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1
Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250 Nozzle
« on: November 17, 2023, 05:53:28 AM »
So......
No more mortar nozzles for the Optimizer 250 / 350 Series.....
5/8" Carbon Steel Plate nozzles only??
Would LOVE some recommendations for the best method to position and secure this new nozzle which I have never used.
Todd
No more mortar nozzles for the Optimizer 250 / 350 Series.....
5/8" Carbon Steel Plate nozzles only??
Would LOVE some recommendations for the best method to position and secure this new nozzle which I have never used.
Todd
2
Portage & Main / Optimizer 250 Nozzle
« on: November 01, 2020, 02:07:52 PM »
A few years ago, someone on this site was testing nozzles for this unit to find the best mixture to make the nozzle last the longest and dimensions of the openings to maximize gasification. Does anyone know which member was doing that?
Todd
Todd
3
Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250 / Gassing / Tenting Over Nozzle
« on: January 18, 2018, 07:12:57 AM »
I have always been concerned about creating too much surface area to burn which would in turn decrease my burn times and efficiency but the more I think about it and after reading the responses to this post, it dawns on me that I am not "BURNING" wood so much as a I am "CHARRING" wood to create the actual fuel which is the by-product of the charring process.
I will be seasoning my wood better and splitting the bigger stuff for next year.
I will also be playing with the airflow settings, with the thought process of facilitating a low oxygen smoldering ( CHARRING )scenario in the PRIMARY with the goal of creating fuel for the SECONDARY and a sufficient base of coals to trigger ignition.
Adjusting the airflow already seems to have made a difference in the tenting or bridging. Has not eliminated it but, I think my primary issue right now is the moisture content of the wood.
Will be very interested to see how she reacts to a more well seasoned fuel source.
I will be seasoning my wood better and splitting the bigger stuff for next year.
I will also be playing with the airflow settings, with the thought process of facilitating a low oxygen smoldering ( CHARRING )scenario in the PRIMARY with the goal of creating fuel for the SECONDARY and a sufficient base of coals to trigger ignition.
Adjusting the airflow already seems to have made a difference in the tenting or bridging. Has not eliminated it but, I think my primary issue right now is the moisture content of the wood.
Will be very interested to see how she reacts to a more well seasoned fuel source.
4
Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250 / Gassing / Tenting Over Nozzle
« on: January 16, 2018, 09:44:25 AM »
Pics
5
Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250 / Gassing / Tenting Over Nozzle
« on: January 16, 2018, 08:09:31 AM »
Great Post jreimer!!!
I've done what you suggested and so far it seems to have worked.
Will follow it over the course of the day/week and see how she does!!
The flame into the secondary does not seem as forceful and yet is seems to be a more sustained pure blue flame and the nozzle is cherry red.
Fairly certain that my wood has more than 23% moisture which some have said on her is near ideal!!
Been working on the Wood Shed and rolling rack system. This year I should have 2 years of wood in by June and give it some time to cure. Can't wait to see what she does with that.
Have hesitated to split the stuff I can handle wrangling into the box because I was afraid to create too much surface area to burn thereby burning thru the wood in the primary too fast.
6
Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250 / Gassing / Tenting Over Nozzle
« on: January 15, 2018, 07:40:05 AM »
I've set the air flow controls to specs as per recommendations on this site but if I told you I had a solid grasp of what the restrictor plates in the air-box do...... I'd be lying to you. I understand what the restrictor plate on the intake of the fan DOES, but not really sure the end results and I also don't have a strong grasp of impacts of different rates of air flow directed by the restrictors in the air box or overall flow has on gassing or efficiency of burn. Can someone explain the effects of each of the restrictors in the air-box and the restrictor on the fan?
Don't have any way to measure the moisture content.
The wood certainly could have a higher than optimal moisture content. I know it's drier than any wood I've put into it since I've been using it.
---- Building a wood shed with racks on wheels and THAT has been a priority. Hoping to have racks full (Hopefully 2 seasons) before this coming June.
I would say.... almost half the wood I have stacked is split and still have issues with tenting / doming over the nozzle.
**** Really interested in what the restrictor plates do!!****
Do they changes direction of airflow?
How do they affect gassing and rate of burn??
Also pretty sure the fact that my house is so poorly insulated resulting in very long burns by the 250 prematurely expends the coals necessary to trigger gassing especially over the nozzle.
My experience has been that she is more reliable when I have at least 4-6" of coals (with low ash content) in the bottom of the burn box!!
I'll be VERY INTERESTED to see how she runs with a full compliment of well seasoned wood.
Don't have any way to measure the moisture content.
The wood certainly could have a higher than optimal moisture content. I know it's drier than any wood I've put into it since I've been using it.
---- Building a wood shed with racks on wheels and THAT has been a priority. Hoping to have racks full (Hopefully 2 seasons) before this coming June.
I would say.... almost half the wood I have stacked is split and still have issues with tenting / doming over the nozzle.
**** Really interested in what the restrictor plates do!!****
Do they changes direction of airflow?
How do they affect gassing and rate of burn??
Also pretty sure the fact that my house is so poorly insulated resulting in very long burns by the 250 prematurely expends the coals necessary to trigger gassing especially over the nozzle.
My experience has been that she is more reliable when I have at least 4-6" of coals (with low ash content) in the bottom of the burn box!!
I'll be VERY INTERESTED to see how she runs with a full compliment of well seasoned wood.
7
Portage & Main / Optimizer 250 / Gassing / Tenting Over Nozzle
« on: January 13, 2018, 09:25:54 AM »
This is the fourth season I have been running this unit and I keep having the same issue with keeping it gassing. Burning various types of hard wood only, that has been seasoned for a year in 16' sections. I only split the stuff that is too big to handle if left whole. I always position the biggest pieces over the nozzle and try to keep a healthy 6-8" of coals in the bottom of the burn box (which has been difficult). I am a heating a poorly insulated (will hopefully be sealing it up this coming year) 2700 sf old victorian (1904) in the Adirondacks.
I have no problem getting the unit to gas, but keeping her up to temp has been very difficult. She seems to do long runs and she seems to power through the coals directly surrounding the nozzle creating this funnel type path to the nozzle and I also get this tenting that occurs over the nozzle that in the past has actually burned through the middle of the larger log that I positioned over the nozzle creating about a 12" empty space that funnels down to the opening of the nozzle and THEN she STOPS GASSING and my temps plummet. I can get her gassing again simply by going out and stirring the coals around which won't even last long enough to get her back up to temperature before it starts tenting again.
I have set the air box settings according to recommendations from SlimJim and other old timers on this site but still wonder if I have too much air moving through the fire box that it burns everything on its way to the nozzle
?
Anyone else having similar experiences?
I have no problem getting the unit to gas, but keeping her up to temp has been very difficult. She seems to do long runs and she seems to power through the coals directly surrounding the nozzle creating this funnel type path to the nozzle and I also get this tenting that occurs over the nozzle that in the past has actually burned through the middle of the larger log that I positioned over the nozzle creating about a 12" empty space that funnels down to the opening of the nozzle and THEN she STOPS GASSING and my temps plummet. I can get her gassing again simply by going out and stirring the coals around which won't even last long enough to get her back up to temperature before it starts tenting again.
I have set the air box settings according to recommendations from SlimJim and other old timers on this site but still wonder if I have too much air moving through the fire box that it burns everything on its way to the nozzle
?Anyone else having similar experiences?
8
Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250 Gasification - NOT!!!!!
« on: January 22, 2015, 07:14:32 PM »Hang in there Todd.
You'll not even recognize your 250 when you burn seasoned wood!
Keep the fines out of the nozzle and the refractory area hot and you'll soon be in love with her!
Thanks for your time Marty!! Big help, even if it is just to calm my frustrations for the moment! I will let you know how it goes!
9
Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250 Gasification - NOT!!!!!
« on: January 22, 2015, 05:26:29 PM »
My water temperature is currently 119°! I'm tempted to just shut this thing down and use my oil furnace!
It's been burning cool all day despite anything that I do and I've built up enough soot to pave a road!
FRUSTRATED
It's been burning cool all day despite anything that I do and I've built up enough soot to pave a road!
FRUSTRATED
10
Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250 Gasification - NOT!!!!!
« on: January 19, 2015, 09:35:25 PM »
A little clarification is in order!
One of my biggest problems seems to be that I always get excessive bridging or doming directly above and around the nozzle! As soon as this bridging occurs, gasification ceases. If I go out and babysit the woodpile within the burn chamber and ensure that there is always wood or coals on top of the nozzle, it seems to gasifier like a monster! My problem, is that I can't babysit it like that! How do I get this thing to reliably gasify without constantly playing with it???
One of my biggest problems seems to be that I always get excessive bridging or doming directly above and around the nozzle! As soon as this bridging occurs, gasification ceases. If I go out and babysit the woodpile within the burn chamber and ensure that there is always wood or coals on top of the nozzle, it seems to gasifier like a monster! My problem, is that I can't babysit it like that! How do I get this thing to reliably gasify without constantly playing with it???
11
Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250 Gasification - NOT!!!!!
« on: January 19, 2015, 09:32:36 PM »
I have been told that this unit will gasify even with the greenest of wood! My heat load is a 104 year old Victorian house in the middle of the Adirondacks that is about 2700 ft.² with all new windows and moderately insulated!
12
Portage & Main / Optimizer 250 Gasification - NOT!!!!!
« on: January 19, 2015, 08:37:33 PM »
Is anyone else having problems keeping this unit gasifying? I don't seem to be able to keep this unit gasifying unless I babysit it every couple of hours, and even then, it can be a pain just to keep it going or get it restarted!
My rheostat is set at 195° with a 5° differential at the recommendation of slim Jim! I would be amazed if my average running temperature were above 160!
As noted above, I have had multiple discussions with slim Jim and am following all of his instructions to the best of my ability including making sure that there is not an excessive amount of ash or coals in the bottom of the burn box, making sure that I placed the largest pieces of wood directly over the nozzle, the proper restriction of airflow by adjusting the fan damper and the two dampers in the airbox, and I still cannot get this thing to reliably gasify OR maintain temperature! AND..... then I find out that slim Jim is no longer working for P&M!
Anybody have any ideas?
My rheostat is set at 195° with a 5° differential at the recommendation of slim Jim! I would be amazed if my average running temperature were above 160!
As noted above, I have had multiple discussions with slim Jim and am following all of his instructions to the best of my ability including making sure that there is not an excessive amount of ash or coals in the bottom of the burn box, making sure that I placed the largest pieces of wood directly over the nozzle, the proper restriction of airflow by adjusting the fan damper and the two dampers in the airbox, and I still cannot get this thing to reliably gasify OR maintain temperature! AND..... then I find out that slim Jim is no longer working for P&M!
Anybody have any ideas?
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