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L.P. burner in deep fryer sooting

Solid_Fuel_Man
Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
Went to order pizza at a local mom&pop yesturday (that I also do some work at) and as I was waiting for it to cook the owner asked me to check out their new fryer. Unit is an Imperial 1F-S-40.

Old one caught fire and was electric. Gas company installed this new one 3 weeks ago.

She asked if flames from the chimney were normal, as I noticed heavy sooting there as well. Classic NG not converted to LP I thought....those slobs didn't catch that? It was slow, so I opened up the access door and turned up the thermostat, to a nice woooosh and big lazy yellow flame. Data plate stamped LPG and LPG stickers on gas piping... factory screw up?

Well I returned today with the work van armed with the tools to get to the bottom of this. Manifold pressure per data plate 11"wc, and #51 orfaces for L.P. also the millivolt pilot was quite large, but no yellow tipping. Set everything to data plate spec, cleaned the soot out of HX, and still very lazy flame. What am I missing here? Could the wrong gas valve be installed? I played around and set the manifold pressure to 5"wc and still yellow sooty flame. Also set incoming gas pressure to 11.5"wc, and turned down pilot to normal size.

The burners were the same for both NG and LP, with no air adjustments. What am I missing? Calling Imperial tomorrow for parts verification.
Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!

Comments

  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    Is it connected to LP or NG?
    If NG is it a pounds system without reg at fryer?

    The old one was electric?
    This is probably under a powerful hood.....how about make up air for the gas burner?
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    It is connected to LP. No difference with hood on or off. They are closed Monday's so I had the place to myself and there is plenty of makeup air. Very old drafty building, plus I propped an exit door to be sure. I was thinking same thing.
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    edited November 2017
    How many burners on this?
    #51 will pass 31,357 btuh @ 11.0 WC LP

    What is the nameplate input rating?
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Has to be either too much fuel, not enough air or the flame is impinging on something. How do the exhaust gases get out of this thing?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    @JUGHNE nameplate states 105,000 btu. 3 burners fire into slightly tipped up firetubes with a simple baffle that you can see in the pic. This is after I brushed it out.

    @Steamhead these firetubes just open into a collector and exhaust gasses rise up and out the back. You can see in this pic the sooted sheetmetal where the flue gasses exit out the back.
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
  • Harvey Ramer
    Harvey Ramer Member Posts: 2,239
    Did you check the draft?
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    Not sure how I can check draft. Not really any place to use manometer, pretty much open combustion. I may be able to find somewhere in the back to connect manometer.

    As a side note, when I blow gently into the air mix venturi the flame blues up well and looks like I'd expect for a 33,000 btu burner.

    I.can get more pictures of the cast iron burners if you'd like. I removed them for casting numbers to check if they were the correct ones for L.P.
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    I would call the manf. company. There must be someone there in the know.

    Does it look like any panels might be missing to create a draft for more air into chamber? WAG
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,453
    seems like an air or draft problem to me
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    Did the mystery of the fryer get resolved???
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    No, I've been out of work with a severe back injury.... have not been back. I should call manufacturer as I have nothing else to do. All caught up on paperwork and billing though!
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
  • mcfall
    mcfall Member Posts: 13
    i used to work on restaurant equipment. there are a few things i would check. with LP the supply line needs to be smaller and it needs a regulator. the exhaust hood is irrelevant. it either works or it don't. but typically the tech service dept will walk you thru it.