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1

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: February 13, 2023, 09:08:38 AM »

I am also measuring the temperatures with a Click PLC and some ESP8266 flashed with Tasmota.  I have the readings going to my Home Assistant instance and logging the data with InfluxDB and Grafana.

2

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: February 13, 2023, 09:01:10 AM »

I finally got this boiler installed and have it heating my house and a 45x60 shop with floor heat.  It works great!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YY3SUF3RA7HLLSeeA

3

Advanced Electronics / Re: Heatmor PLC

« on: December 18, 2017, 08:10:18 PM »

Maybe you have already resolved this, but that looks like a Unitronics PLC.  I think their software might be free so maybe you can still upload the program from your existing controller and download to a new one.

4

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: March 06, 2014, 03:34:45 PM »

I added a few more pictures to the Dropbox of our build.  We decided at the last minute before we put the top on to add a pipe for possible future burning of wood chips.  We installed a flapper on the bottom of the pipe that will be counterbalanced closed and will also build and install a rotary valve on the top side of the pipe to meter in chips fed from an auger.  That part will take some more designing at a later date.  We thought we should do it now to make it easier down the road.

You can check out the pictures here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/h4lbsxbz8g5ckco/snOXOEeL1E

5

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: January 29, 2014, 09:02:14 AM »

I have never personally used it but I have some connections to help us out.

6

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: January 28, 2014, 09:40:07 AM »

Actually, I will be using refractory cement instead of firebricks.  I have not put the cement in the boiler yet though.  That will be done once I get the water jacket on and tested for leaks.  I may lay some firebricks under the nozzle so that they can be easily replaced.

7

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: January 27, 2014, 12:21:39 PM »

Well I finally got started on the fabrication of my boiler!

You can check out some of the pictures here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/h4lbsxbz8g5ckco/snOXOEeL1E

8

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: March 08, 2013, 06:34:38 AM »

I will probably post it for you guys to use but I will not be responsible for any errors.

9

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: March 05, 2013, 09:03:17 PM »

Here's some more pics of the boiler.  We are almost finished.  Just making up the .dxf files for the plasma table and generating parts drawings.  The water jacket is 4 ft x 4 ft x 8 ft tall.  Not sure on the total water volume yet.  I will have to calculate all of the internals.



[attachment deleted by admin for space issues]

10

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: January 15, 2013, 11:48:29 AM »

Thanks for all the great tips!  We have designed quite a bit more on the boiler, but we only get work on it for a few hours once a week after work.  We changed the top of the firebox to have 45 degree corners and the bottom has 60 degree. I am going to change the 2" square tubing to 2" pipe and add another one so that there will be one at the top corner and moving the existing one down to the bottom corner.  I will leave the floor air the same.  This will give me some flexibility on how I can bring air into the firebox.  With my flanges, I will be able to seal one off if not needed.  Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it as I always say.  After we get a bit further, I will post more pictures.
Thanks again everyone!!

11

Electronics / Re: Realtime BTU Output Display

« on: January 13, 2013, 10:07:26 PM »

Thanks for the info.  The beauty of the PLC is that it can program the equations inside it to dynamically compensate for the weight of the water in the equation depending on the temperature of the water.  So for example, in order to calculate how many BTU's that it takes to bring my boiler up to temp, I need to multiply the total volume of the boiler lets say 250 gallons x 8 and the temperature change say 70 deg to 170 deg (100 deg).

250 gallons x 8= 2000 pounds of water
2000 Lbs of water x 100 degree difference = 200,000 BTU

Is this correct aside from the water density variation?

While I have your attention, how do I calculate BTU's in a forced air system such as my add on wood furnace?
Thanks

12

Central Boiler / Re: Central Boiler air flow door solenoid

« on: January 13, 2013, 09:06:54 PM »

When we build control systems and we always install a transient voltage filter on the outputs of our PLC's to protect the solenoids and PLC contacts. When inductive loads such as solenoids are de-energized it can produce damaging transient voltages.  Try something similar to this wired in parallel with your solenoid:
http://catalog.rke.com/item/transient-voltage-filters-suppressors-/le-phase-120-vac-240-vac-transient-voltage-filters/rcs?

13

Electronics / Realtime BTU Output Display

« on: January 13, 2013, 08:39:00 PM »

I am building a Gasification OWB and would like to set it up to display and datalog the realtime BTU output of the boiler.  I think it would be cool to see what kind of a demand that I have on the boiler as well as how many BTU's that it can output. I plan on using an old anhydrous tank for heat storage, so it would be cool to get some numbers on how well that performs as well.  I program PLC's and and design control systems for a living, so I'm kind of a tech junkie, but I do not know a lot about HVAC.  What would I need to calculate this?  I'm assuming that a flow meter of the water exiting or returning the boiler along with a delta T reading of the supply and returns would be able to get these calculations but I'm not sure.  I know that 1 BTU is the energy required to heat 1 pound of water 1 degree but that's about it.  I do have a web sever set up with my current home heating system which is using a add on wood furnace and a propane forced air furnace. 

If anyone wants to check it out, the site is:
http://38.121.112.79:8080/
Username: guest
Password: guest

I will be setting up my OWB the same way when I complete it so that I will be able to check water temps, flue temps, ect.  I will keep everyone posted.
Thanks.

14

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: January 13, 2013, 05:36:00 PM »

Thanks for the tip.  I will move the air tube down to just above the angle in the firebox.  I made the air tubes flanged so that they would be cleanable, replaceable, and easily modified.  I do not plan on welding them up against the firebox wall but maybe just have them sit on top of some tabs welded to the firebox.  I also have them running through a larger tube so that the tube that would be in contact with the boiler water would not also be in contact with the smoke and creosote to help prevent rusting through to the water jacket.  How often will the air tubes need to be cleaned?  More than once a season?  I have 2" square tubes in the drawing but maybe round would be better.  Are the under fire air tubes prone to creosote buildup too?  I plan on burying them in refractory cement.

15

Home Made / Re: Wood Gasification Boiler Build

« on: January 10, 2013, 03:59:59 PM »

 
Here's some screenshots of what we have so far.  Still a lot more work to do yet.  Just wanted to give you guys an idea of what we have in mind.  I will keep posting as the project progresses.