Anyone biuld an Outside Water Boiler Wood Heater?

[jimgerken]

I think the right tool is called a Hammer Mill. It contains interchangeable screens to determine the average size of material coming out. It does not need sharpening 'cause the grinding elements are swinging "hammers". It may be similar to a shredder. Thanks for the ideas, I am re-energized on this project now.

 

[cmhyland]

A Hammer Mill is the Shredder side of a Chipper Shredder..... So as others have suggested running it through a Chipper Shredder on the Shredder side would work.

It would seem difficult to get this to burn if its too fine... I suspect you need air space to get this all to burn and not just smolder. So more coarse is better ?

Regards,
Chris

 

[jimgerken]

Yea, I suspect too that coarser is better, but it "must" be augered. I am sure there is an optimum size fuel particle. Dust would be tough to work with since the air wouldnt pass thru it for good combustion. So I would start by using about a 2 inch hole screen installed in the hammer mill, and experiment from there. This is not going to be as easy as the shelled corn burning, I can see that now as you guys are drawing out the details. The variety in fuel particle size will be a variable to contend with. The shelled corn has the luxury of being such a nice consistant particle size, for process control reasons.
BTW, the burner is designed to provide forced combustion air, introduced through holes in the sides and bottom of the burner trough. The burning fuel is also stirred on its way down the length of the trough, finally dumping out the end, hopefully as ash and clinkers. Ash and clinkers fall into a drawer for manual removal, but this too could eventually maybe be augered into a bin or a cart.

 

[SPIKER]

Jim:

I would not auger into the top like suggested or how I perceive you were stating that you would do it. I would auger into the BOTTOM of the burning container/pit/chamber. Put the AIR into the bottom as well pushing the new ready to burn material UP into the HOT coals which are burning then the burning coals will continue to burn and eventually be pushed UP and OUT into a larger catch basin which can then finish burn and the ash would then be taken out form here. all clinkers ash and other non-burnt material would be in the outer ring/pan which could be again augured out or simply shoveled out...


I've seen other designs similar to this and worked great, an OSU green house uses a similar design which has SAND suspended in air (Fluidized bed) and the sand is heated with nat gas, then they auger in ground rubber and more air. they get LOTS of BTU's out of the material this way, the sand traps the burning rubber and temps are above 1400 degrees so 0/no toxic emissions. they then heated water with the hot jet blast If i remember right was a great system as lnog as the fluidized bed stayed fluidized. worked in a kiln/smelting pot type chamber.

mark M