Waste Oil Burner

[Pullstart 63,559]

To back up a few steps, I did modify the burner a bit.  Shortening it up and building a diffuser to spin the air helped.

[Pullstart 63,559]

This is my burner plate stack.  I popped a hole in the top plate and oil drips down from a 3/8” tube into the center of the burner.

[Pullstart 63,559]

I’ll also add, that the cuts in the tank were laid out with a marker, but cut free hand.  The control that the plasma cutter has is quite remarkable.

[Pullstart 63,559]

15 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Please don't tell me you are going to put a hole in my nice metal roof for a vent! 

We’re going side wall with a cleanout stack to get above the roof line.  I believe code is 2’ above anything within 12’ radius.

[WHX?? 49,941]

26 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

We’re going side wall

Well ... OK just pick a spot where i can easily replace that piece of steel ... 

[Pullstart 63,559]

1 minute ago, WHX?? said:

Well ... OK just pick a spot where i can easily replace that piece of steel ... 

 

Rylee can climb a ladder and do your bidding… 

[JimSraj 472]

13 hours ago, Pullstart said:

We’re going side wall with a cleanout stack to get above the roof line.  I believe code is 2’ above anything within 12’ radius.

Here in PA, and I think it’s in all states, the code requires at least 3’ higher than anything within 12’. Doesn’t hurt to have a little more height than that. 

[953 nut 56,781]

How high off the floor will the burner be mounted?  Gasoline or other filmable vapors tend to spread across the floor rapidly.    

[Pullstart 63,559]

11 hours ago, JimSraj said:

Here in PA, and I think it’s in all states, the code requires at least 3’ higher than anything within 12’. Doesn’t hurt to have a little more height than that. 

It’s been 10 years since I looked that up, but you are correct.  A little higher wouldn’t hurt anything.  I just have to brace for the wind we encounter.

[Pullstart 63,559]

19 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

How high off the floor will the burner be mounted?  Gasoline or other filmable vapors tend to spread across the floor rapidly.    

Great point, and good idea to keep safety in mind during operation.  The burner is a foot or so off the ground, the intake is about 3’ high.  It’s not completely sealed, but that’s the intended air source.

[Pullstart 63,559]

This burner tested my ability.  What I thought would happen, and what did happen, were two different things.

 

 

[Pullstart 63,559]

As for current standings, I ran my test fire outside for about 2 hours total.  Mrs. P. suggested a spot in the shop that is perfect for all parties involved, and easy to vent.  I have a wall thimble being delivered today and am looking forward to firing this inside.  Now for the best part so far… I calculated 1/4 gallon per hour!  It’s just a sipper of a burner.  

[adsm08 2,396]

You have way too much time on your hands.

[Pullstart 63,559]

My hanger/anchors come tomorrow, then I can set up my radiant heat shields and get my shop broom back.

 

 

[JimSraj 472]

I don’t want to be a wet blanket here but …. Looks like a really loooong run of smoke stack. How high do you need to get you 3’ above in the 12’ radius once you’re through the wall?

I’d be concerned about the exhaust gases cooling too much in all that pipe. 

[Pullstart 63,559]

7 hours ago, JimSraj said:

I don’t want to be a wet blanket here but …. Looks like a really loooong run of smoke stack. How high do you need to get you 3’ above in the 12’ radius once you’re through the wall?

I’d be concerned about the exhaust gases cooling too much in all that pipe. 

I don’t mind the constructive criticism.  I’ve never done this before, so I am no pro.  Remember this is fan assisted too.  I’ll be keeping a close eye on the heat, making sure it will draft with or without the fire box door open, etc.  I think I need to have a 6’+ stack outside.  I have plenty of materials, and can change plans if needed.  

[Pullstart 63,559]

Part 3 of the build 

 

 

[Pullstart 63,559]

Today, I plan to run a test fire inside the shop, then work on an oil delivery system.  

[adsm08 2,396]

10 hours ago, Pullstart said:

I don’t mind the constructive criticism.  I’ve never done this before, so I am no pro.  Remember this is fan assisted too.  I’ll be keeping a close eye on the heat, making sure it will draft with or without the fire box door open, etc.  I think I need to have a 6’+ stack outside.  I have plenty of materials, and can change plans if needed.  

 

Higher stack makes for a better draft, but you want to keep the horizontal run as short as possible.  The gasses will cool as they travel the pipe, but the heat is what keeps them moving, both through expansion and convection. If you loose too much heat in a horizontal run you loose the effect. If you loose the draft best case scenario is that the lack of draft smothers the flame. Worst case, carbon monoxide is heavier than air and settles out into your work space.

 

If you have to have a long horizontal run it's best to do it with double-wall piping and keep it low. If it's at all possible it's best to locate the unit where you can have at most a short horizontal run and a long vertical.

 

I have no experience with fan-assisted exhaust systems.

 

 

[Pullstart 63,559]

I just spent the last hour and a half doing a test fire.  It used to be a red tank, then it faded out in the sun to yellowish, then morphed into burnt orange, then just burnt.  It was HOT!  I learned some things.  
 

I added so many wood chunks, it smothered the air make up and did not work well.  I needed to boost it a few times with my MAPP torch.
 

I’ll need a bigger combustion fan.  When I replace the oil feed with a rubber tipped air nozzle, it really comes alive and the chimney cleans up.  
 

The oil preheater tubing I wrapped around the 4” chimney pipe is not necessary.  Ambient temperature was about 50 degrees in the shop and it flowed just fine.

 

I managed to make an incredible mess of the shop today.  It’s hard to move around and I need to relocate my fire extinguisher, or maybe just pick a few more up.

 

Once this thing gets fine tuned, I will not miss being the wood gopher to keep the shop warmed up!

[wallfish 17,201]

41 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

I’ll need a bigger combustion fan.

less holes in the tube?

[ebinmaine 69,741]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

fire extinguisher, or

DEFINITELY

just pick a few more up.

 

Absolute minimum,  1 by EVERY door and several spread around the shop.  

[adsm08 2,396]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

 I need to relocate my fire extinguisher, or maybe just pick a few more up.

 

 

I'm not the biggest safety guy in the world, but the three things I can't seem to have enough of are safety glasses, cutting tools, and fire extinguishers.

 

Get a few more.