Has anyone burned coal in their EKO?

I believe the EKO is designed to burn soft coal. I believe that would be bituminous coal, not anthracite. Though I might have that mixed up. You can also burn dry corn cobs, which can be had in farming areas for little or nothing, in the EKO.

Eric, would the coal gasify ?

I have seen coal gassifiers on the internet so it does gassify but I am not sure just how well the EKO will handle it. Maybe in a mix????? I have burned wet wood but I stick it on top of the dry stuff and by the time the dry is burned down the wet wood has dried out. Maybe you can stretch to cash you have to spend for dry wood that way??

trehugr said:

Eric, would the coal gasify ?

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My understanding is that the coal gasifies. I think dried peat moss would work as well. They're kind of related, and countries like Finland burn a lot of peat.

Bituminous coal is soft. However, after reading about the different applications of the varities of coal, it seems to be used for generating power rather than home heating. That would most likly make it hard to access for anyone not living in a coal state.

This has sparked my intrest as wood supplies look grim at this stage of the game. Eric, if you could tell me where you found the EKO/coal info that would be great.

I think Dave at Cozy Heat told me about the coal. I bet you could burn small amounts of hard coal, along with a wood base, in an EKO. I've burned my share of hard coal that way in a conventional wood-fired boiler. It puts out an impressive amount of heat.

Hi Eric,
I don't recall the exact thread but some one was wondering about their problem with creosote and another member invited them to send the creosote cleanings to them because it was real good at burning up the clinkers they got with coal (boiler or not I don't recall) but the mix idea sounds highly plausible as long as not over done.

There is a coal supplier in my area so a supply might only be a google or yellow pages trip away for those of you looking for a supply. I might do it to see the results myself.

I'm from antracite coal country and use to burn it a long time ago.I have been thinking of getting a bag of rice !/4" and chestnut 1" .Ithought I would put a few pounds on per load and see how it reacts.The one thing to watch out for is coal gas.It only becomes dangerus when you put wet coal on and smother the coals.As long as there is flame it usaly ignites otherwise it puffs
like wood gas when you open the door.You can be overcomb by it so a carbon monoxide detector is a must if you boiler is in a living space.

The Amish in my area sell 40 lb bags of coal shipped from PA. I bought 6 bags last year to try in my EKO 40. I wasn't that impresses and it sure did stink up the area!
I much prefer good dry oak, for the smell, cost and heat output. It didn't carry through the night any longer than the oak, really.
Quite a few more clinkers than I had expected, also. I should have weighed them to determine how many BTUs I purchased and how many pet rocks I ended up with

hr

in hot water said:

The Amish in my area sell 40 lb bags of coal shipped from PA. I bought 6 bags last year to try in my EKO 40. I wasn't that impresses and it sure did stink up the area!
I much prefer good dry oak, for the smell, cost and heat output. It didn't carry through the night any longer than the oak, really.
Quite a few more clinkers than I had expected, also. I should have weighed them to determine how many BTUs I purchased and how many pet rocks I ended up with

hr

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It must not have been anthracite, which I can't believe you can get anything else in bags... Anthracite, unless really goofed up burns 100% smoke free.......

"It must not have been anthracite, which I can’t believe you can get anything else in bags… Anthracite, unless really goofed up burns 100% smoke free....."


Almost the only thing you can get in bags is anthracite, penn keystone coal can ship pocahontas bituminous coal in bags as well (very high btu coal). what he used in the boiler was likely anthracite. yes anthracite does burn smokefree, but like many other fuels, not smellfree; it contains small amounts of hydrocarbon gasses and sulfur that will cause a noticable smell that is not like the smell of wood burning. If he could smell the coal inside the living space they obviously don't have sufficient draft to prevent flue gasses to escape the loading door when it's open.

btw, Bituminous coal and to a greater extent lignite will likely work best in this boiler because the softer coal has a much higher volitile content and will offgas much easier.

markpee said:

Just wondering if anyone has burned coal in their EKO? I have the 40, and as unprepared as I am, my wood is soaking and wet so I'm pretty much out of business. I either have to buy some dry wood or shut down for the season. How about coal? Can I use it in the 40?

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have you looked at buying a skid of BioBricks?

I looked into getting a skid of bio bricks to have on hand but the cost is just stupid. The local dealer wanted $440 per ton. I'll buy fuel oil for that kind of money.