Hi guys. I have been reading posts here for a while trying to figure out the pros and cons of all the different boiler units. I have a portable sawmill so I generate about 10 - 15 cords of firewood a year from the waste products. I would like to use to heat my 2 kilns, 50 x 60 shop and 2,500 SF house. I live in the NW and it rarely gets below freezing so we don't have a huge heat load.
I like the idea of the massive firebox of a large OWB but I don't want to piss off my neighbors with lots of smoke and I don't have 10 - 15k for a E classic or some other gassifier.
With this said I wanted to see if the idea of building a Seton style was doable. Has anyone here built a this style of boiler? I was reading a post where I think "Jesse-M" said that he built his own. Here are the items I am considering
1. Fire brick or cast Refractory? I think I would rather go with cast refractory if I could get the mix right, have done some research on the components but if anyone has recommendations that would be great.
2. I would definitely go with secondary water storage so the fire can burn longer and hotter
3. Heat exchanger - My first inclination is to go with the Seton style heat exchanger for cost reasons but I was wondering what you guys thought about a Portage and Main style heat exchanger. The idea was to have horizontal running tubes above the burn chamber with turbulators and with a door on the back side for easy cleaning. I have attached a quick sketch I put together for this. Keep in mind this is not a construction drawing but just a 10 min sketch.
I like the idea of the massive firebox of a large OWB but I don't want to piss off my neighbors with lots of smoke and I don't have 10 - 15k for a E classic or some other gassifier.
With this said I wanted to see if the idea of building a Seton style was doable. Has anyone here built a this style of boiler? I was reading a post where I think "Jesse-M" said that he built his own. Here are the items I am considering
1. Fire brick or cast Refractory? I think I would rather go with cast refractory if I could get the mix right, have done some research on the components but if anyone has recommendations that would be great.
2. I would definitely go with secondary water storage so the fire can burn longer and hotter
3. Heat exchanger - My first inclination is to go with the Seton style heat exchanger for cost reasons but I was wondering what you guys thought about a Portage and Main style heat exchanger. The idea was to have horizontal running tubes above the burn chamber with turbulators and with a door on the back side for easy cleaning. I have attached a quick sketch I put together for this. Keep in mind this is not a construction drawing but just a 10 min sketch.