Wood burning boiler

[garethp]

Looks good! I'd be a bit wary about using the bin though, I've been doing so research recently on home brewing kit and some people have mentioned modifying plastic fermenting bins to make electric water heaters, some plastics can't stand hot water long term and eventually sag and split. It'll be bad enough having 100 litres of water sloshing around in the workshop but even worse if you're next to it if does split

 

[Lewist123]

Yeah, a valid point. I am still on the look out for a metal container. A friend might have a spare big gas bottle that might do the trick. Whatever it is it needs to be 100 ltrs min.

 

[Lewist123]

In addition, I might consider storing it outside, or building a small bund wall/container around the base to catch any spillage. Whatever i do it will involve building a frame to help support the bin.

 

[Bongodrummer]

Hello all. Hay Lewis! I have been following your tread (lurking ) with great interest. Looks like a quality job
Am just in the process of making a slightly unusual sideways burning stove from gas bottles, inspired in part by that 'designing heating stoves' document Matt posted - a fantastic resource.

Am very impressed with your water jacket style approach, though I am going for a separate air-to-air heat exchanger, with the stove in the shop...
Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration
I feel like I should have been documenting our build here on the forum, but was too much of a noob to plunge in so have been doing it on our blog.
Anyway, really looking forward to seeing the finished install in your shop.
Thanks again,
Bongo.

 

[@Turbo]

so have been doing it on our blog.
.

got a link mate?

 

[Lewist123]

Indeed - what is your blog address?

And thanks for the kind words!

 

[Lewist123]

Right, update time.

I have been doing burns every so often to tweek the system, trying various pump arrangements and trying to get it to thermosyphon etc. I have settled on the pumping arrangements, as well as take off system for the radiator etc.

I have started to make the insulated cabinet for the water tank in the shed. It did require a re-arrange of things to give me enough room in the right place. All sorted now, so I have started building.

Here is the spot in the shed where it is going

Added some 50 mm thick EPS insulation to the external wall of the shed. The rest of the areas will be insulated with mineral wool, but I wanted some high performance rigid insulation there.

In that picture you can see a low profile plastic storage tray. The water tank will sit in that so that if it leaks it won't go everywhere.

I need to make an outlet for an overflow so out with the big drill

I then fitted an overflow to the tray using gaskets as well as high temperature sealant.

Now started to add fitting an pipes etc

Pump wiring

I added the tape to the pipe to help stop it kinking at any funny angles or whatever

Start of the conrtol and power system

And a shot of the boiler pipin on the outside

I have tested the pipe, joints and solvent etc by boiling in a pan for almost an hour. It doesn't go soft, and all stayed together etc, so I am happy to use this pipe. Also, I would hope that if it did fail due to the heat, it would fail at the boiler end, outside, and not cause too much of a problem

Updates soon.

Thans

Lewis

 

[the snooper]

do you plan to have 2 pumps, 1 for burner and tank and one to feed radiators ?

 

[Lewist123]

Yes!

One pump move water from the tank to the boiler. The other moves water from the tank to the rad. The rad feed pump and return are right at the top of the tank. The boiler pump takes water from the bottom of the tank and returns it to the top. The idea is that the tank heats up from the top down, so the rad should be able to make use of the hot water at the top of the tank, while the boiler is heating cold water from the bottom.

If it takes too long to heat the rad up, I will add a bypass pipe and valve so the boiler give more priority to the radiator (at least until the place has warmed up).

 

[the snooper]

wouldnt it be better to have one pump ?
water pumped straight from boiler into radiator out of radiator into tank that way you get maximum heat into radiator

 

[Shox Dr]

Glade to hear it works.

On the subject of secondary air. I read on the Stovax web sight this air needs to be over 750c before entering the secondary burn chamber.