Checking pellet density at the stove? How to for the techies!
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Well I scored my timer today. We had 4 of them in the junk bin(used but working). I only had to find the matching socket at the local supply shop and fish a few bills out of my pocket. Looks like I can start the timed testing as soon as I figure out how to wire this thing up. Total invested so far is less than $8 for the 8 pin socket.
Link to the timer if anyone is interested.
http://se.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Omron/H3CR-A8-AC100-240-DC100-125/?qs=Gmnt/AlQu9YjRtsYW68SXg==
data sheet:
http://www.omron247.com/doc/pdfcatal.nsf/5003B91A047F523986256B8100742AEA/$FILE/100702_OMRON_H3CR-Adatasheet.pdf
Anyone else have critique before I get rolling?
Still looking for a Pellet B?
Link to the timer if anyone is interested.
http://se.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Omron/H3CR-A8-AC100-240-DC100-125/?qs=Gmnt/AlQu9YjRtsYW68SXg==
data sheet:
http://www.omron247.com/doc/pdfcatal.nsf/5003B91A047F523986256B8100742AEA/$FILE/100702_OMRON_H3CR-Adatasheet.pdf
Anyone else have critique before I get rolling?
Still looking for a Pellet B?
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Well I got the timer working,Yea! Maybe this weekend I will do some samples at ten minutes time setting. If anything we can see what the difference is between O Malley and Cubex. Omalley also had some long pellets in the mix. Some over 1 3/4" long.
I will just do a weight test only and we can haggle from there!
I will just do a weight test only and we can haggle from there!
Something I found while browsing.
http://pelletheat.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/tow_thesis_final_rev2.pdf
http://pelletheat.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/tow_thesis_final_rev2.pdf
I am going with some Hamers(as they are denser than the Cubex) and Omalleys because they are the least dense I have on hand. The Omalleys also have long pellets in the mix, Some over 1 3/4 long!
The Test!
Get a bag of dense pellets Hamer= Pellet A and measure there density!
Get a bag of less dense pellets Omalleys= Pellet B and measure there density!
Remove the burnpot from my Omega to give the pellets a straight shot to my ash pan.
Set a timer that controls the auger motor to run in a timed interval say for nine(9) minutes. I used 9 minutes as the stove feeds for 18 minutes an hour. So I can double the result and get LBS./HR feed!
Clean the hopper and purge out the auger.
Test A
Load the hopper with pellet A purge the auger to be sure that it has a good charge and empty the ash pan. Run the timer at the 9 minute setting. Weight the pellets
Pellet A (Hamer) results
Density: 47.28 Lbs per cubic foot
Auger Feed volume: 48 ounces in the jars
Auger Feed weight: 2.18 Lbs.
Clean the hopper and purge out the auger.
Test B
Load the hopper with pellet B purge the auger to be sure that it has a good charge and empty the ash pan. Run the timer at the 9 minute setting. Weight the pellets
Pellet B (Omalleys) results (Note: The auger struggled with the Omalleys. I think it was because of the long pellets. I fould no long pellets in the fed sample. Broken up by Auger?)
Density: 43.27 Lbs per cubic foot
Auger Feed volume: 44 ounces in the jars
Auger Feed weight: 1.60 Lbs.
Going by the temps I got from Last seasons pellet tests.
Hamers temp was at 266ºF
I would consume 4.36 lbs per hour. And the bag should last for 9.17 Hours.
Omalleys temp was at 227ºF
I would consume 3.2 Lbs per hour. And the bags should last for 12.5 hours
Test is complete! Bash Away! I will link this in the first post of this thread!
The Test!
Get a bag of dense pellets Hamer= Pellet A and measure there density!
Get a bag of less dense pellets Omalleys= Pellet B and measure there density!
Remove the burnpot from my Omega to give the pellets a straight shot to my ash pan.
Set a timer that controls the auger motor to run in a timed interval say for nine(9) minutes. I used 9 minutes as the stove feeds for 18 minutes an hour. So I can double the result and get LBS./HR feed!
Clean the hopper and purge out the auger.
Test A
Load the hopper with pellet A purge the auger to be sure that it has a good charge and empty the ash pan. Run the timer at the 9 minute setting. Weight the pellets
Pellet A (Hamer) results
Density: 47.28 Lbs per cubic foot
Auger Feed volume: 48 ounces in the jars
Auger Feed weight: 2.18 Lbs.
Clean the hopper and purge out the auger.
Test B
Load the hopper with pellet B purge the auger to be sure that it has a good charge and empty the ash pan. Run the timer at the 9 minute setting. Weight the pellets
Pellet B (Omalleys) results (Note: The auger struggled with the Omalleys. I think it was because of the long pellets. I fould no long pellets in the fed sample. Broken up by Auger?)
Density: 43.27 Lbs per cubic foot
Auger Feed volume: 44 ounces in the jars
Auger Feed weight: 1.60 Lbs.
Going by the temps I got from Last seasons pellet tests.
Hamers temp was at 266ºF
I would consume 4.36 lbs per hour. And the bag should last for 9.17 Hours.
Omalleys temp was at 227ºF
I would consume 3.2 Lbs per hour. And the bags should last for 12.5 hours
Test is complete! Bash Away! I will link this in the first post of this thread!
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BLIMP said:
geez: I haven't finished posting the all numbers and already you got the conclusion? By volume only even??? Without the density even??? Oh my goodness! Maybe I need to check the flipping moisture content too! Wooow even!
I want to try a less dense pellet that doesn't have long pellets that bound the auger. shaded pole motors stall easy and this could throw off the test??? Thinking out load!
BLIMP said:
Auger stalls and feeds nothing nada zip! A little bit of dust would fall out. That could be why the weight is lower.
Weights are updated and result are posted! I will be looking for a less dense pellet that has no long pellets.
I suppose I should have done 5 or more timed feeds to help with the variables. Then taken the average of the number of feeds. I think that's what the mythbusters do to help smooth the variables?
Anything I missed?
BLIMP said:
What the heck are you talking about. The combustion air? The stove wasn't even running. The timer is hooked right to the auger motor! Thats all=nothing special! I take it you really didn't Read the test guide lines? Please READ!
BLIMP said:
Temps are from last season. WTF
I bust my butt and all I can get is the Blimps attention. I give up! PITA! No fone ever!
smwilliamson
The Stove Guy
ok, I'll bite. You got my attention. I was just amazed that this thread was still going. I was curious if you marked the auger position for a consistent restart?
smwilliamson
The Stove Guy
Seems as though you could just run the test for 45 minutes for your 5x average. You are just trying to equalize out the random motion and size of the pellets right?
smwilliamson said:
I tried! But no, I did not mark the auger as in real life the stove wouldn't do that!
smwilliamson said:
Some of the variance at the auger could be from the starts and stops during normal operation. Do we want a lab test or a real world test????
WoodPorn
Minister of Fire
Real world test for sure...but you've lost me on this one...way too technical for my simple mind!
I think BLIMP needs a valium or two, here's a phone (fone) 617-861-3962 for you.
I think BLIMP needs a valium or two, here's a phone (fone) 617-861-3962 for you.
WoodPorn said:
I have been PM'd by others that this is way over the top and I should stick to heat and ash testing. This is a waste of time and over the head of some!
But I am trying to see how different pellets feed into the stove. Really its not that techie. One of the issues with feeding pellets is auger stahling. Anything that may give the auger a change to stall will effect things. Basic stopping and starting could also cause stalling. Shaded pole motors are know to slip or stahl easily. I think the Omalleys may have proved it with there length issue.
I will retest the Omalleys, But I will go thru the bag and brake the pellets to about an inch and no longer. We can see if this gives more feed??? This could also show why we don't want long pellet in the mix!
So as I continue(if you all think I should?):
I will do 5 timed events and average the result for the Hamers. I will break up the long pellets in the Omalleys and redo it with 5 timed events and take an average.
This has to wait for a bit. I am going to order my own digital scale for home. Taking these samples back and forth to work sucks!
Continue or quit? I will let you guys decide!
WoodPorn
Minister of Fire
tinkabranc
Minister of Fire
Well I started it, I would hate to stop right in the middle of it now! What will this prove IDK! I should just go fishing instead! :red:
Anybody want to help me sort through a bag of Omalleys and break up the long ones? :cheese:
Anybody want to help me sort through a bag of Omalleys and break up the long ones? :cheese:
This morning I had some free time and tried to finish this test. I ran 5 9 minute timed runs
with the Hamer and took an average.
Pellet A (Hamer) results
The weight average was 2.24 Lbs.
Density of the pellets 47.28 Lbs per cubic foot.
I weighed out the average amount and put it into a mason jar. Took a picture for volume.
Then I cleaned the hopper and purged the out the auger. I sat down and broke up the OMalleys to about the same length as the Hamer. I rechecked pellet density and recorded.
Then I filled the hopper and repeated the 5 9 minute timed runs. Took the average weight.
Pellet B (OMalleys) results
The weight average was 2.08 Lbs.
Density of the pellets 45.68 Lbs per cubic foot.
I weighed out the average amount and put it into a mason jar. Took a picture for volume.
Conclusion: Long pellets in the OMalleys definitely stalled the auger.
The stove seems to have a pretty consistent volume output. The difference seemed to be the weight density of the pellets.
Done! I am moving on to this seasons pellet testing.
with the Hamer and took an average.
Pellet A (Hamer) results
The weight average was 2.24 Lbs.
Density of the pellets 47.28 Lbs per cubic foot.
I weighed out the average amount and put it into a mason jar. Took a picture for volume.
Then I cleaned the hopper and purged the out the auger. I sat down and broke up the OMalleys to about the same length as the Hamer. I rechecked pellet density and recorded.
Then I filled the hopper and repeated the 5 9 minute timed runs. Took the average weight.
Pellet B (OMalleys) results
The weight average was 2.08 Lbs.
Density of the pellets 45.68 Lbs per cubic foot.
I weighed out the average amount and put it into a mason jar. Took a picture for volume.
Conclusion: Long pellets in the OMalleys definitely stalled the auger.
The stove seems to have a pretty consistent volume output. The difference seemed to be the weight density of the pellets.
Done! I am moving on to this seasons pellet testing.
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