brian777999 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Should the soot be cleaned regularly from the firebox when using a metho burner to produce live steam ? Does it affect the thermal efficiency of the boiler not to do this ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Londontram Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 This advice was for traction and stationary engines but I was told once that it could affect the transfer of heat from the burners over a period of time adding a layer of insulation which kept the heat out not in. The last thing you want to do is use anything sharp or abrasive to remove it so a small stiff paint brush with the bristles cut down might be able to shift the worst of it. Hope that helps Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian777999 Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Thanks for the tip. I used a cut down paint brush to clean off the soot this afternoon. Paint brush bristles are tough : I could not cut through it with either a scalpel or scissors so in the end I used a pair of tin snips. I am surprised how much soot methylated spirits produces. Are solid fuel tablets worse or better ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Long ago I had a Mamod steam wagon which ran on the solid fuel tablets. I don't remember much soot but they were a b*$#er to light, stank and didn't last very long. Even the weeny boiler on the steam wagon held enough water to last for two sets of tablets. On the plus side, they were much less prone to igniting the carpet than the meths burner in my slightly earlier stationary engine. I too am surprised that meths is producing enough soot to worry about. Soot suggests incomplete combustion which, in turn, suggests that the flame is not receiving enough air. If memory serves, a common cause of this is having the burner too close to the bottom of the boiler. If your burner/firebox/boiler arrangement allows it, try lowering the burner to give the flame a bit more space. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Londontram Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 When you go near a camping or out door shop get a pack of Hexamine cooker tablets they are oblong and a little bit bigger than the model shop ones but can be stood on end in the burner tray or snapped to the size required and seem to me to last much longer and there only about £2.99 a pack some times even less. Here's a link (usual disclaimer) http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/web-tex-military-equipment/web-tex-equipment-accessories/hexi-cooker-refill-block-hexi-328113.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian777999 Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 The amount of soot in the firebox was after multiple burns over a few weeks...not just one burn session. I also made a home made pull through to clean the flue/chimney. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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