[modeleng] Re: Char
- From: "alan Stepney" <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 21 May 2005 20:53:55 +0100
Coal is probably THE best fuel, if, and it is a big IF, you can get the
right quality.
From being one of the largest coal producers, we now import most of our
supplies.
Some from Poland, some from Argentina, from China, and other places.
The quality is very variable, and that causes many of the problems we suffer
from.
The industrial char you mention, must have a lower calorific value than coal
(decent coal) as brown coal itself, has a lower calorific value.
As for charcoal, apart from the expense, (dear, over here) that too has a
lower calorific value than coal.
Of course, cal val isnt everything.
Clinker causes problems, as does the amount of tar in the coal. Much also
has inclusions of stones of various types, which cause problems.
The original Welsh steam coal had quite a lot of tar and would cake
together to a red hot mass of fire, that would then continue to give off
amazing amounts of heat for a long time, before falling apart into dust.
Unfortunately, Welsh Steam Coal is now used generically for a wide range of
coals, hardly any of which come from Wales, and all of which have different
properties.
As for the bit about carbon monoxide, this is always present with
combustion, and far worse with coke.
Given the correct air ratio it should all be burned in the firebox, but
rarely do "we" have the exact ratio or air to do so.
Alan Stepney
http://www.alanstepney.info
Model Engineering & steam engine information pages
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Grant" <leegrant@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 7:45 AM
Subject: [modeleng] Char
I have been reading the thread about Titanium grates on the modeleng.org
board. First I must state that what I know about raising steam and driving
a model steam locomotive you could tattoo on to a tadpoles todger but it
seems to me that burning coal is more trouble than its worth with holes
burnt in grates and arches, clinker,
excess residue, fire going out, driver feeling a bit crook after a days
steaming.
The most popular fuel used here in Oz seems to be industrial Char made from
brown coal. There was a comparison test done by Hornsby M.E.S and reported
in A.M.E issue 119 on Welsh Steam Coal and they thought that Char was
better. As there may not be a similar product available in the U.K. I though
about solid BBQ fuel. From what I can find out its a very similar product
only a bit more refined with all the nasty bits taken out Its clean their is
no smoke no smell (cooking food with char can poison You) This stuff is
sold everywhere in Oz Supermarkets, service stations, hardware stores. A 4Kg
bag at my local supermarket costs $6.50 Probably cost less than half that
wholesale. Tel told me he has used it in a vertical steel boiler without any
problems. If this product is available in the UK it may be a viable
alternative. Anybody else have any thought's on this. I will keep asking
around somebody must have tried it in a loco.
Maybe there is a business opportunity here.
http://www.auschar.com.au/index.html
Lee
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