I'm in the early stages of starting to build a pole barn/shop. I am thinking of using a coal boiler to heat both the shop and my home. I would be tying the coal boiler into my homes oil fired boiler. I'm in nj and close to pa and I have access to a dump truck to get the coal myself. I burn about 900 gallons of oil a year for my home and its adding up 3.50 a gallon. I dont want coal in my home since its a little dirty.
Anyone heat with coal boiler
- Thread starter skippydoo
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nehog
Well-known member
Check your insurance and check the building inspector. There may be rules against a solid fueled heating plant.
oldtractors
Well-known member
Coal heating forum:
http://nepacrossroads.com/forum-74.html
What do you have to pay for coal? I believe it is $200-$250/ton at the one location in Iowa to get coal.
http://nepacrossroads.com/forum-74.html
What do you have to pay for coal? I believe it is $200-$250/ton at the one location in Iowa to get coal.
trbomax
Well-known member
I dont have a boiler,but I do have coal fired forced air. Hand fired bit.
BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
We design boiler system using all fuel sources including solid fuels.
Nehog has point. Unless you have a good boiler and know how to burn coal, it can be hard to hide.
Nehog has point. Unless you have a good boiler and know how to burn coal, it can be hard to hide.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Power plant are RUNNING away from coal in droves ! Natural gas is cheaper and, more important, much cleaner.
Short term, coal prices should be going down.
Long term, it maybe difficult to get.
Short term, coal prices should be going down.
Long term, it maybe difficult to get.
BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
Power plants are running away from the EPA. NG cheaper for now.
You might be right about coal as it will likely be contraband before long.
Vote for freedom or take what they give you.
You might be right about coal as it will likely be contraband before long.
Vote for freedom or take what they give you.
Randy in Maine
Well-known member
If only they could get the mercury out of the coal. There is not much, but it doesn't take much.
BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
I think our friend will not have a measurable impact on the environment but that is no longer the standard. Like the lead content in Condors, it is hard to know what is "naturally" occurring when the standards exceed nature.
Shop Specialties
Well-known member
The Green Nazis are attacking coal. Here in Montana we have some of largest coal reserves in the world. The last I heard it was about $30 a ton if you bought 5+ ton at a time. Natural Gas has more of an environmental impact if you look at everything from start to finish. Coal needs to stay in our country and provide us with electricity not China.
Highbeam
Well-known member
I like coal and generally burning stuff but I have a hard time believing that it is cleaner than NG since NG is never exposed to the environment until combustion.
Shop Specialties
Well-known member
You need to look at the entire process from punching the hole to delivery. There will be more of an environmental impact from NG BEFORE it gets to the end user than coal. Nobody factors in the everything involved in each process. Coal is also a much safer fuel, it does not boom when you throw a spark at it.
BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
To each his own, this is America. If the three or four tribes that live in MT want to burn the nasty old black rock, good on 'em.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I could not believe it when I found out some states require a catalyst on a wood burning stove !
A lot of folks would laugh at that in both the Badger and Wolverine states !
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
It is difficult/expensive to burn coal cleanly on any scale.
I don't know about today, but 10 years ago, most home in some large Chinese cities burned coal (There was a whole cottage industry to pulverize the coal, mix it with water and some binder and form it into a "cake", dry it and then deliver, by bicycle.) I winter time, the city had so much soot/ash that anything left outside for more than an hour was covered.
Personally, I would rather have a wood pellet burning stove. Good, dry, hardwood pellets are a great source of heat and burn fairly clean.
I don't know about today, but 10 years ago, most home in some large Chinese cities burned coal (There was a whole cottage industry to pulverize the coal, mix it with water and some binder and form it into a "cake", dry it and then deliver, by bicycle.) I winter time, the city had so much soot/ash that anything left outside for more than an hour was covered.
Personally, I would rather have a wood pellet burning stove. Good, dry, hardwood pellets are a great source of heat and burn fairly clean.
BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
Yes, me too.
I resent the fact that the third world countries pollute without restraint when we pay extra to save the earth. Clearly our contribution means nothing without cooperation. In fact, our solar panels and much of the pollution they generate is in making products to maintain our lifestyles, most of which is based on our own abundance of natural resources now constrained by our misguided energy policy.
But don't get me started...
I resent the fact that the third world countries pollute without restraint when we pay extra to save the earth. Clearly our contribution means nothing without cooperation. In fact, our solar panels and much of the pollution they generate is in making products to maintain our lifestyles, most of which is based on our own abundance of natural resources now constrained by our misguided energy policy.
But don't get me started...
Highbeam
Well-known member
This is false. No state requires a catalyst. My state, WA, is one of if not the strictest states regarding wood emissions and it is not required. Instead, emissions are regulated and there is more than one way to get low emissions.
My stove is a Blaze King and it does have a catalyst. I purposely bought it because stoves with catalysts burn cleanly at very low burn rates which leads to burn times well over 24 hours. That nice for guys that heat 100% with wood as I do. The other dominant clean burning technology is simpler, just lots of extra air so the stoves always burn hotter and cleaner, but shorter.
jack stand
Well-known member
Check out http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com/CoalBurners.aspx
If you are that close to PA and the good "hard" coal, I'd be all over it!
24 MILLION btu/ton! A ton of coal (anthricite) is about 4x4x2'6" or 40c/f.
If you are that close to PA and the good "hard" coal, I'd be all over it!
24 MILLION btu/ton! A ton of coal (anthricite) is about 4x4x2'6" or 40c/f.
BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
I use a Morso to supplement, no catylyst and short hot burns...reminds me of me, hhehehee.
Well sorted out High.
Better yet will be my new gassification boiler with storage, hot burn, long cool off...also reminds me
Shop Specialties
Well-known member
The reason coal can be expensive to burn is because of the Green Nazis and EPA. Some guy claims he has an gizmo that will reduce emissions and convinces the EPA to have every coal plant install his product. He charges millions of $$$ for his product that does very little to help with emissions. A coal power plant in Billings, MT will be closing because of this when there is proof these products have done very little. I grew up with 2 stoker coal units in our house and we had no problems with ash covering everything outside. We would empty the ash pan in the garden spot and till it under. Wood pellets have become very expensive here due to Green Nazis shutting down logging.
Randy in Maine
Well-known member
One more post then I am done on this topic.
Actually, they inject powered carbon (about the size of photocopy toner) into the smokestack and the mercury that has been vaporized by combustion is adsorbed onto the fine carbon and it is then able to "scrubbed" in the particulate scrubbers in the facility and fall out into the flyash. It and the other stuff they do in the "coal cleaing process" prior to combustion will remove about 90% of the mercury before it goes out the stack.
More information over here if you are interested...
http://www.epa.gov/hg/index.html
Actually, they inject powered carbon (about the size of photocopy toner) into the smokestack and the mercury that has been vaporized by combustion is adsorbed onto the fine carbon and it is then able to "scrubbed" in the particulate scrubbers in the facility and fall out into the flyash. It and the other stuff they do in the "coal cleaing process" prior to combustion will remove about 90% of the mercury before it goes out the stack.
More information over here if you are interested...
http://www.epa.gov/hg/index.html
IGOTWUD
Member
I have been running a Keystoker KA-6 coal fired stoker boiler for 10 years. When I bought it Rice coal was $85 a ton, today picked up at the breaker in Tamaqua Pa. $195 a ton. Still the cost per BTU of coal is about half of the cost of NG in my area (south east Pa). This unit has run flawlessly with only annual maintenance, cleaning the flue and stoker assy. It does require weekly maintenance filling the hopper and taking out the ash, twice a week when temps are in the teens. I burn about 3 ton from mid Sept to mid May and shut it down for the summer. When I bought the unit I had the optional ****** for a becket oil or NG head welded on so if gas really, really drops in price I'll be going to NG.
I don't think I could afford to buy a Keystoker today as prices have gone up! But I will have this unit for the rest of my life.
Check out there website @ keystoker.com
IGOTWUD........but I HEAT WITH COAL
I don't think I could afford to buy a Keystoker today as prices have gone up! But I will have this unit for the rest of my life.
Check out there website @ keystoker.com
IGOTWUD........but I HEAT WITH COAL
BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
My father built power plants, including the one I grew up next (1 mile) and little brother was a operator for 25 years. There is no rational explanation for the vilification of coal (or carbon dioxide for that matter) save the misguided politics of the current craze.
Like bell bottoms it will look silly in the future.
Like bell bottoms it will look silly in the future.
HoosierBuddy
Well-known member
Natural Gas was cheaper, briefly, over the summer due to some real concerns about oversupply in the natural gas market. That ended with return of cooler weather.
That being said, I have a neighbor that is burning coal and I'm going to have to go have a talk with him. I don't understand why I should have to smell coal smoke all winter long at my house so he can save 12 bucks (or 1200 bucks for that matter). This is in a town with 1/4 to 1 acre lots. Its not like he's 2000 feet from his nearest neighbor or something. It's to the point we can't use our deck during the fall or winter because of the odor.
If you have neighbors, don't use coal.
Phil
BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
Or raise chickens or pigs or come home late at night with loud mufflers.
It should all be a local thing. Maybe a higher chimney...
It should all be a local thing. Maybe a higher chimney...
Highbeam
Well-known member
Our wood pellet cost has remained very steady at under $200 per ton for decades. The cost per mbtu is equivalent to:
5 cent electric
1.10 LP per gallon
350$ per ton coal
all at 80%.
As you can see, coal is super cheap. 30$ per ton is like electric at less than 0.5 cents per KWH.
5 cent electric
1.10 LP per gallon
350$ per ton coal
all at 80%.
As you can see, coal is super cheap. 30$ per ton is like electric at less than 0.5 cents per KWH.
I'm looking at a house and seriously considering coal. I live in Ohio, and it gets insanely cold sometimes. With that said, gas is rather expensive (I've had an $800 gas bill). I'm trying to make things as energy efficient as possible (and doing a fine job at cutting back lost heat and wasted energy) but coal seems like a viable option. If I could get it cheap enough, I could (potentially) stockpile it.
jvitez
Well-known member
Our local coin-op 8 bay carwash uses a coal boiler for in-floor heat and hot water, plus two water to air geothermal heat pumps for an air curtain at the entrance and exit doors. Very cool set up.
I talked with owner who said his heating cost is half what it would be for NG. His hopper can store 1 year's worth of coal. Its very rare for me to ever smell any coal smoke. And if I do, I like it.
I talked with owner who said his heating cost is half what it would be for NG. His hopper can store 1 year's worth of coal. Its very rare for me to ever smell any coal smoke. And if I do, I like it.
trbomax
Well-known member
yeah,I think I'm going to report myself to the EPA and the DEQ. Ive been running my coal burner straight for 2 weeks now and as you can see the soot,flyash and smoke are unexcuseable. I need a GPS just to find my way back to the house because the smoke is so thick.
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BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
I am all for solid fuels but my coop know more about than I do. They sell me "interruptable" power for 4 cent/kW. My electric boiler produces no soot and the coal plant is down wind of me! Get on the Grid! So there. hheehehee
brokenknee
Well-known member
Here is a fuel calculator. I heat with wood, I purchase my wood a grapple load at a time (10 cords) then have to cut and split myself. I pay $70 a cord for red and white oak and maybe some ash. I have electric baseboard heat and at .15 cents a kWh it is just to expensive to use for heat.
I have an older wood furnace that does smoke at times. I do not however have any neighbors as I live on 40 acres and have the smallest "lot" around.
Are you considering an outdoor boiler or indoor? I did consider at one time an outdoor boiler, but not cost effective for me. I did talk to my insurance agent about it and he said as long it was 50 feet from any structure I would not have to pay the $50 annual solid burning fee I now pay to use my wood furnace.
Wood pellets are also worth considering. The cost did jump around a bit awhile back, but have been pretty steady at $200 a ton for awhile. Purchase them off season and they are even cheaper.
http://pelletheat.org/pellets/compare-fuel-costs/
I have an older wood furnace that does smoke at times. I do not however have any neighbors as I live on 40 acres and have the smallest "lot" around.
Are you considering an outdoor boiler or indoor? I did consider at one time an outdoor boiler, but not cost effective for me. I did talk to my insurance agent about it and he said as long it was 50 feet from any structure I would not have to pay the $50 annual solid burning fee I now pay to use my wood furnace.
Wood pellets are also worth considering. The cost did jump around a bit awhile back, but have been pretty steady at $200 a ton for awhile. Purchase them off season and they are even cheaper.
http://pelletheat.org/pellets/compare-fuel-costs/