combustion analyzer on wood fired equipment

Rob_16

I have not tried it on wood but on my combustion tester the only thing that changes when I select the fuel is the tables it uses to compute the eff. The CO, O2, and temp. readings will always read the same.

hr

Has anyone tried this?

Can it be done? Whch setting did you use for fuel selection? thanks

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hr

Has anyone tried this?

Can it be done? Whch setting did you use for fuel selection? thanks

hot rod

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Jeff Krawic

Wood calculations

Morning and good question. The Bacharach Model 300 analyzer DOES indeed do wood combustion efficiencys. However it may be difficult to locate as Bacharach is fazing out this model in lieu of their new Fyrizer. You can try to call Bacharach and a fellow out there named Norm Grazier sells them as he gets them in the "rebuilt" mode. His prices are incredible if you are so lucky as to get one from him. It lists around $6,500.00 range new and he sells them in the area of $1,00.00 with a 6 month warranty. (this is my FAVORITE analyzer personally) Mine is 10 years old and done ALOT of analyzing. Its big, heavy but has nice BIG LED screen,.......just for my eyes!!! LOL Good luck and keep it safe.

Rudy

Wood burner combustion testing

Hi HR, what are you up to now???!!!

A couple of issues come to mind. Jeff is right, the 300 had wood as a fuel choice (and was a great instrument - I also love the display!!) and like Rob mentioned, the only thing the fuel choice efffects is the final SSE calculation.

The formula for SSE is (apparently) propriatary but I think I have a chart that makes the calculations for wood, let me know if that would be helpful and I'll get a copy to you.

I've tested my own wood burner a bunch of times with both a 300 and a Pro so any instrument will work.

Do keep in mind that CO levels in the tens of thousands could damage the CO sensor and certainly deplete it if the levels were in the several thousand ppm range for very long.

If you see the CO reading quickly rising, be ready to disconnect the hose and probe from the instrument to protect the sensor.

At best, my woodburner runs at about 3200 ppm with very dry red oak burned to a nice bed of coals. I can't remember the O2 reading, but I do remember the SSE - a whopping 52%. Of course that doesn't take into account draging logs out of the woods, cutting and splitting, moving and stacking.

I figure the AFUE on it is probably in the 25% range - lower if I hurt myself in the process.

Makes paying $1.75/gallon for fuel oil pretty sweet!

I'll be curious what you find.

David_5

Testo might

I use a Testo and think the fuel paremeters can be changed. If you use Testo give them a call.
800-227-0729 ext599

David

hr

Hey Rudy

I've been messing with some Euro gasification boilers. They claim efficiencies in the mid to high 80%. This should be double the typical outdoor wood furnaces common in my area.

I have heard two manufactures have sent domestic units for independant lab testing and show 40-45% best efficiency. I'm thinking the EPA Tier Two regs will pretty much shut down the sale of the dirty burners some day soon. I'm all for efficiency and conservation, even with renewable energy sources. Wood burning is common and growing in my area with big fuel price increases expected.

Knowing that it takes about 11,000 lbs of wood to equal 1000 gallon of lp, you sure do want to get the best burn efficiencies. Cutting, splitting, hauling and stacking that much fuel is a lot of work. Be nice to get double the useful energy out of a pile of wood

I'll compare my readings to yours and update you. Of course if you are interested in up grading your wood burner...

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S Ebels

Testo says

Their 300XL unit is calibrated for wood. They also said the 325 will give a close approximate if you use the setting for heavy oil. Caution was advised in monitoring the CO while testing due to the possibility of frying the CO sensor with a really dirty flame going. For most wood burning equipment, that's about all the time. I'd be careful with it.