Conversion boiler to furnace

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.

Elbobht

New Member
Nov 30, 2025
9
Caribbean
Can anyone here provide help and drawing to convert old vertical boiler to horizontal biomass furnace? 3 Bar, 50Kg/Hr/107,000 BTU/Hr ? I even have 2" boiler pipes; available. As heat exchanger can be built as @warno has showed GREAT expertise for DIY. Wanted to ask. Cheers
 
Can you post up some pictures of what you are working with to help with ideas.
 
@Elbobht you probably wont get any reply from warno, he hasn't been on for a while, I will relay that you tagged him, I just had a long conversation with him last night actually.
I thank you. As saw his old post, on DIY heat exchanger + furnace. As we need a similar built, we are looking to convert an old Vertical boiler to an horizontal furnace. Specs needed: 5-8 bars @ 200 F. Thanks
 
I thank you. As saw his old post, on DIY heat exchanger + furnace. As we need a similar built, we are looking to convert an old Vertical boiler to an horizontal furnace. Specs needed: 5-8 bars @ 200 F. Thanks


What would you like to know?

Like salecker said, do you have any pictures of what you're working with?
 
[Hearth.com] Conversion boiler to furnace here's a picture drawing of the 500 L/300 Gallon US essential oil plant. Cheers
 
Here's a picture found online. Same brand FULTON 50-60 HP steam boiler. About 200 kg, 2nd picture is the horizontal position transformation; we are hoping to proceed with. As we plan to burn biomass (wood pallets, used carton boxes, dried coconut shelves). 5-8 bar needed @150-200 F steady flow. Cheers [Hearth.com] Conversion boiler to furnace[Hearth.com] Conversion boiler to furnace
 
So are looking at using steam heat to heat the "pot" of the oil distiller? Or are you wanting the "water jacket" of your converted boiler to act as the distillation "pot"?

I don't know anything about essential oils but I understand the basics of distillation. Just trying to figure out what your outcome is with the converted boiler.
 
I will be watching this thread and hopefully learn
Maybe i can contribute something 🫰
 
So are looking at using steam heat to heat the "pot" of the oil distiller? Or are you wanting the "water jacket" of your converted boiler to act as the distillation "pot"?

I don't know anything about essential oils but I understand the basics of distillation. Just trying to figure out what your outcome is with the converted boiler.
Hello Warno, correct to steam heat to the pot of the oil distillery; as in the picture. 5-8 bar @140-200 f heat steady burn.
 
So I'm going to start by saying I am by no means an engineer, nor do I take any responsibility or liability in your construction of this distillation device or boiler.

With that said, if you are using steam heat it will come with some difficulties and the need to understand steam heating systems. With steam heat you are using a closed system boiler to create steam. Without proper reliefs and or controls in place you can potentially blow up the boiler. Honestly look up "boiler explosion" videos on YouTube. It's scary!

With steam heated distillation appliances I've seen they used a steam coil inside the distillation pot to heat whatever was being distilled. I've never built anything that I could show you pictures of to help with what I'm saying. I would suggest looking up steam distillation distilleries to help you better understand what goes into it.

Unless I'm way off on what you are looking to do with the boiler.
 
Hello. The heat to be transfered to the boiler copper pot. I will look into steam coil, as why a heat exchanger is required. Thanks
Beings how I know nothing about essential oil production I did a quick Google search. Is this close to what you are wanting to build?
 

Attachments

  • [Hearth.com] Conversion boiler to furnace
    Screenshot_20251203-200950_Chrome.webp
    47.1 KB · Views: 5
I'm alittle confusion as to why it's necessary to convert the boiler from vertical to horizontal? Any steam created in the boiler will flow to where ever it's piped simply by pressure differential. What do you gain changing from vertical to horizontal?