New wood boiler system

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plumbaris

New Member
Hearth Supporter
Dec 11, 2009
1
NE In
I'm planning on installing a wood boiler system in the new home we're building. I have aquired an old Standard [ before it was American Standard] boiler. The boiler is still sound and we had it in sections to get it up the basement steps so i could inspect the nipples that join the sections. It originally fired on coal so there is a large firebox. I plan on powerdafting it to keep the fire good and hot, the heat wiil be stored in a 1800gal. un pressurized tank via hxs. boiler will be under pressure. What I'm trying to figure out is how to change this to a gasser. I know the units are quite complex but the theory is really not. Maybe a false floor, somekind of nozzle or nozzles and some piping for primary and secondary air. Anybody ever tried anything this hairbrained out there
 
Many folks have tried it with varying degrees of success. Gasifiers have surprisingly complex engineering, despite looking simple. Couple of technical challenges to be aware of:

1) The primary chamber is filled with extremely noxious and toxic fumes under pressure during operation. The door seals must be perfect.

2) Secondary combustion temperatures are quite high. I've reduced a wide array of expensive refractory materials and exotic alloys to gravel.

3) The ratios of primary air to secondary air to nozzle cross section are somewhat critical. Secondary combustion chamber volume may be in that mix as well.

Don't be discouraged, but be prepared for a more weighty challenge than you might expect.
 
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