10-04-2012, 11:29 AM
I like the tip about using a heat gun. Wouldn't have thought it would make that much difference, but an extra few hunnert degrees it is. :)
One nit - don't bother with a butterfly valve. Too expensive unless you already have one. Just a tin shutter in a slot, held with a wing nut or something is all that's needed. Slot the air tube with a hacksaw.
Probably not an issue with solid fuel, but one of the scariest jobs I had involved a large Cleaver-Brooks Scotch Marine firetube boiler, gas fired (400 HP, I think it might have been the largest skid mounted package made in this country at the time). The operators were in a panic. Brand new high pressure steam boiler, they started it up and and as soon as it went into high fire everyone's clothing would start fluttering. It's caused by over-firing, the flame actually leaves the burner and then snaps back. If it didn't snap back, the combustion chamber would fill with an explosive mix - it had .8 seconds to shut down.
Anyway, if your oil/gas flame starts to pulsate you need to stop and fix it, lest it blow flaming bits of metal and brick everywhere. Look towards reducing burner velocity by using larger piping.
One nit - don't bother with a butterfly valve. Too expensive unless you already have one. Just a tin shutter in a slot, held with a wing nut or something is all that's needed. Slot the air tube with a hacksaw.
Probably not an issue with solid fuel, but one of the scariest jobs I had involved a large Cleaver-Brooks Scotch Marine firetube boiler, gas fired (400 HP, I think it might have been the largest skid mounted package made in this country at the time). The operators were in a panic. Brand new high pressure steam boiler, they started it up and and as soon as it went into high fire everyone's clothing would start fluttering. It's caused by over-firing, the flame actually leaves the burner and then snaps back. If it didn't snap back, the combustion chamber would fill with an explosive mix - it had .8 seconds to shut down.
Anyway, if your oil/gas flame starts to pulsate you need to stop and fix it, lest it blow flaming bits of metal and brick everywhere. Look towards reducing burner velocity by using larger piping.