Tags: stoker

Although there are variations in the type and design of domestic stokers, the general features are much the same. An elementary stoker is shown in Figures 3-5 and 3-6, which gives the essentials and the names of parts. These parts may be listed as follows:

1. Retort.
2. Fan.
3. Motor.
4. Transmission.
5. Air duct.
6. Air control.
7. Hopper.
8. Feed worm.
9. Bin.

The retort is a firepot cast in a round or rectangular troughlike shape in which the coal is burned. It is made of cast iron and is surrounded by the windbox. The retort is provided with a number of air ports, or tuyeres, through which air for combustion is supplied.

The purpose of the fan is to supply forced draft, which is directed to the windbox that surrounds the air ports in the retort. This fan is commonly of the squirrel-cage type.

The air enters the retort through the ports via the air duct from the fan and the windbox that surrounds the retort. The fan is equipped with either manual or automatic control in the form of a damper at either the discharge or intake end. The air supply is controlled by means of these fan controls.

Coal stokers are designed to operate on either high- or low-airpressure systems. In the high-air-pressure system, the air is forced in small jets into the fire area. A major disadvantage of this type of system is that the coal sometimes tends to fuse, causing clinkers to form and wasting some of the combustible matter of the fuel. A low-air-pressure system tends to produce a more complete circulation of burning gases to all heat-inducting surfaces.

A stoker is usually powered with an electric motor, which operates both the coal feed worm and the fan. The stoker drive consists of a transmission, a shear pin (or clutch throw-out), pulleys, belts, and related components. The purpose of the shear pin is to protect the driving mechanism against damage in case large foreign objects get mixed up with the coal.

The transmission rotates the coal feed worm at the proper speed to feed the amount of coal required. The construction is such that the rate of feed can be changed as desired.

The two kinds of transmission usually employed in stokers are the continuous drive, which is operated by means of reduction gears, and the intermittent drive, which operates with a ratchet. Another drive used in stoker transmissions is the hydraulic (usually referred to as an oil drive), which operates by regulating the oil pressure on the driving mechanism to control the number of revolutions the feed screw makes per minute.

The feed worm (sometimes called the feed screw) carries the coal from the hopper to the retort (firepot). It is geared to the transmission, its rate of revolution depending on the desired feed rate. The feed worm extends from the coal supply in the hopper or bin, through the coal feed tube into the retort, where the coal it carries is discharged.

Ashpits can be constructed so that they are located directly below the furnace or boiler (see Figure 3-7). The ashes are automatically deposited into the pit as the coal is burned. If the pit is designed large enough, the ashes will need to be removed only once or twice a year. It is recommended that the ashpit be constructed so as to permit removal of ashes from outside the house. This will result in a much cleaner and more convenient operation in the long run. Always vent the ashpit to the chimney or outdoors.

Some stokers are designed to permit hand-firing in case of power failure. In these situations, a natural draft may be provided by opening the grate and ashpit door.

A stoker is a mechanical device designed and constructed to automatically feed fuel to a furnace. Stokers are used in commercial, industrial, and domestic heating systems. Their use results in more efficient combustion owing to constant instead of intermittent firing.

According to the ASHRAE Guide (1960), coal stokers can be divided on the basis of their coal-burning capacity into the following four classes:

• Class 1 stokers (10 to 100 lbs per hour)
• Class 2 stokers (100 to 300 lbs per hour)
• Class 3 stokers (300 to 1200 lbs per hour)
• Class 4 stokers (over 1200 lbs per hour)

Class 1 stokers are used most commonly in domestic heating installations. The other three classes of stokers are used in commercial and industrial heating systems.

Class 1 stokers are usually the underfeed type and are designed to burn anthracite, bituminous, semibituminous, and lignite coal, and coke. Ash can be removed automatically or manually, with the latter method being the most popular.

Stokers can also be classified on the basis of whether the coal is stored in a hopper or bin. The disadvantage of the hopper design (see Figure 3-2) is that it must be refilled at least once each day. The bin stoker design (see Figure 3-3) eliminates coal handling. The coal is delivered by the supplier and placed directly into the bin.

The underfeed stoker (see Figure 3-4) is generally used for house heating furnaces and boilers. This type of stoker is one in which the fuel is fed upward from underneath the furnace or boiler. The action of a screw or worm carries the fuel back through a retort from which it passes upward as the fuel above is being consumed. The ash is generally deposited on dead plates on either side of the retort, from which it can be removed.

Underfeed stokers can be designed for use with either anthracite or bituminous coal, but the individual pieces of coal should be uniform in size and no larger than 1 inch in diameter. As mentioned elsewhere in this chapter, it is desirable to treat the coal with oil in order to eliminate dust. The worm feed mechanism can be regulated to feed coal at variable rates.