft model so much Nick. Its great that its working so well. Welcome to batch burning.

Noah, did you ever get yourself a setup to get the ashes out of the boiler easily since you arent using the stand?

 

[Coal Reaper]

Well the varms are gods gift to gasification, version 2.0. He got it right this time!

 

[Floydian]

Noah, did you ever get yourself a setup to get the ashes out of the boiler easily since you arent using the stand?

Yeah, I've got a 1.5 qt SS bowl that lives under the boiler. I slide it out to catch the tiny amount of ash that I get from brushing the tubes, cleaning the combustion tunnel and the scrapings from the top front area of the ceramic. The last part I do before every fire, then I put 1 or 2 pieces of newspaper there, a couple few sticks of kindling(long enough to extent over the nozzle) over the newspaper and load the boiler up with wood.
With the bypass damper closed, the inner ash hatch in and the fan on, I light it with the torch. 10 to 15 seconds with the torch and almost instant secondary combustion. Smoke free in under 2 minutes!

It takes at least a few weeks to fill the 1.5 qt bowl.

Couldn't be happier, though I am still in the honeymoon phase,

Noah

 

[heaterman]

I figure the heat loss to be between 25K BTU/hr and 50k BTU/hr. I am looking to have my storage last 12 hours in most cases and no less than 8 hours due to my work schedule. So with the peak load of 50K BTU/hr I NEED it to last minimun of 12 hours. Can I accomplish this with the vedolux 37?

I did not take the time to read through this post but your basic question has more to do with your storage capacity than with the size or type of boiler.

A 50K load (assuming design conditions) is not all that much so a boiler with 35-50KW output will leave you with enough horsepower to heat the structure and dump some heat into your storage. The thing to keep in front of you as you make your decision is to have the temperature range you need to operate within firmly nailed down. If your heating system will only work with 160 to 180* water your storage capacity has to be much greater than if you can work from say 130 to 180. You may find it advantageous to increase your systems output while working with lower temps rather than going with 1500 gallons of storage needed if you can only swing 20-30*.

 

[arngnick]

I figure the heat loss to be between 25K BTU/hr and 50k BTU/hr. I am looking to have my storage last 12 hours in most cases and no less than 8 hours due to my work schedule. So with the peak load of 50K BTU/hr I NEED it to last minimun of 12 hours. Can I accomplish this with the vedolux 37?

I did not take the time to read through this post but your basic question has more to do with your storage capacity than with the size or type of boiler.

A 50K load (assuming design conditions) is not all that much so a boiler with 35-50KW output will leave you with enough horsepower to heat the structure and dump some heat into your storage. The thing to keep in front of you as you make your decision is to have the temperature range you need to operate within firmly nailed down. If your heating system will only work with 160 to 180* water your storage capacity has to be much greater than if you can work from say 130 to 180. You may find it advantageous to increase your systems output while working with lower temps rather than going with 1500 gallons of storage needed if you can only swing 20-30*.

Thanks for the info...I did decide on a 50KW unit and I am currently running over 600 gallons with plans to add a couple hundred more. I have been pretty pleased with the setup I can run the top temp up to 200* and get good usable heat down to 140* although I have still been able to get some heat at 120*. I have had no problem burning only 2 fires a day.

 

[arngnick]

Since I am planning on adding some more storage I must ask the question can I just add the tanks in series say one pipe running from one to the other on the top and bottom OR must I setup a manifold style on the top and bottom?