Another home brew boiler; gravity circuit. questions

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pbvermont said:
the Hilkoil won't really perform too well outside of the firebox.
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I am talking about directly outside the fire box in the exhaust imediately leaving the firebox.
 
pbvermont said:
To be clear: this is a non-pressurized OPEN (to atmosphere) heating loop with some kind of glycol that takes a pass through a diesel engine block. What happens when the Superstor is full of btus, the stove is going, and so is the engine? You need to think through ALL scenarios of use and provide WELL for overheat. In a way, it's good that the system is OPEN. And technically, the useable water in the Superstor IS potable-- "for crew convenience (showers, dishes)".
Yesterday, it was very cold here (single digits F), I started my elderly diesel tractor with 5 min. of an electric heat gun (propane torch would also work) in the intake manifold, and a small "sniff" of ether in the air cleaner. Off she went.
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This is a $40K engine.
It will never see a drop of. Ether and at 855 c.i. it takes hours to raise the temp.

Potable by definition is drinkable water
We will not drink the Water.

The coal fire isnt going when the engine is running. There is a hydronic cabin heater for when the engine is running.
The engine has a thermostat set at 170F and keel cooler.

The range is a duplex meaning. gas or solid fuel. The Hilkoil is only heated by solid fuel.
 
maple1 said:
If there is no electricity at all, how do you start the engine?
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Batteries but any parasitic drain means the engine will not start.
 
OK - don't think I've run across or heard of an engine that doesn't have a charging system before that could maintain batteries for starting itself. In any kind of typical installation.

Sounds like a unique setup though - good luck with it.
 
I would break this into two parts. Keeping the engine warm enough to start, it's a cummins and there is no reason that it needs to be kept hot.

The second part is heating for the crew. Water and room. Very different demands.
 
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