Education Idea

Wayco Wayne_2

night school in the Fall. While I was on vacation last week I was walking down a small mountain I had climbed earlier in the Adirondacks of NY and my mind was drifting towards the up coming semester. Part of the course I teach is combustion analyzing. Since my classroom is just a plain room with chairs, there is no place to demonstrate how to test combustion. I can only go over the basics on the chalkboard, and let's face it, Not everyone learns that way. Most of my students only learn from hands on. I was thinking what if I had a small gas burning appliance in the back of a trailer and used my barbecue propane tank I could rig somthing up out in the parking lot for them to play with and get an idea of what is really going on. Obviously I need something really small with a flu, and a primary shutter that they can adjust and see what's happening. Any ideas on what I could use??? I don't really want to put a lot of money into this Thanks in advamce, if you have any ideas. WW

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Steamhead

How about

the heat exchanger from an old furnasty, and an inshot gas burner or flame-retention oil burner? If you go with oil you could rig up some sort of small tank with a 2-pipe oil line setup that you wouldn't have to prime every time.

If the trailer is big enough, you could have both gas and oil.

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Alan R. Mercurio

If You're trailer is big enough?

Bard Mfg. They have some furnaces available – Model FUS – currently they have the FUS150 and FUS175 units available. As Bill Metz says, “first come first served”. When Bard previously offered units to tech schools, the school was responsible for the freight. I would assume that is the case again. To get a complimentary furnace, contact Bill Metz, Bard Mfg. Co., 419-636-1194 Ext. 360 Fax: 419-636-2640 or e-mail: billmetz@bardhvac.com.


Your friend in the industry,

Alan R. Mercurio

Oil Tech Talk

Firedragon_4

How about asking an oem for the use of a demo trailer?

Ask them just to drop it off with any special instructions for use. I do it all the time and most are happy to provide one without a salesman. That's the true test of a company that just doesn't talk education, but also responds, JMO.

Rob Garcha

Hey Wayne

"Ole" Bob Dickerson,the Munchkin Man of Maryland has one on a trailer that runs on LP. You just hook a garden hose up to it and fire it up. I know it's not like having an oil or gas burner to adjust, but it would probably be a nice tool to show how gas pressures affect efficiency and operation. (I remember a post from you a while ago about gas pressure on a Munchkin install) Also, with that cold water coming in from the garden hose you should get some wicked condensing. Maybe show them how return water temps create flue gas condensation and that if the boiler is designed for it it's a good thing. P.S. say hello to Ole Bob. I used to work with him at The Joyce Agency)

Unknown

Wayne

What I have done is get an old boiler that is being removed from a customers home and maybe still not a leaker. If it is oil the maybe get someone to donate a new oil burner.

If it is on oil and you want to show gas then a gas conversion burner again maybe because your are using it for training it will be donated. I never buy anything, I get everything donated.

With the old boiler you can also show them how to refurbish and simulate some poor air conditions that will change your combustion analysis.

I wish I was close to you I would come over and get it all together for you. I have done this many times. It works real good with an old steam boiler cause you can fire it up and just let the steam fly into the air, just keep a little water trickling in with a garden hose.

George Lanthier (Firedragon) has a good idea also get someone to set you up with a loaner trailer and boiler. He does it all the time works great.

If you want to give me a call I can maybe give you some more ideas, I am at 401 -437-0557.

Wayco Wayne

Good idea

I talk to Bob now and then and I've seen his trailer set up. I know he would be willing if he had the time, but The Joyce agency keeps him so busy that would be the crux of the bisquit so to speak, whether he had time or not. Thanks for the ideas. WW

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Murph'_4

I kinda wish.....

I could get my tools and parts "DONATED" for my buisiness ,that way my overhead would be lower!! All in the name of education, that Com'n all you Manufactures, how about some free stuff for my biz??/ I'll "pay it forward" while collecting and never look back, how about some sugar for old Madd Jack ?? Amazing.


Kudos to WW

tim smith1

test boiler

Talk to glenn at burnham, maybe they would donate one of there residential oil boilers, then maybe talk to the local utility about a gas conversion. Maybe agree to Burnham that you will put there logo on your class flyer or something. I think just the education of techs should be enough for them to be interested.

Dale

What I do

I take an junk gas water heater, one with a burner, like LP that has a primary air adjustment, strip off the old insulation and outer shell and cut the whole thing about 1/4 the way up and throw away the top 3/4. Now you have a fairly light open vessel with a center flue that can be extended with regular pipe. I find the gas control almost always works it's the tank that leaks. Since the water is open there's no pressuer risk. I use the same tank for electric theory, welding 1 inch couplings through the wall for the elements to screw into. I would guess the bottom of an old oil water heater would work just as well. This tank is also a good way to demo the probe type low water cut off since the drain is already there and a bucket or hose adds water.